Me and Master Kenobi entered the communications tower, where Master Yoda and Master Mundi were waiting for us, grave looks on their faces. "You summoned us Masters?" Master Kenobi asks.

Master Yoda looks at us with a grim expression and Master Mundi presses a button on the holo-table, revealing Duchess Satine in a panic. I widen my eyes in surprise and glance over to Master Kenobi, who has his hand underneath his chin in a worried gesture.

"This is a message for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jarik Shan. I've lost Mandalore," she says quickly. How could that have happened so fast? "My people have been massacred, and Almec is now the Prime Minister!"

Master Kenobi frowns deeply, with a small hint of anger just barely visible in his eyes as he hides the lower part of his face behind his hand. I glance between him and Duchess Satine in concern, surprised and confused about how Mandalore's leadership could have changed so fast without anyone knowing.

"I can't explain everything now, but Almec has the support of the crime families," she says in a panic, glancing behind her. I scowl in irritation at the mention of Almec again. That guy was a loser, and now he has the support of the crime families!? But he was in prison! "Obi-Wan, I need your help!" Satine pleads. Three Death Watch troopers then surround her just as the message ends, which makes everything click into place a little bit better.

"Master Kenobi, Padawan Shan. Your thoughts on this?" Master Yoda asks us.

"Satine has been at odds with the Death Watch for years." Master Kenobi replies. "And according to a report from Padawan Tano, they are no longer in league with the Separatists. If there was a takeover on Mandalore it was most likely an independent act, caused by the Death Watch alone."

Master Mundi frowns in regret. "Without involvement from the Separatists, this is an internal affair for the Mandalorians. I'm afraid we cannot help," he states.

"But Master, you can't really consider doing nothing!" I protest immediately. "Having the crime families rule Mandalore means they might as well have handed it to the Separatists already!"

"Or let Satine become a martyr! That would cause many problems!" Master Kenobi adds.

"I'm afraid her decision to keep Mandalore neutral, makes this situation, difficult." Master Mundi fires back.

"Understand your feelings I do, Obi-Wan, and Jarik. But to take action, support from the Republic Senate, we will need." Master Yoda says.

"The Senate won't do anything though Master. They wouldn't bother aiding a neutral system," I tell him, and he lowers his head sadly.

"At this time, nothing more can we do," he says in finality. Master Kenobi closes his eyes in frustration, and I glance over at him nervously in concern.


"We're rescuing her aren't we?" I ask knowingly, hurrying along the hallways of the Temple to keep pace with him.

"There is no we in this mission Jarik-" he starts to reply before I cut him off.

"Oh, no no o no no no, don't even go there!" I exclaim, stepping in front of him to block his way. "There's no way you're going alone this time Master. Not without my help!" I tell him with a glare.

"The system is neutral, which means no Jedi can get involved! It's why I have to go alone for this!" Master Kenobi says in frustration, trying to move past me.

"Do you even know how lucky the four of us are? Every time one of us goes on a secret mission alone something really bad happens!" I retort angrily. "The last time you went alone on a personal mission you were captured in seconds by Maul and Savage. So like it or not, I'm coming along this time to ensure that nothing bad happens!" I tell him firmly, my eyes giving away everything.

Master Kenobi is silent for a few more moments before he sighs angrily. "Fine. But you will do everything that I say, got it?" he stresses, and I nod in agreement, glad I could convince him.


Maybe this wasn't the best idea, at least as far as I was concerned. I had asked AHsoka for permission to borrow the Twilight, and with some measure of confusion, she agreed, allowing me and Master Kenobi to use it. What really sucked was that they haven't used the Twilight in over a year since the start of the war, so it was currently in really bad condition. I had to constantly be on repair duty as Master Kenobi piloted the ship to keep this hunk of junk working. Before we left however he had dressed in his Rako Hardeen costume, much to my bewilderment, although slight understanding as well.

"Ok, I am officially declaring that we scrap this blasted ship when we get back to Coruscant!" I exclaim angrily as the ship shakes violently from exiting hyperspace.

"Why did you ask for it in the first place?" Master Kenobi demands as he steers the ship into a landing.

"Because Ahsoka and I have used it for some of our campaigns in the war Master!" I tell him. "And it flew brilliantly!"

Master Kenobi finally manages to get the ship to land on the docks with much struggle, and powers the systems down. We both let out a sigh of relief before one of the terminals exploded in a small burst of fire.

"Dah!" he exclaims in surprise before scoffing. "Anakin. That's the last time we borrow a ship from you," he says, getting out of the seat and retrieving his helmet.

