Growing up on a planet where we focused on only war and slavery, I guess I didn't have the best life. I was ten when I left, now twenty, approaching my knighthood in the Jedi Order, I laugh about the times I was told I was destined to be a slave all my life. I was one of the lucky ones, especially for a human.

My life was saved by Devo Lon. He sensed I could be a powerful Jedi when he came to my home planet, Kalon. However, being brought to the Jedi Temple after that, everyone denied it. Master Yoda said that I was too old, only Devo could train me. However, I wasn't going to be worth his time, Qui Gon Jinn, passing away shortly before I was brought to the Temple, had already recruited the strongest Jedi for the future, Anakin Skywalker.

Devo did train me. He raised me, much like Anakin was raised by his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin and I basically grew up with each other after we met. Our masters often were off on special assignments. Anakin was a great friend, but he seemed corrupted. He couldn't let go of his past life, his mother especially. I understood where he was coming from, but I couldn't relate. I hated Kalon. My parents abused me, I was a slave, and every day I was lucky to get home alive. It was rare I didn't come home bleeding.

Devo has been more than a friend to me, like I said, he raised me, he's like the father I didn't get. Becoming a Jedi is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. However, it's come with some challenges. Jedi aren't allowed to love. Getting attached to someone leads to fear of losing them, and the famous quote remains: "fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering" or in other words, the Dark Side.

However, I've overcome my past, and most struggles, and now, I approach my knighthood. I will officially be Daniel Stellan, Jedi Knight. I was told I will be granted knighthood after succeeding an assignment given to me by the Jedi Council, the supreme and most pure of all the Jedi.

"Daniel!" I heard my name. I turned around in the Temple halls, it was Devo.

"Evening master. Nice night isn't it?"

"Yes Daniel. May I speak with you? Something worries me."

"Yes master, what is it?"

"I've been told your assignment...I'm forbidden from sharing with you what it is, however, I believe the Council might have misread, there's something far worse on your assignment."

I swallowed hard, nothing ever scared him before. We'd been surrounded by destroyed droids before with no hope of escape, he just told me to stay calm and use the Force. "A challenge master?"

"I cannot share any more with you, except that you will learn what it is tomorrow." He looked at me, and for what I think the first time, he was worried. "Clear your mind my padawan. You are strong enough to face whatever the challenge in front of you is," he put his hands on my shoulders, "may the Force be with you."

"Thank you, my master." I bowed, he walked away.

I walked along to my quarters for the night. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. See, I don't think I exactly am ready for knighthood. There's still many things I haven't mastered. I panic in bad situations, I can't clear my mind, and searching my feelings, what does that even mean? I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind, I tried, and for a moment, nothing existed but the Force.

I dreamt of sounds of war. Blasters firing, screaming, and lightsabers clashing. I saw me, I saw Devo Lon, hundreds of battle droids, and one, I couldn't see what it was, it held lightsabers, but it wasn't human, it wasn't alien, it wasn't droid. It was almost a hybrid of all three. I woke with a start.

It was still dark out, but my mind told me I needn't more sleep. I got up and it hit me that today was a big day. I decided to bathe, realizing that my assignment may not be the most sanitary, it might be my last opening to for a while. I put on my Jedi tunic and robes after I finished. The time of day was four thirty nine. I knew Devo was probably in the library of the Temple around this time, it might be logical to go see him beforehand.

I walked into the room and saw the neon blue shelves full of trillions of facts and information about the galaxy. I wandered around until I found him on the second level, examining a hologram.

"Morning master."

"Ah, Daniel, I sensed your presence."

"What is this you're looking at, master?" I pointed at the hologram.

"Ah, I've just been studying on the planet of Naboo. Did you not hear what has happened?"

"I'm afraid not, sir."

"There was an assassination attempt on Senator Amidala last night. She's headed here now. She's staying here for some time, Anakin and Obi-Wan are going to protect her."

