Collab: Heat & Renny

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“Lightsaber, a sword is what a civilian would call it, when it is so much more than that.” Kadan replied, his expression unchanging from one of slight annoyance at having to aid in training the boy, but it at least gave him something to do instead of sitting around, and he could actually see if the young one had any potential which Kadan could possibly use in the future.

“Follow me, we must go somewhere to properly train.” He said, coming out of his seat, and heading out of the ship’s cockpit, nodding at Crusade as they crossed paths, Vera right near the Sith lord. Kadan and Naraal found an empty room, but a large one, a crate sat by the side, apparently locked.

“Tell me, Naraal, how much do you truly know of the Force? Of the Sith, and the Jedi? Of lightsabers?” Kadan asked curiously, his eyes focused on the boy as he removed his robe, leaving him in his combat attire, his lightsaber drifting off his belt a moment later, the Sith snatching the curved hilt in his right hand, but not yet igniting the blade.

Following the man was almost natural. Naraal had done it so much since meeting this coalition of Sith, that it was becoming more and more routine. Passing by the Source and Vera, he took the small moment to bow towards his new master before walking on.

The question the man asked left him in a pause. He could had answered right away, with words that would show his ignorance, as many of the others had mentioned it to be, but he didn't necessarily want to be viewed that way forever. Somewhere, deep inside of him, he wanted to show improvement. To show progress.

As he dropped his cloak on the floor; he spoke. “I know enough, I think. The Sith and Jedi are opposing forces, they are our enemies. The force is everywhere and inside everything,” He mention knowingly, his hand rubbing the back of his pale neck. “And well... I know very little about lightsabers. But this is why I have you right?”

“That is a very basic view, but not wrong. It’s not my responsibility to teach you that though, that is for your master. I just had to satisfy my curiosity,” Kadan replied, a grin flashing across his face as he moved towards the crate, popping it open and pulling out what appeared to be a lightsaber hilt. “You are quite lucky to have me, if I do say so myself. If there’s one area I truly excel, it is with a lightsaber.” He then tossed the object he removed from the crate towards Naraal.

“That is a training saber, if it strikes part of your or I’s body, then it will not inflict any damage beyond a burn or scratch. But, the first rule of lightsaber combat is to not get hit.” He paused, igniting his weapon, the red blade flashing out. Then spoke once more. “Try to take me down, I will not strike back, just parry your blows. I’ll start you off easy, and not even use one of my hands.” Kadan stated as he tucked his free hand behind his back, then got into a defensive stance, awaiting Naraal’s first move with the training saber, a slight grin appearing on his face.

“Try fighting the way it seems natural to you.” He added.

His hand stretched out awkwardly to catch the hilt, its cold form fumbling in his grasp as he weighed it. It was weird, strange even to look at a bladeless weapon. He played with the notches before accidentally igniting the practice saber. Surprise struck at the weightlessness. “How do you even swing this around? its… basically spaceless, one could cut their arm off.”

His thoughts, spoken aloud, was halted when he looked up to see Kadan in a formal stance. It was the picture of experience, the form of a master. His eyes tremored at the pious Sith, with all his fearful imagery, he was still divine in this particular form. Even so, he would not back down. If fighting this man meant evolving, becoming something more than a generic Sith, then he would.

Taking the man’s final words into consideration, he slowly let his body move. One his legs braced itself, while the arm holding the blade stretched out to his side, both tense and shaky. He didn’t want to show embarrass himself but how else was one to become better. A grunt left him as he dashed forwards, his blade swinging from his left arm to strike at the man’s wrist.

Disarmament, the quickest way to end a opponent, He thought to himself.

Kadan watched the boy carefully, taking into account what he guessed were going through the young one’s head, similar thoughts that Kadan himself had when he was even younger than the boy, back when he was with the Jedi. As Naraal charged forward, the Sith adjusted just enough to counter the strike, smacking his lightsaber against his opponent’s, the force of the movement causing them to move away from each other.

“Not bad, but not near where you will want to be. A lightsaber is unlike anything else in the galaxy, weightless in the most graceful sense. Only those attuned with the Force are able to use one, a normal being would end up gutting themselves if they even tried to swing it. It would feel unnatural to them in every sense,” Kadan stated, once again readying himself for another strike from Naraal. “But it does not feel like that to I, or Crusade, or anyone with an understanding of the Force. You will get there too, with the proper training.” He said, then with a few open fingers motioned for the boy to attack him.

“Training? the Force?… it all seems like a system. If that’s true then how do you unlock it all?” The question was less than that, more of an inner monologue. Confusing even himself by the questions lurking beneath the surface.

Tightening his grip on hilt, he pulled it back and struck out towards the man’s crimson blade. It was idiotic. The man was obviously his better in strength, form, and speed. A direct clash was out of the question. He probably would had known better if the Source hadn’t blocked the Dark Side within him.

Now though, he was running on emotion. The exact thing that the Source, Suade, and indirectly, Vera had rebuked. Why was this? why was emotions running through his veins undeterred, like lava. It bubbled up all the time.

“By learning, watching, not just from your master, but others, sometimes even the enemy. No one man became a Master or Sith lord in a day.” Kadan replied, parrying the straight forward strike perfectly, then the Sith took a step backwards, creating space.

“Combat is the most primal feeling in the galaxy. You must use your emotional core to your strength. Draw power from your past experiences, your pain, sadness, grief. Find the perfect point where you can overwhelm an opponent.” Kadan said, his eyes lighting up with the passion of what he was speaking.

“Tell me, young one, how would you strike down a lightsaber weilding opponent? With well placed strikes and parries? Overwhelming fury? A beautiful combination of it all where the Force guides you?” Kadan inquired, once again readying himself for Naraal.

“Do not stop after the first swing this time. Keep at it, try to defeat me.” He said, adding emphasis on Naraal to use his full strength at the Sith.

Shoulder raising and chest heaving, all he had was his inner anger. The Dark Side was out of his grasp, far reach. What powers could he possibly draw from. The fact that he was not burning his skin left and right was a miracle in itself. He gathered the sadness, anger, and umbrage of betrayal into the muscles lining his arms.

This emotions that fueled him would had been put to better use if he had Force, but he didn’t. So it would be the most primal and animistic display he could conjur. Furrowing his brows, the youth’s hand tightened around his hilt until his knuckles were white. “If I had to choose, I would choose a overwhelming combination of furious strikes and parries guided by the Dark Side itself!”

He sprinted back at him again, the lightsaber blade held out to his side to keep from burning himself again. As he drew closer, he found the blade slamming down against the man with the might in his arm. His silver eyes dancing around the man’s form for hints of attack. A flurry of swings that partly sizzled his robes and partly swung at Kadan’s own body.

He motioned sidesteps around the man to spot some unguarded area, the whole while attempting to find a weak spot with quick strikes. I want to win! I want to become something more!

A smile appeared on Kadan’s face as he watched Naraal move, actually trying to beat the Sith down, even going for any weak spots. The boy was still weak, so Kadan was able to repel the strikes, but this time he actually needed to put some effort into the parries.

“Much better, young one. Your swings are brutal and driven, and your mind is conjuring ways to locate weak points. With the proper form teachings you could already be somebody to be reckoned with, attuning you with the Force could only make you even more deadlier.”

“Soon you will need to construct your own weapon, then it is up for your new master to train you in ways behind lightsaber combat.” Kadan stated, pushing the boy back with a motion of his free hand which was tucked behind his back, creating a large gap between them.

“Vera should be most impressed. Now put the training saber back and we shall end your training with me for the moment. Do not want to expend too much energy as we do have a mission we’re on the way to.” Kadan added, turning off his lightsaber and reclipping it to his belt.

His frustration had grown to the point that the push had almost not been enough. Naraal tensed his jaw in his attempt to calm himself. It seemed more than anything else, that control over one’s emotions were the key. The way Kadan spoke felt familiar. Something totally different from both of his Sith mentors. When he really thought about it, he reminded him of his father. The Jedi.

