AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story is meant as Part 3 of a series beginning with "Only Light Can Cast Shadow." Characters from the series will remain continuous throughout.

PROLOGUE

My name is Gwen Dakaal. I was born on Deralia—a small planet on the Outer Rim, not far from Hutt Space. There's not much to see there in terms of tourism. The capital is a beautiful place, but most of the planet is simply farmland. Personally, I couldn't stand it. I've always fancied myself more of a city girl and spacer than the country type. I left some time ago and worked as a smuggler for several years. I never did any serious hauls… usually just minor spice or blaster shipments. It wasn't great work, but it paid the bills.

After all, I was alone. My parents both died during the attacks leading up to the Mandalorian War. I didn't join the effort then—after all, I didn't want trouble, just to make a living for myself. But when our heroes from the Mandalorian War turned on the very Republic which they had previously saved, I couldn't bring myself to continue turning a blind eye. I joined the Republic forces in hope to prevent other families from being torn apart by the plague of war. Unfortunately, it is a plague which seems to have no clear end in sight.

When the Mandalorians surrendered, Revan, Malak, and the Jedi who had served under them were considered heroes. But after the war, they disappeared. No one heard from them until their return two years later. But this time, they were different. The Dark Side had taken a hold over them and they had joined the Sith Empire. They started a new war—a war of Jedi against Jedi, and a war against the Republic. It was the start of the Jedi Civil War.

Battle after battle was fought, with many casualties on both sides… Though while the Republic forces seem to diminish and to dwindle, the Sith seem to continue growing stronger and more numerous. When Revan and Malak had returned, they brought with them a new fleet, unlike that the Republic has ever seen before.

Things were desperate when a small strike team of Jedi led by Bastila Shan boarded Revan's flagship and challenged the Dark Lord. It is said that during this time, Malak betrayed his Master, and Revan finally met an end at the hands of the Jedi strike team.

After the death of Revan, Darth Malak, Revan's apprentice, claimed the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith for himself. However, his tactics were quite different than his Master's. Revan was a tactical genius, employing stealth, subtlety, and manipulation, turning his enemies to support his cause… whereas Malak commands in terror and fights with brute strength, destroying all obstacles in his path, as was the case in his order for the destruction of Telos IV even during his Master's lifetime.

Currently, I am assigned aboard the Endar Spire, accompanying this Jedi, Bastila Shan, on a mission from the Jedi Council. None of us onboard are entirely certain as to what this mission is, other than that we are supposed to protect her with our lives. She is said to have a unique ability among the Jedi known as the "Battle Meditation" that has helped the Republic greatly in the war against the Sith.

There are a few other Jedi that were also a part of the strike force that killed Revan who are accompanying Bastila. I must say that I'm not so fond of not having any details on the nature of our mission other than to protect Bastila, but those are the orders. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I hate the idea. When I signed up to help the Republic, blind missions babysitting Jedi weren't exactly what I had in mind. After all, if they are Jedi, shouldn't they be able to take care of themselves?

I can only hope that it's all worth it and that, by carrying out our mission, we will be able to bring an end to this seemingly never-ending war with the Sith…