Chapter 1

The Republic was growing desperate. Ever since the Mandalorians started this war, they took world after blood-soaked world under from the stability of the Republic with not so much as a slap on the wrist from the Republic militia. The soldiers simply didn't know how to fight the bigger and more war-minded hordes of Mandalore the Ultimate.

Planet after planet continued to fall under Mandalorian rule as the Senate debated on how best to fight them. And as the Outer Rim became conquered, the Inner planets of the Republic became slowly surrounded. Tactics were crushed. Thousands of soldiers perished under the firepower of Mandalorian Basilisks. Peace ambassadors were sent to Mandalorian camps across the galaxy but never returned. Each piece finalized the Republic's plight. If victory would be achieved, the Republic would need the help of the Jedi. There lay the Republic's biggest hope for salvation and biggest problem.

For all of their power and usage of the Force, the Jedi were first, a peaceful enclave. They're most powerful and skilled knights followed the direction of the Jedi Council on Courisant, and there had been no reply to the continued request for support for over 6 months. Finally, Admiral Amirez and Chancellor Sturjix requested an audience with the Council representatives. The finest the Jedi Order had to offer attended the meeting – albeit quietly – as the masters met with the Galactic Senate, then with a few representatives, the Admiral and the Chancellor. By the last day of the conference, many members of the delegations had taken to coercing the Jedi to join while eating in the banquet halls. A few Jedi Masters and Republic soldiers, however, found themselves in one of the local cantinas.

"If the Republic is going to win this war, we need the help of the Jedi Master Kavar," a gray-bearded officer replied. "Surely you must know that."

"The Republic must rely on their own soldiers, General Tark," Master Vrook interrupted. "We Jedi cannot police the galaxy."

"But you also cannot allow the Republic to crumble under the Mandalorians, " a young officer replied quickly. "With all due respect Master Jedi, if we fall, you fall as well."

"True, young soldier," Master Kavar smiled, revealing his own youth while still carrying wisdom in his eyes beyond his years. "But there are far more soldiers than Jedi. We cannot win the war for you."

The young soldier wasn't paying attention. He'd been eyeing one of the waitresses and had barely heard what the Jedi Master said. She wore the same shimmery pink uniform as the other attendants did, the chain belt hugging her curves and her dark, nearly-straight hair flowing behind a simple scarf. She wasn't a painted clown like many of the other waitresses, but carried herself in a way that made her standout from among them. She handed him a drink and he caught her hand, forcing her to pause and gaze down at him. She flashed her white teeth at him then, probably worried about getting reprimanded by her boss, excused herself from the table and went back to work.

"I didn't mean to bore you," Kavar joked as the young soldier snapped back to attention. "Perhaps a change of wardrobe would help me keep your attention."

"I apologize, Master Jedi," the soldier muttered under the menacing glance of his commanding officer. "You have my complete attention."

"That is the weakness of the Republic's soldiers," Vrook declared harshly. "They refuse to pay attention to the issue at hand. You cannot win a war against an enemy you refuse to even pay attention to. If the attention of a simple soldier couldn't be held in a minor conversation, what will be done in the pit of war?"

"I think a demonstration is in order," Kavar noted, motioning for the owner to have an area cleared. "General, we will require one of your best soldiers."

"Well his attention withstanding, Jacobs would be my first choice, Master Jedi, but he's no match for one of your Jedi."

The young soldier stood in the empty space, nervously waiting for his challenger. The waitress he'd eyed before caught his eye again and winked at him. A broad smile spread across his face and Kavar caught sight of the small spectacle.

"Well, if a Jedi is not what's needed, I believe we've found your competitor." He quickly and gently took the drink tray from the waitress's hands and walked the young woman to the center of the circle. "Let's see how you fair against her."

"Master Jedi, this is an unfair fight," General Tark objected.

"Why?" Vrook asked bluntly. Then focusing on the young soldier he continued. "What do you see when you look at this woman? Do you see a opponent, or a distraction?"

"I see a woman who is no match for me," Jacobs noted. "I won't fight her General." He smiled reassuringly to the frightened female, who smiled weakly back.