Weird, I actually felt something other than shame fighting with him, He murmured, walking over to place the hilt back away. I hate this feeling too. I guess don’t know what to feel anymore.

Turning around, he bowed slightly in respect. “Thank you for the lesson. It was… fun,” he admitted, finally finding an outlet and probably a container for his anger. The Dark Side was a temporary vessel, he realized; now he could probably do so much more than just use it to numb his pain. Now he could cultivate it in different ways.

“You said I could make my own one day? when do you think that’ll happen?”

“That is up for Vera to decide, but it will happen, soon I might suspect.” Kadan replied, crossing his arms as he thought. “But it is a natural step in an apprentice’s life.” He stated

Naraal nodded in acceptance. When he thought about it, all the major siths had those lightsabers. It was a symbol, it had to be. He wanted one himself. “How did you make yours? did it take a long time? its looks like it wouldnt but everything about being a Sith is complicated.”

“It varies by the person. One must use the Force to create the lightsaber itself. This one did not take me that long to create itself as it is my second one. You will have a different time with yours, when your master deems you ready to build it.” Kadan said, moving to pick up his robes and place them back on over his battle attire.

“Some master,” he said. “She doesn’t seem to be that strong. I’m not for sure but… its just a feeling.” he responded while picking up his cloak from the off the ground. Things may had been blocked by the Source’s power but he was still good at feeling out a person’s strength.

“I shouldn’t speak ill of her teachings. You have barely begun with her, I’m sure she has much planned for you.” Kadan replied, then started towards the door to head back to the rest of the ship.

Naraal didn’t respond. Kadan was right, he was sure of that but still, it just felt out of the ordinary. Following behind the man; he rubbed the nape of his neck, as he always did when he was uncomfortable. The training lightsaber was put back in its crate which was once again closed as both of them left the room.

---

"I taught the young one some things about how to fight like a Sith," Kadan said as he entered the bridge, finding Crusade and Vera. His voice calm and lacking of any emotions. "There may be some potential in him after all." The Sith added as he took a seat in the behind the others, waiting for them to fully depart and begin the mission.

Lucina

As Kast flipped some switched and brought the freighter to life, Lucina busied herself with inputting the coordinates to Coruscant, She finished as the ship broke through the atmosphere. Looking out the view port she saw the destruction of the republic fleet, and she frowned. She would of been unable to help them of course even if she had been in orbit, but the thought of being trapped in a steel coffin and being pulled into vacuum of space did not ease her fears of the rust bucket that she rode in now, at least their ships had been better built.

It took a lot to tear herself away from the look of carnage outside and she feared sadness filled her voice as she spoke. "We are good to go, Mandalorian." She told Kast, giving him a polite nod as she seemingly busied herself with the navigation instruments, but she wasn't doing anything with them just trying to look away.

---

Vera

Vera was about to snap at the boy and send him off on some pointless errand about the ship when Lord Crusade entered. He spoke very briefly just telling her that they were ready to leave when she was. "Y-yes m'lord." She said falling into the pilots seat and tinkering with the controls, soon enough the frighter was up and out of the hangar entering the void of space. Looking back at lord Crusade she opened her mouth like she was going to ask him a question and then Kadan entered and spoke of the apprentice.

"I think he won't last long in the pack, he seems to eager to rise quickly. Which means his master is more than likely to kill him when he decides to strike." She said swiveling her chair around and looking at both Crusade and Kadan. "I appreciate you teaching him though, and i feel like i am going to need your help more often than not to teach him the ways of the blade, and other things." She said her voice trailing off as she kept looking to Lord Crusade, almost like she was looking to him for what to say, or if she said something wrong he'd hurt her. "But i think with a little bit of effort he could make a fine killer." With that said she swiveled back so she could focus on piloting.

He hurt, but pain was good, pain is proof of life.

Skin and sinew sewn back by hand with threaded needle soaked sterile. Now he used he force to do the rest, one can control their body to speed up the healing process, ticking days off the body in hours. But what were days, or for that matter even years, to a wookiee? His meditations, which by his standards were primal screaming sessions in an echoing cavern, were interrupted by a sith solider in reflective crimson armor.

Kallatatha ceased his session with annoyance at the interruption, he was certain he could use the force to scream even louder if it wasn't for the artificial vocal chords. He couldn't sense the fear, nor could he smell it in the sealed suit, but the body language spoke volumes. Clawed hands took the datapad as the wookiee put a foot out in a half step towards the minion, but as the trooper tried to flee, he found his boots stuck fast to the ground. The sithspawn was expressing tactile telekinesis to root him to the spot while the beast spoke.

"Trooper, your red uniform pleases me. You are to fetch my armor to have it treated like your reflective metallic color, Including the new helmet. Go."

The Solider couldn't get out of there fast enough once the wookiee lifted his bare foot from the earth to break the connection. That would be a technique to build up, remove the footwork from a lightsaber fighter to cut him down. Once alone, he activated the holotransmitter and was greeted by the male Kuati Admiral Roland. Kuati were a matriarchal people, so he most likely joined the sith to actually have a say in something for once. There was a single logic to matriarchal lineage, anyone could impregnate with enough studs over enough time, but it is easier to trace what mare gives a cub rather than the sire.

“Lord Crusade has informed me of your new duties. The Local Inhabitants of the planet, as you know are akin to insects. We believe they must have a queen, to truly gain control over them we require her obedience. Slaying her or threatening to slay her will not achieve this. This is what we believe the Queens to look like, and feel there may be more than one. Each hive having a Queen. Lord Crusade believes that one of them could be swayed with a show off power."

The image spoke in an elegant and rich accent that made him want to slap the spit out of the admiral. Soon the hologram showed an insect queen that reminded him of the Wroshyr termites. Soon the admiral was back to speak once more, Kalla would have rather stared at the Pulsating, Bloated, Festering, Sweaty, Pus-filled, Malformed, Slug-for-a-Butt then this pitiful human' s aether image.

"I am sure with the possibility of her becoming the sole ruler a deal could be struck. He expects results by the time his mission to Coruscant is completed. We will be sending another Sith, the Anzati, Xi, to assist you once his mission to Mandalore is complete. The holocron you discovered is to remain on your person at all times especially when the second Sith arrives, and is not allowed to access it. Roland out.”

The holoprojector shattered in his grip and the fragmented bits fell away between his fingers to tinkle in the chamber of echoes. Reaching into the folds of his fabric, he drew out his prize to examine the red pyramid for the umpteenth time. there was only one way to keep it on him and un accessable at all times. Once more the cavern echoed with his roars of agony as claws gutted himself open on his side. Dropping to his knees, he began to shove the tetrahedron in by its vertex slowly to avoid his intestines until his wound started to close around it.

He hurt, but pain was good, pain is proof of life.

Crusade

Crusade turned to first Kadan, and then looked at Vera. So they had hopes for the boy, that was interesting. "Do not concern yourself too much with the whelp Vera. He is no more important than the Trooper whose death you orchestrated as you boarded the ship, unless he proves himself to me. I have no use for someone who is so enthralled by the Dark Side he is naught but a blunt instrument." He said no more on the manner, watching as the freighter with the Republic fools on it jumped to hyperspace as they left the hanger of the larger vessel, drifting away from the ship towards where they too could enter hyperspace, a slightly longer route however one that would merely confirm the shuttles origin as Corellia. His old homeworld, he found it fitting that it was so instrumental in his plan.

The journey of course would take several days however that was off no real matter to him. He turned to walk out of the cockpit. "I will be in my meditation chamber." He looked between Vera and Kadan. This would be a good opportunity to test Kadans true worth, equally so than what he had planned on Geonosis. "Vera. Inform Kadan of what you have been doing as Senator on our trip. You and he shall decide what is to be said to the senate." He turned back to face them from the doorway. "I look forward to hearing it at the next meeting of the senate." Pushing forward a tone that would let them both know that on this speech their careers, and thus lives, would hang and with that he left the cockpit as the vessel jumped into hyperspace.