"That's tragic sir, but should she be safe on Coruscant? This is certainly no planet Tatooine, but there's still many criminals and villains who'd like to take her life."

"Yes indeed, but is it perhaps you doubt Anakin and Master Kenobi?"

"Absolutely not sir...I just believe she'd be safe somewhere else..." I looked around, "Why not Naboo?" I said looking at the hologram.

"You will soon learn my friend." He responded as he closed the hologram. "Come, you need to prepare yourself for today."

I'm glad I did learn patience in the Jedi Temple, because I could definitely see how anxiety could kick in at a time like today. I was just ready to be called before the Council. I knew it would be nerve wracking, but I knew that this time it meant something. I had to stay calm.

"Master?" I asked.

"Yes Daniel? What troubles you?"

"I was wondering...what if one would deny the Council's request of an assignment?"

"That is a great question Daniel. One I do not know the for sure answer to, but I can make assumptions."

"Please explain master."

"I believe it would shake the foundation of trust they have in you. Your knighthood may be postponed a year or so. You may even be expelled from the Temple."

"Has one ever denied a Council's request?"

"Daniel, you don't plan on doing such do you?" Much like last night, he looked concerned.

"Master, last night, I had a dream. I believe it was the terrible thing you mentioned. There was war going on, they were all lead by some...thing."

"Some thing you say?" He had a smile on his face this time.

"Master I wish you would take this seriously."

"Daniel, you must learn that dreams are very often inaccurate. I'm sure whatever you saw may have just been your imagination. You need to avoid this, try to clear your mind longer before sleep from now on. Relax Daniel. Be aware, but do not fear."

"Yes master."

The day went on much like any other day. The sun had finally set. Even Devo was shocked. Why hadn't I been called?

"Well, Daniel... I honestly don't know what to say."

I let that sink in. What if he'd lied to me just so I could think about it all day?

"Master...was this a test?"

"Daniel?"

"I fear you've lied to me. You were trying to corrupt me throughout the day...you knew the council would call me today! You wanted to me to show fear in front of them. Why master?"

He laughed, but it wasn't his laugh. "You've just figured this out now? You obviously aren't ready for knighthood, Daniel." Again, not his voice.

"Master?"

"Boy...I am not your master." He held out his hand, and before I experienced excruciating pain, I saw a flash of blue lightning. The impact made me fall down the nearest flight of stairs. After all my years in the Temple, I knew that this was only a skill the Sith could use.

"What...what are you?" I managed to get out. As I looked at him, he once again laughed, and as he laughed, his face turned digital. It formed into an older face than Devo, white hair and beard. His clothes changed too. He wore a cape and a leather top and pants.

"I...am the Jedi's newest enemy. I go by Count Dooku...but now, I am Darth Tyranus." I was in shock. Dooku! A Jedi master, now a Sith. I noticed my lightsaber had fallen from my reach after collapsing from the shock I received. I started to rise.

"Jedi's newest enemy?" I stuck out my hand, and using the Force, my lightsaber came to my hand. "Not if I have anything to say about it." I hit the button on my lightsaber, and from it came out a blue blade, the weapon I'd been using for years.

"Ah, the lightsaber," he started, "the weapon of a Jedi. But, also a Sith. I don't believe I'll need my old Jedi's weapon. I have this now." He reached out his hand and out came a curved lightsaber handle. He pressed the button and out came a straight, red blade. "This should be easy."

I made the first move, I jumped up over him, doing a flip, and turning to face him when I landed. As soon as my feet hit the floor, our blades had been locked. They didn't lock for long, shortly after, he was already swinging towards my feet, which I quickly parried and then went for a strike myself. The strike back from his rebound was enough to make me fall on my behind. He swung his lightsaber down at my neck, I quickly rolled out of the way, and then tripped him. He was quick to his feet however. I then swung at him with my blade, which he simply caught my hand with his own.

