Author's Note: This is my first "Star Wars" story. I set it a few thousand years before the films to give me room for creativity. If I get good feedback on this one, this will probably be the first in a series. Enjoy.

Cast Overview (These are about all of them, but there will be more, though. Feel free to skim the list or just skip it completely.)

--The Good--

Gavin Rane: Human, 24 years old; Jedi Knight; Agile and quick, he is an asset to the Republic and the Jedi Order.

Aeris Calten: Human, 41 years old; Jedi Master and member of the Jedi Council; Friend and mentor to Gavin, took Gavin on as his Padawan after his former teacher, Derian Qawnn, was killed on Yavin by a bounty hunter named Xavic.

Uriah Kilrus: Twi'lek, 25 years old; Jedi Knight; She is a close friend of Gavin and also his possible love interest, kept secret from the Council.

Onba Ferdu: Kaminoan, 87 human-years old; Jedi Master and most mysterious member of the Jedi Council; Wise and equally as powerful in the ways of the Force.

Jezvik: Mon Calamari, 69 human-years old; Jedi Master and arguably the wisest and most powerful member of the Jedi Council as well as the Jedi Order; His words are heeded and his advice is sought by the highest of officials, including Chancellor Montark.

--The Bad--

Banthar Dax: Human, 38 years old; Shadow Knight; Once a mighty Jedi Knight, Banthar was seduced by the Dark Side and banished from the Jedi Order, after a fearsome battle with Aeris Calton on Genosis, he was implanted with a bionic eye and left arm. He is the only known person to wield a black lightsaber.

Darth Cyrus: Human, 54 years old; Shadow Lord; Once a highly skilled Sith Lord, Cyrus grew even too deadly for the Sith and was to be murdered by his teacher, Darth Kepton. After slaughtering Darth Kepton, Cyrus rebelled and joined the Shadow-Walkers as the first apprentice, gathering both Jedi and Sith alike for a battle like no other.

(There are more evildoers, like the head of the Shadow-Walkers, but giving you more information will be defeating the purpose of reading.)

--The Ugly (No, just kidding…it should probably be called, The Others.)--

Tiberius Montark: Human, 59 years old; Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate; Fearing a report of a growing threat on Nexis, Montark employs the Jedi Order to send a Knight to act as a representative of the Republic on Nexis.

ZQ-720: Protocol Droid; Property of Gavin, highly intelligent, which also adds to its annoyance, accompanies Gavin to Nexis.

Xavic: Human, 35 years old; Bounty Hunter; Responsible for the murder of Jedi Knight Derian Qawnn, teacher of Gavin Rane.

Dagon Zen: Human, 58 years old; King of Nexis; Admired by the people of Nexis, he is highly respected. However, he is abrupt and is reluctant to cooperate with the Republic investigation.

(More to come, but let's get on with the story…)

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

"STAR WARS: Fury of the Shadow-Walkers"

By JediRaider

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PROLOGUE

"Senator Hannings?" the guard asked. Senator Welkin Hannings lifted his head from his hands and looked at the guard.

"Yes, Kyle?"

"Senator, your shuttle is ready. Shall I tell the pilot you're on your way?"

"Yes, thank you. I was just preparing to send the transmission to Chancellor Montark. I'll meet you in the hangar."

"Very well, sir," the guard said before he turned and exited the senator's chambers.

The old man sighed as he got out of his chair and turned to the wall behind his desk. He walked over to a control panel and rotated the dial. The wall then pulled apart to reveal a massive window spanning the entire area of the wall overlooking part of Nexis. The senator loved to watch the waterfall cascade and gracefully touch down on the river below. Nexis' green forestry enticed the senator's imagination. But now, the once peaceful and content old man looked overwhelmed and fatigued. He didn't have time to imagine anymore.

Senator Hannings walked back over to his desk and began to enter commands into the computer system. He leaned back in his chair as he watched a holographic image of himself appear on his desk.

"Chancellor Montark," he began, "I wish I could come to you under better circumstances, but I'm afraid I've run out of time and I must prepare for my immediate transportation to Coruscant where I can address you personally. I am unsure if this transmission is secure, so I will be broad and I will be brief. I have obtained information that I believe threatens the stability of the Republic. Once I am on Coruscant, I will disclose further information to you and eventually the Senate. This message is of the highest confidentiality."

After watching the hologram, he transmitted it to the chancellor on Coruscant. "I hope it finds you well, old friend," he said to himself as he exited his chambers.

When he arrived in the hangar, his Republic Cruiser, the StarRunner IV, was prepped and ready for take-off. The senator boarded the ship, eager to get underway. As the ship pulled out of the hangar, the senator watched as Nexis' landscaping became smaller and smaller, until all he saw was a floating rock in space. Suddenly, the senator noticed a starfighter leave the planet and rocket past the StarRunner IV, before it blasted into hyperspace.

The senator watched the ship vanish, then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. As he heard the pilot announce the preparation for the jump to light-speed, the StarRunner IV exploded and reentered Nexis' orbit in fiery debris. Meanwhile, both the transmission and the mysterious starfighter were on their way to Coruscant.