Part 6

The tension in the shuttle was high as those under Astrid's scrutiny fidgeted. It was then that Mala spoke up. "I guess it is only right that we tell you."

"My Queen!" Throk spoke up wanting to dissuade her.

"Throk they deserve to know." Mala told him sternly. "They saved our lives."

Throk did not look pleased but he did nod to Mala's reasoning. She then looked the twins, Astrid and Hiccup in the eye as she began her tale. "This tale starts well before I was born. Centuries ago Umbara was the site of a Sith academy. There Umbarans learned to use the Force and trained as Sith assassins. Those who were Force sensitive were highly prized in society and given special standing. My family comes from the highest caste, the Rootai, and when it was found out that I could manipulate the Force they were ecstatic."

"So that is why Throk calls you Queen?" Hiccup asked.

Both Mala and Throk nodded. "The Rootai are considered royalty on Umbara but that did not stop them from scheming. In fact it was worse at the top as family members plotted against family members to advance. The Sith academy was long gone but its teachings not forgotten. With the assassination of senator Mee Deechi, Umbara stepped out of the Republic and joined the Separatist Alliance and later the Empire as spies and assassins. My uncle Ossidious was at the forefront of these events after he supposedly disposed of my parents and took over their position."

"Umbarans have the ability to lightly control another individual's will and it is enhanced with the use of the Force. That was the only reason my uncle kept me alive. I was his trump card."

"Oh you poor lady" Hondo tisked. "The man should be ashamed of himself."

"So what happened next?" The twins asked as they leaned forward in their seats. "And where does Hondo fit in?" Astrid also asked.

"Right. I worked under my uncle's strict watch for many years. Manipulating and controlling his opponents. Even as part of the Rootai I was being heavily monitored when I traveled offworld with him. Throk here was the son of one of the servants in our household and he became my friend. However such interaction was forbidden between members of a much lower caste."

"I think I should explain the next part" Throk said as he pursed his lips. "Ossidious did not like me being around his niece but we managed to sneak around. One day while cleaning her father's old office I found the contact information for a smuggler who owed her father a debt."

"And who am I to not repay a debt." Hondo stated. "Although smuggler is a bit harsh. I prefer privateer."

"Oh please. You're a pirate and that's that." Astrid stated while crossing her arms. Hondo grumbled but was promptly ignored.

Throk continued with the story. "I showed the information to Mala and we hatched a plan to leave Umbara and the oppressive hand of her uncle. We met with Hondo and he agreed to smuggle us and those loyal to us off the planet. We were to go last as it would arouse less suspicion."

"Well the guy did seem like a douche." Astrid mumbled more to herself. "Alright say that I believe you. What will you do now? He'll probably put bounties on your heads."

"We've thought of that." Mala interjected. "Those who have already left the planet before us have arranged for a place where we can avoid my uncle."

"I'm taking them to the rendezvous point now and then we can me on our way." Hondo told the others as they came out of hyperspace. Fishlegs and Heather were right behind them and came to a stop just like Hondo's shuttle.

"I don't see anyone." Tuffnut stated as he looked outside.

"They said they would meet us here." Mala said. "Let us wait a bit."

The others nodded while Astrid saw Mala still discreetly glancing at Hiccup.

"Someone is jealous!" Stormfly spoke again causing Astrid's cheeks to heat up.

"Astrid are you alright?" Hiccup asked. "You look kind of flushed."

"I...I'm alright!" Astrid squeaked and then mentally berated herself. "It's just a little hot in here." She quickly added.

"Hot?" Hondo asked out loud before he realized what was happening. He then started chuckling and was only shut up by the death glare Astrid sent his way. He held his hands up defensively, when the ship's communicator beeped. "Looks like we have company." he said as they saw a freighter appear out of hyperspace.

"Greetings, we come as friends. We are here to escort her highness to a safe location." Came over the comm.

"Well looks like this is where we say our goodbyes." Mala said as she and Throk stood up to move to the airlock.

"Why don't I see you out." Astrid said as she plastered a fake smile on her face.

