Year 14:3:8 after the Great ReSynchronization

The three members of the Mandalorian Guard stood across from him, side by side, feet apart from one another and swords in hand. Kalis readied himself for their incoming attack. It had been little over a year since his eight years of study in Teras Kasi under the Epicanthix martial arts master, Sook Wun had ended. The aged master taught him much, and more than that of combat, for the Followers of Palawa were an ancient group who studied the Force and midi-clorians. Sook Wun had found the young Kalis and upon hearing of the boy's discontent under his uncle's teachings, resolved to take Kalis as his student. Though not a practitioner of the Force himself, Sook Wun recognized it in Kalis and imparted on him a deep understanding of the Force. Not until years later did Kalis learn his meeting of Wun was not by coincidence. His strong connection to the Force had been felt by Sook Wun and the master had sought him out on Concordia. Only but a year ago did Kalis learn why a Follower of Palawa, a generally hermetic people, found himself on the Mandalorian moon. A native of Panatha, at some point Wun had traveled to the Unknown Regions and returned a believer in the Way of the Dark, a philosophy which didn't just deny the existence of the Light side of the Force, it stated that the Force itself, both Light and Dark side, was irrelevant in scope compared to the Dark. This system stated that entropy and destruction was the universal constant that all things worked towards, going so far as to call it the "will of the universe". Sook Wun later fled Bunduki, the primary hermitage of the Followers, for sake of his life after attempting to spread his radical teachings. He'd hopped from one planet to the next throughout the Outer Rim until he came to Concordia and Kalis Vizsla. As it was, after years on Concordia, the Followers of Palawa had finally found him. It was in the mountains outside of the moon's capital, Lafurr, where a team of Palawan assassins came upon Kalis and his master. Sook Wun had ordered Kalis to stay back, even though Kalis had warned him of the visions he'd seen, of the future that awaited should Kalis not interfere. His master fought well against the five assassins, but as Kalis' Darksight had shown him, his future had no place for Sook Wun.

Kalis gave a swipe of his sword out in front of him, "Look me in the eyes, all of you!" he said, tightening the grip on his sword. "Look me in the eyes and kill me."

The eyes of the guardsmen flashed red and they rushed forward obediently. The first came with a downward slash of the sword which Kalis avoided, yanked the arm forward, and smashed an elbow into man's face. While ducking a forward jab of the sword to his head from the second of his attackers, Kalis heaved the other up and over, slamming him onto the floor. A backwards roll allowed him to avoid being impaled by the third and get away to return to his feet and face them. The three guardsmen advanced on him once more. Kalis flung his sword at them, narrowly missing the middle attacker and sending it flying to the far wall. He struck at wrist of his right sided attacker, knocking the incoming sword from his hands, and took hold of the guard and threw him into his fellow on Kalis' left as the ping of metal on metal rang out from the far wall. With a pull of his hand towards his chest, Kalis ran at the middle guard and leapt into the air, sending both feet into his chest and him though air, right into the returning sword, it's blade protruding out of his chest. The remaining two had picked themselves back up and both weaponless, continued to attack. Kalis brought his arms up to block a leaping kick and as his attacker pushed off from the kick, Kalis pulled back his arms and Force pushed the guardsman into the nearby wall. The last guard grabbed his outstretched arm, but Kalis reversed the grasp and twisted the guard's arm upward. The guard moved to reach out with his other arm, but with an open palm strike to the elbow, Kalis broke the man's arm and pulled him forward, right into the blade hidden under his sleeve. The blood streamed from his neck as Kalis pulled out the knife and allowed the body to fall to the floor.

There was a show to be held at The Grand Opera House in Sundari and Duchess Satine had seen fit to extend an invitation to Kalis personally.

"I have not reached out to you since you've become Governor, Kalis," Satine said as they stepped through the doors into the dining hall. "And I am sorry for that."

"Nonsense," Kalis said, "there have been more pressing matters to attend to, what with the war all around us and Death Watch on the loose."

Servants placed wine glasses into their hands and after a nod to one another, they drank. When Kalis lowered his glass, he saw Satine studying him curiously.

"Governor," she said. "there's blood on your neck. Are you alright?"

Kalis brushed his long black hair aside and brought his hand to the side of his neck and wiped away the blood there. "A scratch, nothing more."

Something more catches the Duchess' eye behind Kalis. "I didn't notice this my last time here," she said. "In hindsight, I guess it explains a lot."

Kalis turned to see that she had noticed the tapestry of Mandalore the Ultimate. "Are you familiar Duchess?"

"Only of what he represents," she replied. "For the life of me, I could never hold much interest in learning the finer details of our war mongering past."

Kalis hid his distaste. "Then allow me to give you a quick lesson," he said. "This war monger was non other than Mandalore the Ultimate; it was he who stretched our reach across the galaxy and made the Republic tremble."

Satine gave him a sideways glance, "You sound like your predecessor."

"He raised me."

"Did you know?"

"About his moonlighting as Secret Mandalore?" Kalis said. "No. I can only guess he wanted to keep me away from all of that. Still, it hasn't been easy. Suspicion and questioning glares, they look at me and see my uncle and what he represents, and they are afraid."

The Duchess turned to fully face him, "You're not the only one with a loved one gone astray."

Kalis placed a hand on Satine's shoulder, "I knew Korkie was evil."

Satine gave a dry laugh, "No, I have a younger sister, Bo-Katan Kryze. She was born on Concord Dawn to a different mother than mine, but she is still my blood."

"I understand."

"Perhaps you more than anyone," she replied. Their eyes met for a time before the Duchess looked away. "I should be leaving. I hope to see you at The Grand."

It was only then that Kalis remembered that his hand still on the Duchess' shoulder. He let it fall away and the Duchess gave a departing nod and made to leave.

"Duchess," he called to her back. "I don't love him. But as you say, he is my blood."

Satine had stopped, but did not turn around. He could sense the confusion and uncertainty within her. She looked back at him, but gave nothing in return. Kalis watched as she continued on up the stairs to rejoin her Royal Guards just outside the doors.