"Jarik, I need you to wait here on the ship until I return," he orders me. I glare up at him incredulously.

"What did we discuss earlier?!" I say in frustration.

"I agreed to let you come along for this mission if you did everything I said, and that's all there was too it," he retorts. "While I'm gone, I want you to do whatever repairs are necessary and get ready for a quick escape," he says sternly, daring me to challenge him.

I glare back at him, but finally give out a frustrated sigh, nodding my head reluctantly. "Alright, you're the master."

He nods in satisfaction. "Good. And for the record I'll most likely use Plan F," he says, and I nod in understanding. That was the code phrase for the 'I'm-knocking-a-guard-out-and-stealing-his-uniform-to-infiltrate-a-base' plan we had.

He puts on his helmet and walks toward the hatch and presses the button to lower the ramp, and it opens up... halfway. I roll my eyes as he stamps his foot to get it to go down further, and once it lowers a little bit more, he gives up and jumps off the ramp completely. As he smacks the pistons in an attempt to get it going properly, a Death Watch guard approaches, and I back away further into the ship where I couldn't be seen, and listen to the conversation.

"Better get your ship looked at," the guard says, sounding a tiny bit sympathetic.

"Oh, it's my... friend's ship." Master Kenobi replies casually. The ramp then slams down, a couple more pieces falling off as well and I sigh in irritation. Ahsoka you liar. She said the ship was perfectly fine for use. "He told me it was perfectly fine."

And that isn't a lie. It's actually 100% true because that's what she told me! Although this is pretty humorous if you ask me.

"Terribly sorry about that," he says in apology.

"Do you have a landing permit?" the guard asks.

"Um, I think I left it in the ship. Come with me and I'll get it." Master Kenobi says, walking up the ramp. The guard follows him without hesitation, the broken down ship and acting making it seem impossible to be a fake.

Once the two of them enter the ship and out of sight of any people watching, we make our move.

"So where's the permit?" the guard demands.

"Oh, there it is." Master Kenobi replies, pointing behind him. The Death Watch guard turns around to see me standing there, and I smirk at him.

"How's it going," I say casually.

"A Jedi!" he exclaims, but I move into action before he could do or say anything else, kicking him in the face. Obi-Wan rushes forwards and punches the guard in the back, sending him slamming into the wall. He attempts to raise his blaster, but I kick it out of his hands, and Obi-Wan knocks him unconcious with a well-placed punch.

"Gotta admit Master, this is the most convincing form of Plan F we've ever had," I remark with a grin.

"Well, when the ship you have is complete garbage, then people usually assume it to be true. Nobody is crazy enough to fly on a ship this damaged," he replies back.

"Except us."

"Very true. Now get to work, we have little time." Master Kenobi says, getting into business mode as he drags the Mandalorian out of sight to take his armor.

I nod and check the ship, deciding which parts of it were in most desperate need of repair while Master Kenobi was gone. Now I would be the first to proclaim that I am in no means a mechanical engineer compared to Ahsoka or Anakin, but desperate times call for desperate measures, so I was the next best option for this. Besides, Master Kenobi wasn't going to be here for the repairs, and he was most certainly a lot worse in ship repair than I was, so there's that.

When he emerged from the back room in full armor and walked down the ramp, I walked out stealthily behind him, and tossed a couple of hologram devices around the ship to help me keep watch of any intruders that may come along while I was busy. Once that was done, I watched Master Kenobi speed off on his speeder and then headed back inside the ship, unaware of the eyes that were watching my every move.


"Kriffing Twilight... blasted ship," I muttered angrily, spewing out a few curses I learned from Ahsoka and Anakin over the years. Where was R5 when I actually needed him desperately? This control panel was an absolute piece of garbage, and I was about ready to throw my wrench away when my comlink beeped.

"You there Master?" I ask.

"Fire up the ship! We're going to have company!" Master Kenobi exclaimed.

"Finally," I said, getting to my feet and rushing for the cockpit. I powered up the ship's systems, and although it sputtered and died for a second, I smashed the button with my fist, and it roared to life. I looked out the viewport to see Obi-Wan and Satine come to a stop on a stolen speeder, rushing for the ship. Death Watch soldiers immediately soared after them, so I rushed to the ramp to help them inside. I exited the ship just as Satine ran up it and activated my lightsaber, deflecting the laser fire headed our way as Master Kenobi fired back... with a blaster.

"And you call blasters uncivilized!" I tease him, blocking another shot.