Naraal Vrail, The Hask

Sweat stuck to his skin after the skirmish he had with Master Kadan. He had to admit that the Dark Side... no, The Sith, was a formidable bunch. He was lucky to had made it this far, to had been placed in such a fortunate position, he realized. The Source believed him to be weak; he knew this much to be true. Since he had arrived, he'd only been spoken as so, it made him wonder if the opinions of Suade, Kadan, and now Vera, was right or not.

Regardless if they were, fussing over it in his head would do nothing. He needed to clear it all away, push it to the back. Or better yet organize it all. Taking a seat outside the cockpit, leaning up against its steel side; he closed his eyes and tried to put his emotions in order.

The voice of Suade and Crusade spoke up in his mist-like thoughts; they were, while vastly different in tone, echoing with a guiding presence. Ease up, cleanse the fog and prepare yourself for what may happen. Worst case scenario, you kill more people... He told himself calmly.

---

Gideon Lilac, Coruscant

As he passed by large towers and sections of the symbol of the Jedi, the grand home of all servants of the Force, he felt an odd feeling pull at his head. He paused in his steps, a tattered boot stopping on its toe as a foreboding over took him. A small fit, undecipherable but attention-grabbing. He moved his golden eyes to the cosmos above, the covered speck of gas hidden by the sky.

“Something... isn't right.”

Crusade

Crusade stood as he sensed the billions of lives that resided on Coruscant. He moved to the bridge, where everyone was waiting. He turned to Kadan first. "When we land, release the prisoners into the population. Let them spread fear, then hunt them down with this-" He took out a lightsaber, though this one without a red blade but instead a deep blue colour. Obviously the weapon of a fallen Jedi. "You shall also require a change off attire. If this grows too tiresome for you venture into the undercity and do some..." He took a second to chose his words. "Ritualistic cleansing. I shall summon you once we are finished at the Senate." He turned to Naraal. "You will stay with us on Coruscant, when we converse with the senate. Then you will perform another task as a distraught citizen, however I have prepared the details and will discuss that with you later." He looked to Vera "I have a test for your underling."

He turned directly to Naraal. "You will wait in the shuttle until we have left. You will not attempt to contact us until you arrive inside the senate building. We will be in the Corellian offices and then their respective podium once the meeting begins. You have to find your own way to the senate,and your own way into the senate. Do this and I will once again allow you to access the Force." He began walking away.

---

Rorwoorr

The trip to Coruscant had went without incident, upon their arrival Lucina and the other Jedi had headed towards the Jedi Temple as ordered while he, Kast and the other Mandalorian had went to the senate. Where they were now awaiting to be cleared, of course due to the nature of the searches and separation of the Mandalorians from their weapons the female was in another room, a silver protocol droid stood beside Rorwoor translating for him. [I do not trust this other one with us. Her presence in the force is... off. There is something about her that I do not trust. I shall keep a close eye on her when we meet the defence council, and especially if the Chancellor decides to join the meeting.]

He looked around the room. [I hear of another Mandalorian who has worked extensively with the clans is supposed to be joining the task force and is here on Coruscant. Perhaps once we are done here the three of you can spend what little down time we have to discover the truth of any supposed treachery? While you do so I shall speak to the Commander and try and ascertain if she really is a member of the task force.]

"It shall be done, Lord Crusade," Kadan replied, grasping the Jedi lightsaber he was handed by Crusade, glancing at it for a moment before speaking once more. "I shall keep my eyes on them as they move, then when the time is correct I shall strike them down in clear day with the weapon of their 'protectors'. The Jedi will be unprepared for the coming storm." He added, as he finished speaking, his voice confident and brimming with readiness. Then he bowed his head towards Crusade, before exiting the room, giving Naraal and Vera quick looks that could be taken as ones of either good luck or a warning not to fail.

The door shut automatically behind him as he moved away the bridge, entering a small room behind a door on the side wall. It was a simple one with a bed and a container in the front. He wasn't going to sleep, instead he opened the container, removing clothing from it, brown robes, those of a Jedi knight. As he put the robes on, the imagery of it begin to bring back some deeply contained memories. Then he looked at his newly acquired lightsaber, igniting it, the deep blue blade emerging. It was the exact same color as his first lightsaber, the one he first built when he was a Jedi. This combined with the strange feeling of putting on the robes of a Jedi caused flashes of his past to blast through his mind. Beginning with one of his training as a Jedi, then of his former master, then finally him standing among the corpses of many dead Trandoshans, their bodies twisted and contorted, lightsaber cut marks on many of them.

The memories did not conjure up feelings of regret nor sadness, but rather anger. Anger in himself that he had not properly burned such visions out of his mind. A rare flair of severe emotion came out of the Sith as he rose his free hand towards the wall, unleashing a subconscious bolt of lightning, the lightning slamming into the hard wall of the ship, not enough to rip it open as it was several layers of hard metal, but enough to create a scalding black mark where the bolt landed. He blinked in surprise, then clipped the Jedi lightsaber to his belt, then his actual weapon, his red bladed blade into a large pocket on his pant leg, where he could pull it out in a worst case scenario, which would not happen. Finally, he placed his Sith robes on the bed, then exited the room, sealing it behind him. Then he moved to where the prisoners were being kept, ready to release them once the ship landed and begin the mission.

Location: Public Entrance, Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Time: 1430

---

Stepping out of a Coruscant taxi outside of the ziggurat-like structure, Choruk Reem was not happy to be standing in front of the Jedi Temple. It wasn't his decision. But when a Jedi contacts a Mandalorian and asks for help, how could he refuse? As much as he wanted to say no, and then some, Choruk had taken the time to walk up the many steps to the Jedi Temple. It would be an excellent workout to take a few laps up and down the steps. The real reason he took the stairs instead was because he wasn't authorized in the Jedi Temple's hangar. Reem had learned that the hard way. The last time he attempted to contact a Jedi through the Temple's airspace he had a long argument with traffic controller and a young padawan who took the heat from Reem's anger after requesting a Jedi. This time it was the Jedi who were requesting his presence.

The Mandalorian warrior wore his armor and stuck out like a sore thumb as many Jedi walked past him in their robes. He received many looks of curiosity and concern, but none of the wizards approached him in his foul mood. None except for Jedi Master Rogal Dorn. Behind him was the Echani Jedi, Magnus Galath. These two Jedi he both liked and hated at the same time, and right now he was leaning toward hating. Especially Dorn, if it wasn't bad enough he was a Jedi, being the arrogant man who had been responsible for his arrest was even more infuriating. As hard as it was to swallow, Reem liked the Echani Jedi, even admired him in some ways. The fact he was Echani made it hard to like him, though Galath's allegiance was to the order and not his culture.

"Alright, I'm here, are you happy now?" He said in a defiant tone.

"Sergeant Reem, you are here to learn what the Jedi are meant to be: Keepers of the Peace. You can learn something from our talks with the politicians," answered Rogal Dorn in a stern, yet forgiving voice.

"I highly doubt that. Now I believe you were going to request something of me? Do I detect a favor that I owe you?"

"That is correct, Sergeant," answered Dorn with a bearded smile.

"I had a bad feeling you were going to say that," Reem sighed.

"For one without the guidance of the Force you are a very perceptive fellow," Galath chimed in.

"Bad luck in this case," he said with as much sarcasm as he could emphasize.

"Well?" questioned the Mandalorian.

The Echani leaned forward. "Choruk, your service to the Republic has been invaluable, and your connections to the clans on Mandalore are in need right now. You see, I have received word from a colleague of mine who tells me that there is a crisis at hand which involves the Sith and Mandalore. I am not at liberty to discuss any additional details, nor do I have more information to give you; but I know that the Republic is in need of man like you. Would you assist us in this matter?"