I looked into his eyes. He was no longer a Jedi. His eyes were full of hate. He wanted me dead. He was about to get his wish. He moved his lightsaber towards my hand. No, not my hand, my lightsaber handle. The blade would be enough to block whatever he was aiming towards, but the handle itself and my lack of strength from the battle, no. His blade passed through my lightsaber like butter. I watched the blade fade as the lightsaber broke in half. I was defenseless. I let go, only to quickly be struck again by the blue lightning.

"A Jedi padawan thought he was a match for a Sith Lord? Child, you humor me. Now...you shall suffer." He raised out his hand. I knew what was next, he was going to torture me to death. Why wasn't anyone on the hall? I needed saving. But no one was here. I had to do the only logical thing...use the Force. The second I saw the blue, I summoned the Force. I didn't know what I wanted to happen, I just held out my hand and hoped to repel what was coming my way.

What I saw completely shocked me, not literally. The blue lightning had completely stopped in the middle. I saw his hand flex a little bit, I read his mind, he needed more power, and the lightning got closer. I closed my mind and focused on nothing but the Force. The lightning fell back. This was wearing on me though. I couldn't keep this up.

"Daniel!" I heard a voice. Dooku heard it too. He completely stopped everything, the lightning, and the power I sent at him. I looked back to see the actual Devo running, his purple lightsaber ignited.

"Ah, Devo Lon. Arrived to spoil the party...I must be off gentlemen. This will not be the last time you meet me, Darth Tyranus." And Dooku disappeared.

"DOOKU!" Devo cried out, running towards him, but it was hopeless. He was already gone. He turned to me, and put away his lightsaber. I collapsed, I hadn't realized how weak the battle had made me. He ran towards me.

"Master...Dooku, he's...he's..."

"Daniel come, we must address the Council, they've been calling you for a while now...but now I see why you haven't come. Come now."

It hurt, and it took all I had to get up and run with Devo to the Jedi Council room. When we finally reached the room, granted access to the room, as we stood before them, I collapsed.

"Daniel, is there a problem?" Master Ki-Adi Mundi asked.

"N-no-yes...yes master there is." I felt Devo help raise me up, he put my arm over his shoulder to keep me hoisted up.

"Master Jedi, you haven't felt the attack on the Jedi Temple just recently?" He asked them.

"You suggest there was an attack Master Lon?" Master Windu asked him.

"Mm, yes Windu, an attack there has been." Master Yoda chimed in. "Sensed now, I have. But a Sith, or member of the Separatists, it was not I feel."

"It was a Jedi." I got out, feeling more strength return to my body. "Count Dooku. He's turned to the Dark Side, masters."

All of them started talking amongst themselves.

"Pardon me, masters, but what are we going to do about this?" I blurted.

"Nothing to be done now. A different assignment we have, Daniel Stellan." Yoda said.

"Please excuse my rudeness, but why has it taken so long? I heard first about this yesterday."

"We apologize, Stellan, but with Senator Amidala on Coruscant, we've been struggling. There's been a disturbance in the Force lately." Master Windu said.

"Hm, a role in Skywalker's mission he should take."

"Protecting the senator?"

"No." Windu said sternly. "Skywalker is to do that alone. However, we need to make sure he is successful. We are aware that Naboo still has Separatist forces on the planet. We need you to go investigate the planet. I sense a disturbance far greater than battle droids are on Naboo."

"Am I do complete this assignment alone masters?" I asked.

"A fatal mission I sense this could be...I cannot even foresee the future of this mission. Except great suffering, I fear." Windu stated.

A silence filled the room.

"I do not sense Dooku should appear on Naboo...but I sense much greater troubles, on both Naboo...and another planet. Enough this is. Understand your assignment do you, Stellan?" Yoda asked.

"Yes master."

"Who should go along with him?" Master Shaak Ti asked.

"I volunteer." Devo said clearly.

"Then it's settled." Windu said, "Master Lon and his apprentice shall go to Naboo and secure the planet for Skywalker. May the Force be with you."