Once out of earshot from the others Mala casually said as they neared the airlock "You wish to know the interest I have in your friend."

"You bet I want to know." Astrid stated as the two women stared at each other leaving a curious Throk watching the tense scrutiny. "If you are planning to somehow hurt any of my friends in the future."

Mala held up her hand. "I have no desire to do that. You and your friends saved us on Umbara. We owe you a debt of gratitude. As for me showing an interest in Hiccup, it certainly isn't of a romantic nature."

The "unlike you" was left unsaid but Astrid's cheeks still turned pink.

"Then why?"

"We Umbarans value power and might. As a Force user I am also proficient in area cloaking. The fact that your friend saw through that when I could fool even a Jedi means that he is quite powerful. I was merely wondering why he would hide that."

"Not everyone wants to be in the spotlight." Astrid mumbled.

"Of course and I wasn't going to pry." Mala stated. "It would be rude. I'm sure your friend has his reasons and we respect that. It merely took me for a surprise."

Astrid nodded as the ships finished connecting and the airlock opened.

"Farewell" Mala and Throk said. "I'm sure we shall meet again someday."

Stormfly spoke up once the airlock closed. "Well I've gotten my read on her."

"What did you find out?" Astrid asked as she walked back to see the twins talking over the communicator while Hondo punched in some new coordinates as hiccup looked over a star map.

"What she told us was the truth but I'm sure you could sense that already." Stormfly stated. "However I got the feeling that it wasn't the whole truth. Nothing malicious though."

"Thank you Stormfly." Astrid said mentally to the blue haired woman.

"As for my talk with Toothless, he didn't want to talk about it."

"Leave it Stormfly. Mala was right about that. We shouldn't pry. If Hiccup wants to tell us something he will." Astrid said as she sat back down.

"So where are we going?" Ruffnut asked as both shuttles jumped back into hyperspace after Mala and Throk's transport had left.

"Florrum my dear. I did promise you parts now didn't I." Hondo happily shouted from the cockpit.

"Don't call me dear!" Ruffnut shouted back eliciting a chuckle from the pirate.

"Why Florrum?" Tuffnut asked. "Isn't that just some backwater planet?"

"Now now, that backwater planet held my base for much of the Clone wars, that was until it came under Separatist control and was destroyed."

The journey passed in relative silence and as the shuttles came out of hyperspace they saw a brown planet getting closer. "Welcome to the Sertar sector. Now making our way to Florrum." Hondo joked as he angled the shuttle for landing.

"Doesn't look like much." Ruffnut mumbled.

"Oh don't judge my dear. Florrum's desserts hide many secrets." Hondo smirked as they entered the atmosphere. The gang could see deserts and canyons with geysers littering the landscape.

"And here we are!" Hondo stated as they landed. In front of them they could see the wreckage of a giant ship.

"What is that?" Hiccup asked.

"Those are the remains of the Crucible, an Old Republic era ship which crashed here during the Clone wars." Hondo explained as they started disembarking. The winds were strong and whipped sand up into their faces but they soon met up with Heather and Fishlegs before proceeding to the wreckage. Sulphur geysers blasted along their path and soon they reached the wreckage.

"What a dump" Heather commented as she looked up at the ship. "It's in worse shape than the ship we crashed with on Ilum."

"Why hasn't this been salvaged yet?" Fishlegs asked confused.

"Oh but it has. My gang and I saw to that personally." Hondo smirked.

"Then why are we here?" Fishlegs now asked.

"Because this is where I keep certain treasures." The pirate stated.

"You keep your loot in a shipwreck that has already been plundered by pirates?" Astrid mumbled.

"Of course I do!" Hondo smirked. "It's the last place anyone would look."

"Well…. He has a point." Tuffnut said as they entered the hull.

"Come now, this way." Hondo stated as he let the way to a large room filled with drawers.

"What is this place?" Astrid asked as she and the others looked around.

"The better question you should be asking yourselves is why have you come here." This caused the group to tense and turn to see an old droid walking towards them.