Master Galath didn't give Reem much of a choice, as much as it sounded like he was asking for his help, Reem was bound by honor and could not refuse. As much as the Jedi irritated him, they had helped Reem in his time of need; and, the Jedi had taken a less obnoxious approach than Republic Intelligence with all their accusations, interrogations, and secrets. Master Galath had vouched for Reem in the past. Not only did Galath vouch for him in front of the Chancellor, but in front of several Republic officers. There had been a few incidents in the Republic Army when Reem butted heads with the regular army and their approach to military operations whether that be in garrison or during operations. It wasn't until he was placed in charge of a unit with the Republic Special Forces Division that he really began to take his career seriously. Of course, that's when they began to take him seriously. Galath had helped been a buffer between the Mandalorian and trouble with the Republic.

"Of course, Master Jedi. If this crisis involves Mandalore as you say, then I would be honored to serve in this matter."

Now it was Master Dorn's turn. "Excellent, you are needed at the Senate, I have already notified Master Rorwoorr, a Wookiee Jedi who is taking charge of a mission. If you would report to him, he would greatly appreciate your assistance.." The old Jedi paused. "And Sergeant, I do hope you stay out of trouble." The Master said with bushy raised eyebrows. Dorn stopped. He did not say anything, nor did he turn around. After a brief moment as if he was allowing his final words of warning to set in, he began to walk away toward the great Halls of the Jedi Temple entrance. I really hate that man.

Magnus waited with Reem. "Choruk, I know your frustrations with him, but the Jedi and the Republic really need your help with this. We are indebted to you now, my friend." Galath said offering his arm in the traditional Mandalorian custom. Choruk shook hands by clasping the Echani's forearm with their hand above the wrist. The hand-to-elbow grip is the Mandalorian sign of proving one's ability to haul a comrade to safety, if need be. This was the reason he could never hate the Echani, he never failed to respect Reem's culture, and in turn Choruk trusted the Jedi with his life. He knew Galath would have his back in the heat of battle, and the two could rely on each other.

"May the Force be with you," Master Galath left the Mandalorian with even though he didn't believe in their religion. The Mandalorian respected it, taking it as a blessing and not a curse. If from any other Jedi, he would have a list of curses and a piece of his mind to chew.

Choruk called another Taxi and headed to the Senate district of Coruscant. After half an hour of weaving in and out of Coruscanti airspeeder traffic, the Mandalorian finally arrived at the Senate. After confirming that the Jedi had a meeting with Republic Defense Council and possibly the Chancellor, the Senate guard scanned his ID card and validated his access then led the Mandalorian to a grand receiving hall where he waited to be cleared. He was searched and his weapons confiscated from him. Now he waited to meet the Wookiee Jedi or whoever it was that was supposed to brief him on what was going on.

Other than the somewhat rushed jump, the trip through hyperspace was uneventful. With a more stoic than typical Lucina watching the helm, Kast was comfortable returning to the ship's living area to keep an eye on his unusually large number of Jedi passengers. Nothing particularly noteworthy happened, and Kast was able to get in a bit of work on his armor and weapons before the freighter neared Coruscant. After a fairly extended amount of conflict on Abridon, the parts of Kast's armor and kit that were not made from the tough beskar had to be tuned and patched up. By the time they had reached Coruscant, Kast was confident that his gear was ready for combat- not that he expected that much combat in the Republic Capitol. Other than a few hooligans and ruffians here and there, Coruscant was relatively tame.

Kast followed Jedi Master Rorwoorr in relative silence as they approached the Senate building, where he was thoroughly stripped of his weapons- Blaster pistols, rifle, close to half a dozen knives and blades, slugthrower, and his wrist plates- as they were mounted with weapons as well. Feeling several pounds lighter, Kast walked casually alongside Rorwoorr as he spoke to him through the use of one of the many protocol droids in the building. While the droid itself was fairly annoying, its uses were valuable. Maybe Kast would purchase one before he left Coruscant, since he worked under Master Rorwoorr, being able to understand his boss without his Padawan always around would come in handy. Or he could just purchase a Shyrii-wook translator- which would probably be considerably more handy while on the field as he usually was.

Rorwoor expressed his distrust towards the liberated female prisoner in the mandalorian armor who was in the other room. Kast shrugged. "I try not to trust anyone." he replied simply, "Its easier that way."

"But." Kast added, "She is a strange one. She wears the armor of my people, but from her actions and mannerisms, I am almost certain that she is no Mandaloran."

Rorwoorr pledged to keep an eye on the woman, but Kast had no intention of taking his eyes off of her either. He continued to speak of another Mandalorian who would be joining them on the task force. It was a bit odd, as Kast rarely came across others of his culture while working with the Republic, but it wasn't too uncommon, as the Republic was admittedly a good source of credits. Rorwoorr described the Mandalorian as one that had been working extensively with the other Clans. A few names came to Kast's mind, though Kast couldn't put his finger on it. He merely nodded as they continued walking.

As they entered the receiving hall, Kast spotted the Mandalorian that Rorwoorr had likely been speaking of. While most had difficulty telling Mandalorian's apart, especially when they wore their helmets, Kast easily noticed the finer details of the man's armor. Cross checking his memories with the details of the Mandalorian's armor, the few names in Kast's head immediately narrowed to one. Kast leaned towards Rorwoorr, a bit more difficult due to the Wookie's large size.

"I recognize the man." Kast said in a low voice, "Choruk Reem, I believe. Leader of the Reem Clan, worked extensively on Mandalore for a while. I don't know much about him, only the things my family has told me. He's a bit wild, but his heart's in the right place. For whatever that's worth."

Airus dragged the now finally awake Sith out to a group of waiting Jedi Knights and Masters who would take him for interrogation. He then looked at the temple quietly silently wondering how his sister was doing and if he could see her, it had been years since he last set foot here. It was a homing coming of sorts, a sad one but none the less a home he was glad to see. He decided to take the lead waving to the other two Jedi "Come on you two, we have a lot of work ahead of us." With that he started up towards the temple, many Jedi look at him and begin to whisper, after all it's not everyday a exile returns to the temple with Sith in hand.

As he made his way up the steps his mind drifted back to the day he left the order, it was shortly after he had petitioned the council to let him train his sister as a padawan. It was obvious that his parents had taught her the basics of force use and lightsaber combat she able to pass the tests with ease and even hold her own against a padawan learner in combat. He knew that the council would have keep her as a learn until about 14 or 15 then she would be given a Master to train her. He had argued with the council and even angered one of the Masters. They had told him that he could not handle a padawan and that someone of his skill and background was lucky to have not exiled for this behavior. So angry at the Master he punched him, now that, that had earned him exile yet now the Council wanted him for this Task Force because he had been out in the rim battling corruption aka the Hutts and had some combat experience compared to most other Knights.

As the shuttle he had spent the better portion of a week on began to rattle and shake signifying entrance into the atmosphere above Mandalore, Xi couldn't resist the urge to let out a long, exasperated sigh. Being assigned to this foul planet wasn't his ideal form of work. The Mandalorians were a broken people, licking their wounds after a sound defeat by the Republic and their Jedi hounds. The scholarly Sith doubted that they would have much to offer his master's cause, but he had no reason to defy the man known as Crusade. After their initial meeting, the Sith Lord had been quite generous by allowing the Anzat full reign over his holocron archives. The knowledge he managed to absorb as a result was incredible, so flying to a backwater planet to turn some defeated warriors against the Order he hated so much was the least he could do in return.

Still, it felt wrong. Dressing himself in the robes of the past, clipping his old lightsaber to his belt and masquerading as a persona he had left behind so long ago. While faking his identity wasn't something foreign to the male after decades of wandering the galaxy, to think himself a Jedi once again was a sensation bizarre to him. At the very least, he could justify it by using his ruse to run the name of the Jedi further through the muck. Gazing outside the port window of the shuttle, he could only sneer as the surface of Mandalore grew closer and closer. The pilot, one of Crusade's many peons, called back through the intercom that they would be landing within ten minutes. They would touch down on the land belonging to clan Den, a reasonably high ranked faction among the wounded Mandalorian hierarchy. They would be the first of the clans he would torment during his little tour through their planet.