"Once again, you are looking with your eyes," Vrook continued. "The Mandalorians succeed because they convince you that they are either not a threat in the Core Worlds or that you are no match for them in the Outer Rim. Fight her, and let's see how you fare."

The soldier paused again and Kavar tried to sooth him. "She will be fine, I assure you."

Reluctantly the soldier nodded and turned to the woman. She did the same and they began to circle one another. 'Pin her and its over,' he thought to himself and reached for her arm. Strangely, she pushed him out of the way just as quickly as he'd tried to grab her. For a moment, he wondered what exactly had occurred, but quickly shook it off, chalking it up to good reflexes. He then lunged for her, trying to grab her around the waist from behind, but she hit him squarely in the jaw with the back of her fist and pushed him away again. This continued on for a while and he slowly realized that perhaps it was he that was outmatched. He began to fight harder, throwing punch after punch only to have them deflected as well as receiving a few from the waitress. He was getting angrier and angrier at the thought of being beaten by this seemingly weak woman, and grabbed a nearby stunner. He aimed quickly and began firing only to have the woman complete several back flips away from him and kick lose a decorative spear from the floor. Then, with what seemed to be one sweeping motion, she used the spear to disarm the soldier, knock him on his back, and straddled him, holding the spear a few inches from his face.

"Incredible," Jacobs commented in shock at the no longer smiling waitress. She looked completely different – aggressive, more focused. "How did you do that?"

"The bigger question is why didn't you anticipate her attack?" Vrook commented. "You saw a helpless civilian and expected her to remain helpless and you were wrong. You view the Mandalorians in the same way, expecting them to appear a certain way before they attack. While they have trained their clans to meet any challenge, the Republic militia has become even more stagnant in its practices. You must be ready for anything."

"Even a Jedi in a waitress's clothing," Kavar replied, motioning for the young woman to stand. She did and walked to the Jedi Master as he continued to speak, no longer carrying the smile of a waitress but the stoic stance of a Jedi Knight. "If there is one thing you learn, learn this: You cannot expect the Mandalorians to fight the same way you do. This is how they've conquered so many worlds with little or no effort. They are awaiting a test of their skills and unless the Republic militia is able to meet that challenge, it will be as ineffective as it has been since this war began."

"Point well taken Master Jedi," General Tark said gruffly as the young soldier stood beside him. "Maybe the Jedi will teach us more when they join the war effort."

"That remains to be seen, General," Kavar replied. "Now if you will excuse us, we must escort our students to the transport." Once the words left his lips, the entire party of Jedi bowed respectfully at the Republic soldiers, the waitress included, and left the cantina for the transport, leaving the soldiers dazed and confused to say the least.

"Your efforts were sloppy," Vrook snapped at the disguised Jedi. "You should have defeated him minutes ago. Were you playing around instead of fighting him decisively?"

"I apologize, Master," she stated sincerely. "That was not my intention."

"You intended to embarrass him and prove your own strength. Beware ambition, young Padawan, for it leads to the dark path."

"Yes, Master Vrook."

He boarded the shuttle quickly and handed the young woman a small bag. "Change," he ordered quietly. Once the rest of the council boards, we leave for Dantoine."

"Yes, Master."

Vrook turned and walked down another corridor of the ship and when he was sure Vrook was out of earshot, Kavar patted the woman on her back. "Do not worry about Master Vrook. You did well, Revan. If nothing else, you've given them something to think about."

"Thank you, Master Kavar." The woman paused for a moment as if practicing her questioning in her mind.

"Ask, Padawan," Kavar spoke, awaiting her question.

"I don't mean to question the will of the Council, but the soldier made a very valid point. How can the Jedi stand by and allow this to continue? How can we watch the Mandalorians destroy so many worlds? Shouldn't we assist the Republic?"

"Perhaps we will. Perhaps we already have. You must trust the Force to guide the Council in doing what's best, Revan, as you trusted it to assist you combat. Only that trust will give you peace in your actions.

"Yes, Master."