"Hondo, I didn't think you would come back here." The droid stated.

"Well I have a few people here in need of your service."

"Indeed." The droid said while stroking his chin. "Curious. Very curious. I'm Professor Huyang and I have been in service of the Jedi order since its early days and have instructed countless Jedi in the construction of their lightsabers."

"Then why are you here?" The twins asked curiously.

"The Empire of course." The droid huffed. "I escaped and hid. There was no way I would share my knowledge with them."

"Well you might as well know…. We aren't exactly Jedi." Hiccup said to the droid who merely chuckled.

"Not Jedi, yet you seek lightsabers hmmm. Very well. Show me your kyber crystals and I shall judge for myself if you are worthy to wield a saber." The old droid stated.

"Can this droid really help us?" Heather asked skeptically.

"Call me what you want but inside these memory banks of mine contain the records of every lightsaber ever made and the Jedi who fashioned them." Huyang stated. "Now, might I inspect your crystals?"

"Eh… alright." Hiccup said as they took out their colored crystals and showed it to the droid.

"My my… It has been millennia since I saw such colors." Huyang chuckled before giving the group a bow. "Greetings Crystal Guardians, I am honored to finally meet you."

Silence reigned before someone dared to speak up. "You….. You know about the Guardians?" Both Hiccup and Fishlegs asked.

"I am a few millennia old myself. I have only heard of Crystal Guardians in passing." The droid chuckled. "Don't let my appearance fool you. I've been to many places before lending my skills to the Jedi Order."

"So can you help us?" Heather asked curiously.

"Of course lass." Huyang chuckled. "But a simple lightsaber wouldn't do you any good. Your talents far exceed that. You three will need to make custom weapons."

"And…. how do we do that?" Hiccup asked.

"Oh leave the technicalities up to old Huyang. All you need is the Force to show you the right combination." The droid stated before walking to the many drawers.

The selection process passed and soon Hiccup, Fishlegs and Heather all sported customized sabers. Hiccup's saber was a sword type, but unlike traditional lightsabers the hilt wasn't round but thin and rectangular instead, and the dark purple blade was flat, thin and curved to a point instead of rounded like Astrid's lightsaber.

"I feel awesome!" Toothless exclaimed and those who could hear him chuckled. Hiccup's blade gave off a sound like the crackle of electricity as he swung, gripping the black hilt expertly and testing the weapon.

Fishleg's saber was made for closer combat. The orange plasma blade was shortened but its power was increased and the lightsaber could be used to generate a plasma shield.

Heather's lightsaber was a light slim blade. Huyang called it a lightfoil and smiled as Heather tested it in a succession of quick thrusts.

"Well it looks like my job here is done." Hondo cheerfully said. "Now I will just be on my way"

"I don't think so scum" A deep voice chuckled as everyone turned to the doorway to see two armor wearing individuals with blasters trained on them.

"Oh great…. Just what we needed." Astrid grumbled recognizing the armor. "Mandelorian bounty hunters."

"Why hello sweetheart." The shorter of the two said from behind his helmet.

"Snotlout will you shut up." The larger one groaned before turning to the group. "Now all we want is the pirate and no one will get hurt."

"Now now gentlemen… surely there has been some misunderstanding." Hondo exclaimed.

"Shut it!" The larger bounty hunter growled. "Jabba is paying us a good amount of credits for your head."

"You should never have stolen from him in the first place!" The one called Snotlout now exclaimed. "We'll be taking you and that holocron you stole back with us."

"Holocron?!" The others exclaimed before looking in shock at Hondo.

"Hey don't they look familiar?" Snotlout now whispered to the other. "I'm sure I saw their faces on some wanted posters."

"Crap" Astrid hissed as she got ready to teach these two just who they were messing with. But before she could do anything Hondo exclaimed "This venture is no longer…. profitable!" before standing on a table and throwing something to the ground.

Her body felt heavy as an electric shock made its way through her and her friends as well as the two hunters in the doorway. 'Shock grenade' she thought before the world turned black.

-To be continued-