After several more minutes of contemplation and smug thoughts of self superiority, the sounds of the secondary thrusters slowing their descent shook Xi from his musings. Without missing a beat, the vampiric Sith stood from his seat just as they touched down upon the grassy plains below. A few mechanical clicks as the automated systems went to work and within seconds a rush of air filled the ship's quarters as the back end of the shuttle opened up and a ramp extended down below, giving its occupants access to the outside world. His sturdy brown robes flickering in the wind, Xi trotted down the metallic ramp until his boot covered feet crunched the grass down below. So it all began.. Assuming the natives of the forsaken planet still had any fight in them, the owners of the homestead they had landed upon would soon come searching and when they arrived, they'd find a Jedi just looking for trouble. The real problem was the wait. For a man of an immortal race, wasting time was never something Xi enjoyed. Either luck shone down upon him, or Mandalorians did indeed have some fire in their spirits as soon, a set of riders broke from over the horizon.

Five riders crested the horizon, all wearing rag tag red armour that appeared to have been cobbled together by various other sets. Only the lead rider had was discernable above the others to have his own set of unique armour. Seamless but definitely not in perfect condition, covered in scrapes and blaster marks and one burn from his right shoulder down to the left side of his waist was obviously made by a lightsaber attempting to cut through the metal, it's failure indicated to what the metal was. Mandalorian Iron.

Blaster fired out from the underslung basters on the swoop bikes, lacing a circle of fire around the shuttle. Several careless shots even crazed the outer hull of the vessel. Two riders broke right, and began circling the vessel clockwise and two left counter-clockwise spaced out in two layers, as the fifth rider obviously the leader rode through, using his blaster to fire near the feet of the man who descended the ramp to stop him. As the bike stop, and the engine was cut out the leader looked at the man, recognizing the attire and the weapon attached to his belt.

"What do you want Jedi? You are not welcome here."

A smirk found its way upon Xi's face as blaster fire came screeching over the hill. As warlike as ever, it seemed. One would assume their thorough defeat would make the damned Mandalorians more cautious about gunning down anybody who came around. Assured they wouldn't dare strike him, the former Jedi trotted towards them until the leader let a volley strike the ground before the Anzat's feet. Stopping his advance, he did his best to try and conceal his amusement and maintain the image of a stern Jedi.

"It does not matter whether I'm welcome here or not. I've been assigned to an important mission by the Council to monitor your people." He informed the lead Mando, doing his best to convey a calm voice while simultaneously lacing it with a certain disdain that one would expect from a Jedi in such a situation. He was there to instigate a conflict, after all. "It's been a long while since the scattering of your clans and while I'm quite certain you're still licking your wounds from the war, we cannot risk the remnants of your great ‘empire’ harboring any... less than peaceful thoughts as they rebuild."

He waved his and and two riders rode off in different directions, in the distance smoke could be seen indicating nearby settlements. “We have been bested, we have had all our weapons and armour removed having to begin anew. You have no need to come and gloat here.” He stepped off his bike, standing to his full height. “I am Mar Den, leader of the Den clan and you are not welcome on my land. We are honourable people Jedi unlike you and your Republic.”

He indicated to the riders circling them. “These weapons we used to defend ourselves, against people like you who would take advantage of us.”

Narrowing his eyes towards the leader of the riders, Xi simply shrugged his shoulders. "It matters not whether you say your clans are bested and disarmed. The council has reason to believe Mandalore may become a threat in the near future. If you're truly sincere about how downtrodden your clan and the others of this world are, you have no reason to deny me entry to your lands." He retorted haughtily, ensuring the tone in which he conveyed his words was just as offensive as the words themselves.

He cast his arms around him. “These are the lands of Mandalore artueii. My ancestors died in defence of these lands against the likes of you Jedi. If you truly came to investigate this world for threats you could have done so from within your ship.” This time it was him who began accusing, with his blaster rifle slung over his back his right hand was down near a holstered pistol. “This world is naught but farm land and mines now, tell me what it is you truly want.”

"Your ancestors forfeited the right to have their lands left alone when they took a torch to the galaxy and expected to conquer it without challenge. You and your clansmen will have to pay the price for their failure, I'm afraid." Xi shot back sharply, his voice steadily growing more aggressive as their verbal battle seemed to begin heating up. Watching his hand slip down towards his holster, a glint of malice flickered in the vampiric Sith's eye. "Those mines of yours can prove to be quite troublesome... Mandalorian Iron is quite an important resource for this planet. A very conflict encouraging resource." He said. In response to the man's aggressive stance he pushed his robes to the side, revealing the saber hanging from his belt. He made no moves towards it however. He simply allowed it to be seen. A threat... no, a challenge of sorts. As if to say 'yours against mine'.

“Use of Mandalorian Iron is our birthright, it is what makes us strong and defends ourselves against you and your type who try to impose your will upon us.” More riders appeared on the horizon, from the direction that the ones earlier had left. Staying well back currently. However it could be seen from afar that whatever armour they were wearing was even more rag tag than the five who rode against the man earlier. He indicated to himself and the two riders who had remained earlier. “As you can see we do not have enough beskar’gam to protect five warriors in new armour, what harm is it giving your order and the Republic?”

He took a step forward. “Though I tell you something. You Jedi have finally revealed yourselves to be the scum you are, pretending you’re all high and mighty. When you come here to what, gloat?” He turned away and began walking to his speeder bike. “I am through with this discussion. I expect you to leave.”

Xi stood silent as the Mandalorian went about claiming his 'birthright' and speaking of how poor the warriors of his clan were, an uncaring look upon his face as he awaited the end of his speech. If nothing else, the Mandalorians certainly did hold a great deal of pride for a ragtag assortments of broken souls clinging to tradition. Only when the man issued his final sentence did the fallen one speak up. "And if I don't?" The imposter questioned defiantly.

The Mandalorian turned, his helmet not betraying a hint of emotion on his hidden face. “You will be made to leave…” He let the sentence trail off. “Of course with the necessary restrictions you would be stunned and we’d have to think of an elaborate ruse to tell the Republic, probably involve some rogue Mandalorians bent on revenge - Such a thing being as unthinkable as it is. Though in all honesty.” His right hand was down holding onto the stock of his pistol by this point. “With the state things are in, I cannot guarantee that all the rifles nearby have working stun functions. In fact, I believe the settings on my own rifle are a little bit off giving kill shots when I merely want to stun.”

He flicked off his helmet mic, stopping the Jedi from hearing him as from atop one of the nearby hills a shot, aimed right at the mans head, left the blaster rifle. Speeder bikes began moving as more blasters began to join the chorus....

So it seemed the old, downed dog still had some fight left in him. Xi's lips parted to speak once again but it became quickly apparent to him that the time for words was over. mainly because of the blaster bolt soaring towards his head from over the hill. The sound of the blaster going off immediately triggered the reaction within the Anzat. He was more than aware of the odds against him at the moment and it proved to be quite useful for him. No sooner than he ducked towards the side did the bolt of blazing red energy screech near his face, the heat radiating off it caressing his skin as it past and struck the ramp of the shuttle behind him.

By the time any of the other riders had began firing upon him, the Sith had already pulled his saber into the palm of his hand with the force. With a simple click the green blade of his weapon extended to its full length, humming as it sliced the air. Two blasts flying past his body as he strayed from the shuttle's vicinity, his eyes narrowed down on the Mandalorian's leader who at this point had drawn his pistol and taken aim. More than prepared to reflect whatever shot he had back at him with his glowing blade, the former Jedi was certainly shocked when the weapon fired off not a stream of condensed energy, but a round metallic slug. Forced to duck away at the last moment, he hissed internally as the round sliced through the robes to his side, narrowly missing his mid section. Another shot soon followed it but the former Jedi, expecting it at this point, managed to roll out of the way of the shot with his superior reflexes.

