Garfield looked at his room. Forrest green drapes covered the walls, and a king sized bed was set up against the far left corner of the room. Directly across from where he stood was a mural depicting a Jedi and Sith fighting, capes bellowing dramatically in the wind. The golden inscription below read, Jedi Master Inetepi Vismar's last stand. Below this it simply stated, Jedi Master Inetepi vs. Darth Revan. Slowly, Garfield began thinking. Rearrange the e and the a and you've got Darth Raven! He chuckled at his joke, imagining Raven as a Sith Lord, four red eyes matching the color of her blade. "I'm going to miss her."
"Who're you going to miss?" Robin inquired. Beast Boy straightened up and turned around. " Garfield , you don't need to do this."
He's alone, Garfield though, sighing. The others, they didn't care… "Dude, I want to fight the Sith. I'll come home when the war ends."
"How long will that be? Weeks, months, years? Do you have any idea how cruel the Sith are? I've heard stories, they don't have mercy. Hell, we all know what happened to the colony on Rimsvaould IX. You remember, the rebellion that the Sith crushed… by blasting the entire city to rubble? The survivors, tortured and their bodies strewn across the ruins of the colony. Beast Boy," Robin pleaded, "please, come home. We want you home. Please."
The blonde haired blue eyed teen looked at his friend. Robin, leader of the Teen Titans. Pleading. Was he dreaming? He shook his head. I was a fool to think they didn't care. "I'm sorry, Richard, but my mind is made up. I'm in the Army of Light, I can't back out now."
"You haven't sworn an oath yet, have you?"
"Yes, I have, Richard." Garfield remembered the oath he'd sworn. "I am a member of the Army of Light, a candle that shines hope in these dark times. I shall fight and, if needs be, die, to protect the Republic and end the war. I shall not abandon the army for any reason, and will leave when the time is right." Robin looked at him, impressed the Garfield was able to memorize all that. He didn't have that great a memory, most of the time. "We're the others?" Garfield inquired.
"Starfire broke down in tears when she saw you board and flew home. Raven and Cyborg went to go comfort her. I'm trying to convince you to come home. Please, unless you have Jedi training..."
"Not everybody in the Brotherhood of Darkness is a lightsaber, Force wielding warrior. Loads of them carry blaster and if I do fight blade to blade, I'll probably have a cortosis viroblade." Garfield left out the fact that he would indeed be taken to Coruscant for Jedi training. Then he would fight in the war. Long live the Republic. "I understand your concern, it means a lot to me. I've sworn an oath. Please, try to understand. This is what I want."
"May the Force be with you Garfield." Robin said, extending a hand. "We'll look forward to your return." Garfield shook his hand. Then the Boy Wonder left. That was the last time Garfield saw him.
Days later, Lord Hoth had the recruits all settled in, the supplies loaded, and the crew ready, and they soared away. Some towards training facilities on Dantooine, some dropped of at a base and shipped out to the front. A very select few, Garfield included, were heading to Coruscant for Jedi training.
The voyage was long. Garfield made many friends, most who were dropped off for training or would be shipped out to the front lines to combat Lord Kaan and his Brotherhood of Darkness. Garfield had a feeling he wouldn't see most of them again.
Once on Coruscant, Jedi Master Marcus Slyf quickly got permission to train Garfield. "He's too old," one council member had said, pointing out the fact that Garfield was 16 years old. The others had quickly dismissed that, and agreed that they needed more Jedi, or else Kaan might just conquer the Republic. The Sith would rule the Republic, much like they had done many millenia ago.
The halls and rooms of the Jedi Temple became home to the former Teen Titan. During the morning, he'd learn to and eventually master the art of meditation. Early afternoon saw him learning the art of lightsaber combat.
Slyf moved left, bringing his orange blade down in an overhead chop. Garfield blocked and countered, feigning a strike left, but changing at the last moment and striking right. He had done this many times before, and it had always been countered. This time, however...
"Ah! Didn't see that, my young padawan." Slyf mumbled. His leg went numb. Blocking another strike, this one aimed at his arm, Marcus Slyf tried to counter with a move of his own, but merely fell on his face. "I yield." Deactivating his lightsaber, Garfield gave his master a hand to get up. "You finally beat me," Slyf mused.