"Not now Jarik!" he exclaimed, shooting another soldier. He backed into the ship and I followed after him, blocking the shots until the ramp closed up. We immediately rushed for the cockpit, where Satine was already sitting in the co-pilot's seat. Master Kenobi sat down in the pilot's chair and activated the guns, which I then took control over and started blasting away at the Death Watch soldiers, doing a lot of damage as they fired at our own ship, which was luckily strong enough to withstand blaster fire.

"We have to contact my sister for help. She'll send reinforcements!' Satine tells us.

"Who's your sister?" Master Kenobi questions in confusion, lifting the ship off the ground.

"Well for now we're home free," I say in relief as we steered away from the docks.

The engines suddenly exploded as two Death Watch missiles hit the side of our ship, shaking it furiously and causing all the systems to spark up with electricity as everything began to implode, the Twilight spinning helplessly through the air.

"Oh come on! Really?!" I exclaimed angrily, holding on the to gunner control to stay upright.

"Brace yourselves!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.

The ship began to beep furiously, alarms blaring as we spun through the air faster and faster, out of control.

"Let's get out of here!" Obi-Wan says, and none of us complain, sprinting for the entrance while everything exploded around us. He lowered the ramp and rushed to exit, me following while Satine was hesitant.

"Obi-Wan," she cries out, suddenly being lifted from her feet out to open air from the force of the crashing ship. I grab onto the side of the ramp opposite to Obi-Wan, who manages to catch Satine before she gets thrown off. We hang on for dear life as the ship spins around violently, and the Force screams in warning to us. I glance up and then look to Obi-Wan, who nods, and we let go. We get flung away from the ship violently, just as the inside explodes. Obi-Wan and Satine manage to get flung onto the platform, but I'm thrown somewhere else just beneath it, hitting the wall violently.

I cry out in pain from the force of the hit, and then start to fall down the side of the high ledge. I scrabble for any sort of hand hold or ledge to grab onto, and luckily just barely manage to grab hold of a small loose cable, which is hanging from the side. Above me, the Twilight explodes in a massive explosion, and I look up to see the pieces flying everywhere, fire spewing from the explosion. I cringe at what Anakin and Ahsoka are going to do when they realize the Twilight is no more.

Glaring up the side of the cliff, and look around for more footholds are begin my climb to get back to the top. I can only hope the other two are alright.


Three quarters of the way back to the top of the cliff, my comlink had beeped again a special code, which meant the hologram transmitters are placed around the ship earlier when we arrived had something to show me. Holding onto the side of the wall with one hand, I viewed what the hologram had to offer.

I gasped in shock when I saw Darth Maul and Savage arrive on the scene, easily capturing Obi-Wan and Satine. Now it all made sense, how the Death Watch and Minister Almec managed to get control of Mandalore so easily. Maul was using them like puppets to do his will and begin creating an empire, using Mandalore's neutrality as a way to keep people from interfering, knowing that Obi-Wan would come alone to save Satine. Well he miscalculated, since I'm still here.

Ending the transmission, I climbed up the cliff once more with renewed determination and frustration at the fact that Master Kenobi was caught yet again. When I finally pulled myself over the ledge onto the platform, I looked up to see a group of Death Watch soldiers standing there, a woman with red hair watching me. I moved to pull out my lightsaber, but the woman acted first, pointed a blaster point-blank at my face, Master Kenobi's lightsaber held in her grip, and the other soldiers aim their blasters at me as well. I glare up at her, and her eyes are narrowed in recognition and slight rage.

"Your move Shan," she warns me.

"I would've thought you'd have killed me by now. Vizsla would've done so," I tell her.

Hey eyes harden. "Well, things have changed."

I scoff. "Yeah I can see that. You and Vizsla must be loving what Maul has done with the place," I remark sarcastically.

"We are not ruled by that aruetii!" she exclaims, and I look up in surprise and confusion.

"What? But why are you-" I start to say before she cuts me off.

"Those people are traitors to Mandalore just like him. Vizsla is dead!" she says angrily.

I'm silent for a moment as I process this information, guessing that Maul challenged Vizsla in order to take power. And if I remember Mandalorian customs correctly, backing down from a direct challenge was seen as a weakness, and you would be removed as leader. Now everything makes more sense, and I nod slowly.

"Alright then... so what happens now?" I say slowly, not glaring at her but still eying her warily and distrustfully.

She's silent as she considers her options before replying. "As much as I hate you ge'hutuun scum..." she spits out at me, and I roll my eyes.