There was no doubt in his mind another shot would be coming, but using the time it would take for the seasoned warrior to aim the Anzat focused the force upon the archaic weapon in the leader's hand, yanking it out of his grip at the last second and sending the weapon flying off into the distance. Free of such an obstacle, Xi made haste in closing the gap between them as the disgruntled warrior began to reach for his rifle. Thanks to the unnatural speed bestowed upon a force user such as himself, he easily managed the task, the reasonably inaccurate blaster fire from the ever moving riders striking the ground around him like rain as he rushed their commander. Seeing he had little time to pull the weapon up for a shot the old dog managed to throw up his gauntlet to block a horizontal slash from the speedy alien's blade. The lightsaber bounced off the resilient beskar, leaving little more than a scorch mark on it's surface.

For how pathetic his race was in the Sith's eyes, Xi could at least give the man credit for his skill in battle. Even with a Jedi in his face, the old bastard managed to keep him at bay, moving in close to limit Xi's capabilities with his saber while battering any swings away with his impervious armor. The melee, at the very least, guarded Xi from some of the incoming blaster fire as the Mandalorians were forced to divert the rifles as to not strike their leader, even if the bolts would have little effect on him. Yet even the most seasoned could only hold up for so long under the graceful assault of a well trained force user. A single mistake was all it took for the skirmish to end. Miscalculating the trajectory of an incoming strike, the searing blade of Xi's lightsaber cut through the vulnerable joint of the man's elbow. With no beskar to slow it, the gleaming green blade cut straight through and left the man's arm to drop to the ground uselessly.

A scream echoing inside his helmet, it took merely another fraction of a second for Xi to capitalize on the weakness brought on by the decisive strike and claim his other arm with a lightning fast flourish. Left defenseless, Xi easily sent the man sprawling with a force push to the chest. Of course, for his failure, the Mando did manage to give his men enough time to close the gap with their foe. A shower of blaster fire coming upon him, Xi pivoted his lightsaber and began to flick away the bolts as they came in. Seeing an opportunity with one of the riders slightly ahead two of his companions, the dark sider rose his hand and called upon the force once again to force the head rider to swerve to the side, the two behind him unable to turn in time to escape the sudden collision which left all three scattering in a fiery blast that claimed their bikes and their lives.

Yet with a variable swarm of warrior descending upon his position, three was nothing in the grand scheme of things. With several of the bastards circling around him to fire on him from behind, it became obvious fending them off with his saber wouldn't do at all. Left with no other option, he did the unthinkable. The blade of his saber quickly retreated to its hilt, leaving him wide open for the incoming fire. Yet as the Mandalorians focused in on this weakness, by the time the bolts arrived... he was gone. Disappeared into thin air as the riders circled about in confusion. But their foe had not disappeared. No, he had merely hidden himself from them as to better combat them, as was proven when two more of the riders suddenly found themselves losing control of their bikes as they moved to pass each other, the swoops crashing into one another in a blazing inferno that too consumed their riders even as they attempted to jump away.

Paranoia within the ranks, blaster fire began to reign supreme once more. Only ten riders remained and like cattle they would soon fall, one after another. Like a predator striking against his prey he slowly went about dispatching each of their riders. Flipping swoops into the air with bursts of the force so they would crush their riders beneath, crushing repulsors so the vehicles would fly off course and crash into the ground and violently smash their masters, even appearing briefly to ignite his saber and cut a warrior off of his bike before vanishing once more. Before long the carnage had claimed all of the riders, each and every one of them slaughtered by the ruthless 'Jedi' even in retreat.

Once he was assured that every threat had been taken care of and even the sniper who begun the entire fight had fled to the hills in fear or self preservation did the vampire will himself to reappear, the force energy he had cloaked himself in vanishing for good. Stalking slowly towards the only remaining life on the field, the clan leader whom he had bested earlier in the fight and 'disarmed' quite literally. The man laid upon the ground, struggling to try and stand despite his lack of limbs. A cruel smile on his face, Xi placed a boot onto his chest piece and forced him onto his back from the pathetic position he had forced himself onto up on his stubs.

"You have no honour Jedi, finish what you started." The leader spat up at the Jedi, hatred burning in his voice as the Anzat drew his saber and ignited the luminescent green blade once more. Pointing his fingers towards the man's helm, he used the force to ensure his head jerked upwards to reveal the weakness of his neck. "Oh, I know I don’t. Soon the whole of Mandalore will know as well. You've been of great service, my friend." The arrogant Sith purred in a condescending manner as he swept his saber down and cut through the man's throat, severing his head from his body before he could breath another defiant breathe.

In all honesty, Xi had expected to spend so much more time on this rock. But thanks to the rashness of one man, he had saved himself days of effort. With luck the lone survivor would return to his clan and bring him the news of the terrible massacre that had occurred on their lands. Men of their clan, the leader of their worthless existence cut down by a ruthless Jedi looking to further cripple their people. He considered it a success, all and all. Deactivating his saber and allowing it to stick to his belt via its magnetic clip the vile alien bent forward to collect the head of his fallen foe, looking down at the helmet with a quizzical expression.

"Wonder if it'll fit me..."

________________

Having successfully collected the armor of the fallen clan leader to further add insult to injury, Xi returned to the shuttle and within moments left the atmosphere of Mandalore for the wide open abyss of space. Having spent most of the trip tending to the various burns from close calls with blaster bolts and the nasty cut the main Mandalorian's slugthrower had left on his side the Sith at last had time to himself. Time which he spent contacting Admiral Roland to report his good news.

The return was curt, the admiral standing tall and proud in the hologram. “My congratulations to you, however preparations are not near finished for the Emperors reveal.” He nodded to someone outside the hologram. “We are sending you data now, you are to head to Geonosis and locate KallaTatha. He will inform you off your mission.” With that the hologram faded.

Naraal Vrail

His moment of cleansing or mental rehabilitation had long left him. Now he stood with the others, Vera, Kadan, and The Source. Though he dared not stand directly with them, he could just feel he had not earned the right. So instead he placed himself to the side of Vera, situated behide her, his hands hanging in his earthen sleeves.

While they spoke, he forced himself to pay attention. If he was to be strong, if he was to join this empire; then this was a necessity. No longer was he on his own, he couldn't do what he wanted. He needed order and control. But that was easier said than done. When The Source's voice was directed towards him, he found himself lost; had he been thinking while the man was talking?

He cursed to himself.

With a single, strong nod; Naraal accepted that he'd be remaining with them and his mission. It was for the greater good, he told himself. The more he was with The Source, the more he could learn. Whether that be through personal education or simple observation. The man did cut him off from The Force; from The Dark Side. And in that little bit of time, he had to battle with all sorts of emotions; he was on the right track to controlling them. He wondered if he was actually ready to receive his powers back. Would it be for the best?

Once he had begun to walk away, Naraal reached out to Vera and touch her arm. She was good with espionage, he could tell. He could... feel it, just a little. “Master, I need your help?” He told her quietly, his fingers clasping the edges of his sleeves. He was ashamed to ask but...

“I was wondering if you could give me a few pointers?” He asked her.

---

Gideon Lilac, Coruscant

“I'll seek advice if something comes up,” He told himself, walking with great strides towards The Senate. It was just a feeling and if nothing else, his time in training had always told him to trust those feelings. Cause feelings were just hints from the Force, warnings and signs. He needed to check on it, if nothing else.

Vera

Vera nodded at Lord Crusade when they said they would proceed without her apprentice into the senate and as they were about to leave the boy asked for her help and she spoke very quickly so she could catch up with Lord Crusade. "Act like you belong, do not use force unless you are sure you won't be noticed, take only what you need and make sure you won't get caught, make up a fake name for your self, and do not kill anyone. If you manage to do that and enter the senate unnoticed, i will teach you everything i know." And with that said she left Naraal standing there alone.

