Umbara. 21 BBY

Pong Krell sat in his quarters meditating. The same vision kept flashing before his closed eyes; the Republic crumbling from the inside, and an empire forming in its place. The Jedi, the clones, gone. Only those strong enough to fight would survive. He opened his eyes. Krell knew his new destiny.

He had been stuck on the shadow planet of Umbara for too long while the Knight Skywalker was absent. His task was to assist the clones against the Separatists.

Which was an utterly ridiculous plan.

Krell stood up at last, and started to pace. His loyalty for the republic had shifted soon after the clones had been given to them. He believed that they were inferior in every way, just the same man created from a test tube. Krell wished that Count Dooku would acknowledge him, and make him his disciple. He had seen the future, and it was one without the Jedi or Republic. The question was, what should he do? He had already used the clones to his advantage and made the Separatists win the day, but these clones, they were smarter than most. It was only a matter of time before they figured out his game, and would try to arrest him

'The key word is TRY.' Krell thought to himself. 'I'm perfectly capable of killing them all before they even figure it out, but I'd have to be stealthy.' With the dark thought over, he heard the door to his quarters open. Multiple clones had entered the room.

'General Krell, you're being relieved of duty.' Said the clone last to enter. Krell turned slowly, forming a smile on his lips.

'It's Treason, then.' He shot back at the captain clone. He had his hands behind his back, but was ready to ignite his two sabre-staffs. At the moment of attack, all of these men would die, one way or another.

'Surrender, General.'

'You're committing mutiny Captain.' Krell gloated.

The captain walked forward with two others backing him. 'Explain your actions'

'MY actions?' he replied, pretending he didn't know what he was talking about.

'For ordering your troops against one another!' The captain fired back, obviously upset about it.

'Oh, that. I'm surprised you managed to figure it out, for a clone.' Krell replied sharply. He knew that these troopers were smart, but not this smart. He needed a way out, and fast. Anyone who got in his way would be killed, no thoughts about it.

The other troopers started to move in on him, shifting closer and closer to where he was standing.

'Surrender General, you're out numbered!' The captain repeated.

Krell couldn't hold his rage in. He moved quickly and summoned the force to push back the troopers surrounding him.

'You dare attack a Jedi?' He yelled, drawing his two double bladed light-sabres, one blue, one green. 'This was it, no holding back' Krell thought to himself, as the troopers opened fire on him and he started to spin the four blades in motion, deflecting the blasts. The blasts that he couldn't deflect, he dodged instead, moving around and cutting the troopers around him down. One trooper was stupid enough to walk up to him, and without thinking Krell sliced him across the stomach, making him fall to the floor. Krell span his two blades around one last time, the humming noises creating an eerie echo in the room.

'I will not be undermined by creatures bread in some laboratory!' Krell stated loudly, before running to the closest window and smashing through it with a powerful spin-flip, and landing outside of the tower with ease. All he needed to do now was run. There were troopers in his way, ordering each other to blast the Jedi, but Krell cut through them with ease and ran into the forest, climbing up into a tree, sheathed his light-sabres and began to swing from the branches. His plan was clear now. Find the CIS headquarters and Count Dooku, then prove himself to the Sith and become his new apprentice. In the distance he could hear the troopers bickering over they should chase him down or not. The Besalisk smiled to himself. If they did go after him, they wouldn't be spared. His days as a Jedi were done. The Sith was the new way forward, and he would slaughter anyone who would get in the way of his new destiny.

After 15 minutes of swing on branches, Krell finally landed on the ground. He had travelled far enough to go on foot. The troopers wouldn't go so far to search for a traitor, and would probably call him a lost cause. Even if they reported Krell's betrayal, he doubted the council would be surprised. His tactics were known throughout the whole Jedi temple, and were said to be extreme. He was assigned to this planet as a last resort, because nobody else was available at the time. Pitiful.

Krell journeyed through the territory of Umbara for many hours before he spotted a CIS droid patrol. Keeping his distance, he followed the patrol until they returned to their headquarters. After he scouted the building, the Besalisk climbed the building silently, predicting that Dooku would be at the top floor. The climb was easy, since his four arms gave him extra grip on the ledges of the large building. Krell reached the top of the tower in four minutes, on a side with no entrance. He drew one of his light-sabres, activated one end of it and cut a small hole through the wall. He was in the ventilation system, and could hear three voices, but only recognised two of them. One was raspy and ill, and sounded like he was pacing with metal claws on his feet. The other was old and wise; Dooku and General Grievous. The final voice was static-esc and hard to hear, meaning he was on a holo-communicator. Krell moved silently and eaves-dropped their conversation.

'So they fired on one another? That is hilarious!' Grievous said, most likely after hearing the story of the battle from the day before.

'Yes, it is. I have a feeling that the Jedi in charge of them is not as pure as others you and I have met. Perhaps the one you have had your eyes on master?' Dooku replied. Who was this master he spoke of, Krell thought to himself. He thought that he was the only true Sith, but if there was one above Dooku, then his journey did not end at him.

'Skywalker left the planet for another mission Tyranus, he could not have given those orders.' Dooku's master replied blandly. Whoever he was, he knew of Skywalker and his potential in the Force. 'I believe the Jedi who took his place was Master Pong Krell. A Besalisk who was an apprentice when you left the order, correct?'