Garfield would eventually master Soresu, Ataru, and Shien styles of fighting, mostly preferring the Shien style. Many disapproved of this, mostly because Shien was used by holding the lightsaber behind you, instead of out in front. In the many training and competition duels Garfield had, he'd often switch between the three styles, often winning him first place in the Temple competitions.
Mid afternoon found the former hero learning the ways of the Force, often excelling in healing, Force push, Force pull, and Mind Tricks. He had a little trouble with Force jump. When asked about Force speed, Garfield's master told him that he'd used it once, during the duel with Lord Hoth. In no time, Garfield had mastered Force speed, often making his attacks fade into blurs when sparring with his master.
Late afternoon found Garfield studying the history of the Republic and the Jedi Order, from it's founding to the present day. Reading was one of his least favorite things to do, but this held so much interesting history. His favorite part was learning about the Battle of Yi'jardh, where the Jedi Order had faced off against the legions of the Dim Sun empire. It was one of the biggest battles in the history of the Republic and the Jedi Order. Literally Hundreds of thousands of Jedi, Republic Troops, Sith, and Dim Sun warriors gathered for a five decade long standoff, that nearly bankrupted the Republic and depleted the Jedi ranks significantly. The stories that came from that battle were the stuff of legends. Intense clashes between Jedi and Sith, endless firefights between Republic troops and Dim Sun warriors, miracles and horrors that had not been seen before or since.
Years passed, and the war went on. During this time, Garfield grew to 6' 7, allowed his green hair to grow into a mullet, and had mastered Soresu, Ataru, and Shien, as well as Force healing, Force speed, Force Push, Force Pull, Mind Trick, and Force Jump. In five years, Garfield Mark Logan had mastered more than many Jedi master in a decade. He knew the history of the Jedi Order that it was often joked that he would be a Jedi historian. Five years since he had left, five years since he had started training. Five years since he had left the Teen Titans. Five years of living in the grand halls of the Jedi Temple.
"Garfield," his master spoke over the comlink, "come to the Council Chamber immediately."
"Roger that."
Upon entering the council chamber, Garfield began wondering what the summon was for. "Now that everyone is here," Master Richelieu said, "the Council has received word that the Brotherhood of Darkness is planning an assassination attempt on Supreme Ambassador Thriksvmir on his trip to Onderon. Master Slyf, you will guard the Ambassador."
"What of my padawan?" Slyf inquired.
"He will travel with you, in disguise as one of the Ambassador's aides." Jedi Grand Master Yelst replied. "Go now and prepare. May the Force be with you." With a wave of her hand, Yelst dismissed the pair.
Aboard the Lussic class destroyer Echedi
"I am most grateful for your protection, master Jedi" senator Thriksvmir said gracefully. The middle aged senator had scars crossing his face, relics of battles fought long ago. Reddish-orange hair spiked out of the top of his head, and a beard hung from his chin. He stood at a solid 6 feet. His eyes were a dark brown, and wore elegant robes, dark blue trimmed with gold. His aura was one of pure happiness, and he always looked on the brighter side of life. "Ah, your padawan has grown since we last met, my old friend."
"Yes he has, senator Thriksvmir. Is everything ready?"
"The engines are warm and ready" a young captain replied. "We're ready to leave. Please take your seats."
The trip was mostly uneventful. Garfield and Slyf talked with the crew and the senator, checked out the defense system, and Garfield got a speech on piloting.
Within a few hours, they had arrived at Onderon. "Master Jedi!" Lt. Pamela Holley yelled. "Three ships incoming!"
"Sith capitals?"
"No sir. Sith interceptors." An explosion rocked the ship.
In the skies above Onderon, a fierce battle took place. A single Republic destroyer engaged three Sith interceptors, which were nearly the same size as the Echedi. Plasma crashed against shields. It was not long before the Echedi's shields failed. The engines began to loose power, and explosions rocked the ship. One lucky shot destroyed the command bridge and engines of an interceptor, sending it crashing to the ground. It made no difference.
A huge explosion rocked the rear of the Echedi, and the two remaining interceptors broke off. Fires were erupting all around the starship, smoke seeping out of the grave wounds it had sustained. The metal creaked and groaned in protest of the heat,
The Echedi crashed into the ground, flipped on its side, and came to a screeching halt twenty miles from the gates of Ondrenia, capital of Onderon. The civilians looked, and saw the Republic ship crash. As the forest around them caught fire, gaps of horror escaped their lips.