Vera and Crusade didn't say a word to one another as they passed security checks with a quick wave of Vera's forged identification. As they entered the hallways a shrill female voice screamed and Vera automatically knew who it was. "Amallia!" The voice shouted and quickly rushed the assassin throwing her arms tight around her, the person in question was a plump lady dressed in bright vibrant reds that hurt the eyes, she was a senator from Dantooine and pretty damn rich. "Who is this man that is with you my dear girl." The lady said, "He is my body guard, I've been receiving threats."
"You dear girl getting threatened?"
"I know, but it is the way this universe works when you speak your mind." Vera said twirling her hair and acting like a bit of an airhead, the plump senator nodded. "I must go, i have to talk to a few other senators." And with that the plump lady left Vera standing alone, if Vera could she would of made a sprint right for the office but instead she calmly entered and closed it behind Crusade. "I Want to killer her so badly." She muttered quietly as she sat in her chair and looked to Lord Crusade.

---

Lucina

The trip to Coruscant was quite and things were even quieter as Lucina walked through the Jedi temple, this was like a home away from home for her. Younglings went about their studies, padawans and masters walked side by side. This was perhaps one of the safest places in the galaxy, it was a home to many and a safe haven to a few. But she was here on a mission and she would do well to remember that. As she stepped towards the chamber she didn't even get to say anything before one of them spoke. "Enter Lucina..."

The jump to Hyperspace was uneventful due to not being able to roam the cramped craft. Investigating it would look suspicious so she had no choice but to remain in the cockpit, casting weird looks over to the Padawan every once in a while. Eventually, they dropped out of Hyperspace just over Coruscant and Jailee was no longer condemned to long hours spent in the tight cockpit with a girl who didn't speak a word the entire time.

Keeping the secret about which side of the force she identified with would be very difficult if she was surrounded by master-Jedi who could probe her mind for information. Thankfully, with the Wookie and the Mando weren't even intending on going towards the Jedi Temple so she was safe, for another while, at least. Jailee wasn't an idiot though; she knew that this disguise would only work for a bit before she would be unearthed and she would have to run. Maybe she could get something done before that happened this time?

Getting into the Senate was surprisingly easy as just had to remove her weapons, which she quite literally had none of. "They didn't give me any weapons." She informed them but allowed them to check quickly, letting out an exasperated sigh. Their next demand she didn't particularly care about - they wanted to inspect the armour. "Well, I would but..." With that, she peeled off the armour slightly, exposing her lack of any functional clothing. After that, they were very hesitant to pull her armour from her when she suggested she could just take it all off and move on.

Finally, she was passed through with a few grumbles and generally, she was left with a good feeling - maybe she could get something important done. "Why am I here?" She questioned slowly as she rejoiced the Wookie and his hired-gun.

Sep + Enalais

The Jedi High Council sat in their seats in a horseshoe shape, the opening where the door was. Twelve masters sat in their seats, those who could not be there in person were relayed via holocomminications. First, a Zabrak spoke. He sat in the central arc of the horseshoe putting him in prominence. “Padawan Coltims, we are surprised it is you who comes before us.” Then in the customary and mystique way of the Jedi Council, another member of the council spoke. A female human,
“However we expected as such. You have grave news to tell us, do you not?” An Ithorian at the side went next, this was to ensure the continual attention of the Jedi being addressed who had to often move to keep up with who was speaking.
“What is it you have learned Padawan?”

Lucina spoke firmly. “It appears that the sith have a plan for Mandalore, but worse of all masters is the fact that this sith lord had brought a reemerging Sith Empire with him. All of us on Abridon saw first hand his new sith empire.” Her voice was timid, she didn’t know how the council would react to this and she found herself wishing Master Rorworr was here to speak instead of herself.

Several off the masters nodded at eachother, and a droid entered the room. “Send the intel with this droid, we shall have experts go over the data. However we ourselves have heard about troubling times on Mandalore in your absence. A rogue Jedi apparently killed most of a clan and left its leader alive as a message. We were going to speak to Master Rorwoorr about this as it could end up being your next mission.” That master spoke, another however took her turn.
“In terms of the new Sith Empire, we do not believe that the Sith could have regained straight quickly enough to be off a major threat to the Republic. How do you not know this was not merely some remnant or apprentice declaring themselves ruler?”
Lucina spoke up this time her voice betraying a bit of annoyance. “They were organized, they destroyed a republic fleet and killed two Jedi. They had many more men than any enclave i’ve ever dealt with, and one of them was quite powerful in the arts of battle meditation, to powerful to be an apprentice or a sith hiding within a remnant.” She gave the droid the intel she had collected off of the machines within the base looking to the masters for whatever their answer was to be.
The masters all looked at eachother and nodded again. “We will attach some new Jedi to the task force-” He nodded to another Jedi who held a datapad that sent the names to Lucinas personal device. “We shall also wait to hear from Rorwoorr who we presume has went to the defence council with this information?” There was a bit off skepticism was in that last remark.

Lucina nodded and looked at her personal device and spoke. “Master Rorwoorr is doing what he thinks is best for the jedi and the republic. And i’m sure he will be grateful for your support to us. By your leave masters.” She said looking to the others, looking to see if anyone had any other questions to ask.
The masters all nodded. “Inform those in the temple of them joining your forces. We will deliberate and speak with the Chancellor and decide a course of action.”

---

Rorwoorr first turned to the new Mandalorian, bowing his head and acknowledged what Kast had said. He turned to the other Mandalorian who had asked the question, speaking he trusted his protocol droid to translate for him. [You are here to be debriefed by the defence council and stand as witness to the decimation to the Republic Fleet, the forces on Abridon and what they did to you while in captivity.] He nodded to Kast and Reem. [After which we will confirm your identity and have you debriefed by Republic Intelligence and have you returned to Mandalore unless you are truly a member of the Task Force.]

He turned his furred head towards the new Mandalorian this... Reem. [You are here as you know the political situation on Mandalore.] He handed over a commlink to the Mandalorian. [Use this to gain entry into the Jedi Temple, have the guard take you to my Padawan Lucina who no doubt will be either debriefing the council or gathering more Jedi to join us. The information we deciphered and what I have heard of events that have transpired something is going on on Mandalore that we cannot chose to ignore, as your home planet I am sure you do not want to see it stricken by war again. I give you my word that we bear no ill intent to you or your people, and merely to wish your people becoming enslaved.]

He indicated to himself. [Something I myself experience, and do not want to see anywhere in the galaxy.]

---

Crusade stood near the door, keeping character. "You have played your character well." He looked around the lavishly decorated office. "It will only escalate from here, as will your position within the Empire and the Republic. Though-" He chuckled slightly. "Soon they'll all be eating out of your hands. But I do see what tires you so much when you have to don this persona." There was a knock at the door, and an aide walked in. Ignoring Crusade, if only he knew.

"Sorry to bother you M'Lady however Senator Vish from Kuat has called in ill. However she has asked that you take her place in an emergency meeting of the Defence Council."

Kadan watched the prisoners run wild, he had released them right after their ship had landed. Now he merely was waiting for them to do the first part of the job, he would need to finish it when the time was right, and he could tell it was going to happen soon. He simply followed one of them from a safe distance, the hood of his robe up, eyes following the target. To anyone in the crowds he moved through he looked like a simple Jedi knight going along his own business, a common sight on Coruscant. But he was definitely not a Jedi.

He had the others tracked, so he just needed to not mess it up. As the prisoner he was following switched directions, creating panic as it moved, raving about some terrible Jedi coming to kill him. Well he wasn't entirely wrong. Kadan moving forward with more intent, going up a staircase, the moment was apporaching, he just needed to play it right, and that opportunity came as the prisoner was moving right into the position Kadan would need to execute a glorious and terrifying entrance.