'Yes, Master. I briefly remember him. If he was the one who gave those orders, perhaps he could be persuaded to join our cause?' Dooku asked his master, a sense of personal thought in the question.

'Do not think I will fall for that again, Tyranus. You have failed me once already with the Dathomirian Ventress. Continue to train Grievous, and leave the Jedi to me. If he is still alive that is.' The Master fired back at Dooku coldly. Krell smiled with the knowledge that Asajj Ventress was no longer a threat. The first chance he got he would challenge her to the death, and prove himself worthy.

'As you wish, my Master. I am at your will.' Dooku finished, and the holo-projector faded out. Grievous was the next to speak. 'Why does he persist in MY training, when it is clearly you who needs to be trained?' The general mocked his colleague, finishing with a heavy laugh that then went into a cough.

'Don't be so sure, general. I have had years of training and experience with a light-sabre and the force. You only wield one of those talents, and while your skill has improved over the years, it is nowhere as refined as my skill.' Dooku retorted. Krell could taste the slyness of the Sith's smile. Grievous yelled with a "bah" and stomped out of the room, another coughing fit going off in the distance. As the door to the room closed, Dooku's voice rang out:

'I know you are here, Jedi. I sensed you enter through the wall and crawl through the vents.'

Krell smashed the ventilation that he was hiding in and dropped to the floor of the conference room. The holo-projector was a large disk on a former dining table, which had been turned into a map of the battle ground for Umbara. Krell looked at Dooku to see that he was somewhat amused. If he had sensed him enter, then that means he had a plan for him once his conversation with his master was over.

'Tell me Jedi, why have you come to me? Are you here to kill me? Or do you have something that you wish of me?' He said, smiling, but gripping his curved light-sabre hilt in case of attack. Krell smiled back and put two of his arms up in a surrendering motion.

'I am here to ask for an apprenticeship.' Krell answered.

'An apprenticeship?'

'My visions have shown me things. The republic is crumbling inside of itself. Soon the Jedi will become extinct, and a new power will grow in their place. I have no desire to die with them, but be with the victors. This is my destiny.' Krell explained to the former Jedi. Dooku stood in front of him, his face interested and yet suspicious.

'And why should I make you my apprentice? There are other Jedi just as eager as you to become a disciple of mine, and yet you are the first to come forward so…' he paused, thinking of the right words.

'Expectant.' He finished. Krell stood where he was, awaiting the Sith's next words.

'How can I prove that I am worthy over all the others?' He asked Dooku. The Sith started to pace, actually beginning to think of what to do. Krell could feel Dooku's mind working, thinking of the both the advantages and disadvantages of him as an accomplice. He paused, paced a little longer, paused again and then faced Krell to answer:

'You want to prove yourself? Eliminate Asajj Ventress. Find her and cut her down for good. Only return when you have done so, and bring me her light-sabres as proof.' Dooku ordered finally.

'And in return?' Krell asked Dooku, cracking a foul smile in joy of what he had just heard.

'You will become her replacement. I last heard that she was in the depths of Coruscant, working as a bounty hunter. She'll be easy to find as she carries two light-sabres like mine; the curved sort.' The former Jedi concluded. 'There will also be pay for you if you bring the blades back undamaged.'

'And how shall I get to Coruscant? My ship is back at the Republic base and will most likely be followed if I call my droid to fly it over to here.' Krell questioned.

'General Grievous acquired a ship known as The Twelve Point from a group of smugglers trying to steal from him. He has neglected to actually use the ship however, and just has it as an extra prize for him to "cherish". Take it to Coruscant and if you like it, keep it. When you return my droids will recognise you as a protégé, but until then you may attack any droid that attempts to stop you.' Dooku told him. 'And remember, you are not to return until I can feel the death of Ventress across the Galaxy.' Krell nodded and jumped back up into the pipe system, beginning to crawl down to a lower level of the building to find the ship Dooku spoke of. After sliding down about three floors, he stopped himself and looked through a vent that was just opposite him. He was on a hanger floor.

"Good." Krell thought to himself. "Now I have to find that ship." Krell kicked the vent, rolled out and ignited his light-sabres cutting down three droids before they even knew what was happening. A droid guarding The Twelve Point turned and called over others, shouting orders in its metallic voice.

'Open fire! Blast the Jedi!' it said as it and five other droids started shooting at Krell. Cracking his neck, he turned and charged, blocking the poorly aimed shots and reflecting them back, taking down two of the six. By the time his charge was finished, he was at the final four, and cut them all down with one sweep of both of his wielding arms, and then sheathed the four blades. As he placed the handles on his belt, another set of droids entered the hanger. Krell simply pushed them back with his force power and walked in his new ship, closing the door behind him. Within seconds, the ship's engines had ignited and was getting ready to launch. Krell sat on the pilot's seat, two of his hands on the steering, the other two setting up the jump to hyperspace. His next stop was the depths of Coruscant. The Twelve Point Lifted off the floor of the hangar and floated out, rising to the sky and soon after out of the planet. Rising out of the atmosphere, he saw the Republic's star ships appearing out of hyperspace. Most likely coming to pick up the Captain and his troops after their failed mission and Krell's betrayal.

'Good riddance. Soon you will all be mine to command.' He thought to himself as he pulled the lever down and The Twelve Point began its jump to Coruscant. The journey to his destiny had begun.