The man bounced off a bystander, his eyes wide with terror, if they could have popped out of his head then they would've when Kadan landed a few feet away, the Force cushioning his fall as he rose to his feet, the Jedi lightsaber in his hand, the shimmering blue blade ignited as he walked towards the prisoner who started to backpedal, in hysterics as he shrieked.

"There he is! Don't let that Jedi monster near me!" The prisoner said, as he tried running away, but Kadan stopped the attempt with the use of the Force, his free hand raised as the man seemingly tripped over nothing, falling right onto his face. Then as the man tried to stand and run, Kadan was upon him, his blade cleaving the man's right arm off. The gathered crowd around them letting out gasps, some screaming as the acting Jedi swung down, the blade of his weapon slicing off both the man's legs, then for the coup de grace, the blade slicing into the neck, sending the decapitated head off the body, spinning into the crowd, the eyes still open in shock and terror.

The people in the crowd staring on before turning to run in terror as Kadan looked up upon them, acting like he wouldn't hesitate to strike down anyone else. Then with a bolt of energy, he sprinted down an alley, the last thing he would need was to have all of the security on Coruscant on his tail, or worse, the Jedi getting wise about the scheme. So he ran, taking a sharp turn, away from the gruesome scene, already moving to find the next prisoner as well.

Naraal Vrail, Outside The Senate

He didn't have to be covert or unnoticeable, that little tactic came almost natural to him. He sat outside, caught between that of two other suits; men the both of them, but one of them dressed just a bit better than the other. He wondered how he could use them to further his own mission. While the other looked more important, Naraal could tell that the man was obviously more experienced. I'm sure he'll be more suspicious of me. Questions would come up that would raise more problems than solve, He told himself.

His passive expression turned slightly agitated. Ignorant, He admitted of himself. but I won't be for long. He commenced his elaborate plan to enter the Senate unnoticed.

Noticing the nervousness nearly drifting from the man beside him, either unready or simply fearful; Naraal put on his friendliest smile. “ Hey, are you alright?”

The young man had brown hair cut short, warm brown eyes, and a responding yet naive smile. It only assured the young Sith that his plan would work. “Unfortunately no, this is my first time coming here.” His fingers moved without purpose. “On business for my father,” He clarified.

Naraal nodded. “Well, I may have a small use when it comes to business like that. If you'd like, I could tell ya.”

A curious expression and curt nod told him to continue.

“Thanks. Ya see, I pick up what little credits I can by taking notes and other stuff for officials like you,” He made small gestures with his hands, hoping to keep the man, if perceptive, from uncovering his ruse. “If you wanted me to, I could help you out as well. I'm dirt cheap and would even offer these services fer free; after all, you're a first time customer.”

It took the man a minute to think before he asked. “For free?”

Naraal nodded jovially, he didn't care about missing out on some credits if it meant he completed his mission.

When the man stuck out his hand towards Naraal, a firm grip taken shape in it, the youth's grin widened in a gracious smile. “Thank you so much, I swear you won't regret this.” He took hold of the the hand with both of his.

“Junior senator, Layle Minu,” introduced the man.

“Kallen,” Naraal responded back, taking Vera's advice and using a fake name. He had thought about it on the way there.

The two of them got through security checks easy enough after that, just one moment had freaked the youth out afterwards. While he walked dutifully behind Layle, a tall man, lean in figure with piercing gold eyes halted them and simply stared at him. It made his heart race in irregular beats; it sent fear running through his veins. Luckily his training with his first Sith master had taught him to conceal it. After a tense moment, he sent them on and before long Layle and he was walking among dozens of other high-risk figures. Behind the veil of his own new appearance, his silver eyes gleamed with deception; a truly sly smile hidden behind the shadows of his bangs.

Not bad, Naraal... not bad. Now to sneak away from this idiot when the chance arises. I need to find Master Vera and The Source.

Airus had visited the temple and his sister leaving after spending as much time as he could with her. He left and decided to seek out Lucina, he arrived just after the council had released Lucina the first thing he decided to do was apologize "I'm sorry, I should have joined you in seeing the council but I feel my presence is unwelcome among them. Also I wished to greet my sister, it has been to long since we last talked. However am ready to assist with anything you might need." He gave a bow to her, hoping she would accept his reasons. Standing back up he sighing, he clutched his head, strange things were happening with the force or perhaps it was something else, deciding he would consult Rorrwoor later he gave Lucina a smile and tried to remain helpful.

"I'm assuming we have new orders pertaining to our discovery of the Empire?" he asked cautiously worried that they would involve some impossible mission or worse. His mind had be running over time and the lack of sleep was not helping, he was still worried about this Empire and more importantly now that they had shown themselves what kinda of plays they would make? Perhaps a assault on the Temple or something worse? Like the capturing of a few systems to give themselves territory and resources. All of this worried the Sentinel yet he wore a smile knowing that fear would weaken him, it would take courage for there task and he would have it, he had people he needed to protect.

In the hall Reem noticed another Mandalorian talking with a Wookiee Jedi. He identified him by the armor design he wore as a son of Kast, a smaller clan on Mandalore with which he had a good relationship with. Though Reem did not recognize the man. Reem knew the Allit'alor personally as well as many of the clan elders whom he had fought alongside with during the clan wars. Kast were great warriors and Reem had kept in contact with Kast ever since as trade partners and allies. The Wookie Jedi Kast was speaking with should be none other than Master Rorwoorr as Master Dorn had informed him about. There was a woman who wore Mandalorian armor he did not recognize, it could mean anything. There were clans who isolated themselves or had left Mandalore entirely, but there was something odd about her. Part of him wanted to confront her and ask her who she was. He remained quiet about it.

Reem nodded at Kast in acknowledgment then at the Wookiee who had bowed to greet him. The Wookiee gave Reem a comlink and instructions in Shyriiwook. He understood every word. "I understand your tongue and have no need for your protocol droid." The Wookiee reminded him of his best friend Wyrryshrook, he missed having his partner around. She always brightened his mood. The Wookiee Jedi gave off a very peaceful and comforting vibe, as if everything was going to be okay. That's how he felt around Wyrry. Reem instantly trusted what Rorwoorr said as genuine That was rare instance and something the Mandalorian didn't do lightly, especially for a Jedi; but, the Wookiee was truthfully concerned for the people of Mandalore. Anyone who cared for the Mando'ade was a friend of Reem. He had only known the Jedi for five minutes and Reem had silently pledged his allegiance to him.

"I am honored to serve you Master Rorwoorr, and I would be greatly honored to fight by your side," Reem offered his hand in custom with Mandalorian covenant and shook hands with the Wookiee. He also offered his arm to Kast. "Kast, It's always a pleasure to be in the presence of ner vod, al burc'ya vaal burk'yc, burc'ya veman."

Lucina

As Lucina walked out of her meeting with the council it was Airus who approached her, she was not in the mood to be ambushed after speaking with the masters but she gave him the answers he wanted. "The masters will meet and delegate what our plan is." She sighed and found herself drifting out of the temple attempting to call up a taxi with her datapad, when the taxi showed up she left Airus with some parting words her voice maintaining the Jedi calm she lacked on Abridon. "I wouldn't get your hopes up just yet, besides this sith lord probably already slipped away." And with that she took her seat in the taxi and it took off heading towards the senate.

---

Vera

As Vera opened up her mouth to speak again one of her aides walked in and spoke about one of the senators from Kuat being ill and the defense council. "I will go." She said and turned towards Lord Crusade. "You will come with me just in case." She told Lord Crusade her voice firm, she had to admit commanding around Lord Crusade was kind of fun it would be best to try not to get used to it.

Leaving her office with the Aide in tow she walked through the halls and found herself in the room with the defense council who were just taking their seats. Taking the center seat normally reserved for the Kuati senator she looked towards the door where the people coming in to speak their mind would enter when the others were ready she spoke her voice a octave higher than usual. "Send them in." She said, straightening looking very much like a queen upon a throne.