"Gee thanks," I mutter.

"...the only way we get through this is if we work together to rescue your Jedi friend," she says bitterly and reluctantly. I raise an eyebrow at her in surprise.

"Wait, you serious?" I ask in surprise, not expecting that. Some of her soldiers glance over at her in slight surprise as well, but apparently they hate Maul more than anything right now, judging from the sense of reluctant agreement coming from them.

"Are you in or not?" she demands.

I narrow my eyes at her before nodding my head slowly. "Alright, I accept."


This was ridiculous. Although I was reluctant allies with the Death Watch under the woman's command, who I learned was named Bo-Katan, just being in there presence had glares sent at me from every angle, so I just decided to stay away from them. This also had Bo-Katan decide to not have me on the first part of the rescue mission for Obi-Wan. I protested of course, since he was my master, but she shot that down, telling me that I would only slow them down, seeing as how I had no jet-pack of any sort, and everyone would be spending a lot of their time glaring at me, on which I had to reluctantly agree.

So instead I was waiting inside of the main doors to the outside where we would be making our escape. While I was waiting, a sudden chill came over me through the Force, making me nervous. I kept glancing over my shoulder in paranoia, as if someone was behind me, watching my every move, but nobody was there. Everything though... it felt dark... terrifying...

I was broken out of my musing when two of Maul's soldiers entered the area where I was waiting, and upon noticing me, they opened fire immediately. I leapt out of the way and activated my lightsaber, deflecting the shots that came to close. They ran at me while firing, so I jumped over them when they got close enough, lashing out with my lightsaber. One of their jet-packs was hit, and it exploded, killing the wearer and knocking the other to the side. He quickly got back up and started firing at me again, so I ran out him, ducking and weaving out of the way of his shots. As I was about to strike, he suddenly caught me by surprise and kicked my in the abdomen, before grabbing my shirt and tossing me to the ground.

I cringed in pain and looked up to see him aiming his blaster at me. Before either of us could do anything however, a blue laser bolt struck him down, and I looked over to see Bo-Katan fly through with her own soldiers, Master Kenobi right behind them.

"Master! You're ok!" I said happily.

"It's good to see you too Jarik," he says in relief. "But we've got company."

Right on cue, a team of Maul's Death Watch warriors flew into the area with us and opened fire. Master Kenobi reactivated his lightsaber and deflected the red laser bolts alongside me, as Bo-Katan's warriors fired back at them. We continued in this quick battle, both sides taking out as many warriors, until the red guys rushed forwards for melee combat. Bo-Katan and her followers met them head on, easily over powering them and delivering swift punches. While they were doing that, me and Master Kenobi headed for the doors to open them when I realized we were missing someone.

"Master, where's Satine? Is she with another rescue group?" I ask him.

He immediately stills, and waves of grief roll off of them before he closes his emotions off from the Force, but I had already sensed it. I widened my eyes in horror and brought a hand to my mouth. "Oh no..." I whispered.

"It's too late to do anything now," he said quietly, and I eyed my master sympathetically, knowing this was a lot harder for him than it was for me. Maul is such an evil piece of crap.

We opened the doors and were greeted with a battle field usually found exclusively in the war between the Separatists and the Republic. Mandalore was in a complete civil war, with everything burning while the warring Mandalorians fought each other to the death. Bo-Katan and her team joined up with us, witnessing the carnage.

"Maul must really want you dead," she remarked.

"You have no idea." Master Kenobi replied.

"That's definitely an understatement," I say in agreement as we rush into the battle.

Me and Obi-Wan were fighting alongside Bo-Katan as the war waged between both groups, ships being destroyed left and right. I still couldn't believe that the peace loving world of Mandalore could have descended into a war of this scale so quickly. It was absolutely insane to think about. Three of Maul's soldiers shot their missiles at a ship flying overhead, bringing it crashing to the ground as another one landed by the edge of the docks. Me and Obi-Wan rushed for it while Bo-Katan provided us cover, shooting at any soliders who got too close for comfort.

"Go back to your Republic and tell them was has happened," she told us as we got onto the boarding ramp.

"But that would likely lead to a Republic invasion of Mandalore!" Master Kenobi says in bewilderment.

"Yes, and Maul will die! But Mandalore will survive. We always, survive," she says in determination. "Now go!"

We both head up the ramp before Obi-Wan turns around, a sad look on his face as he comes to a realization. "You're Satine's sister, aren't you?" he states.

Bo-Katan looks down slightly in confirmation, a look of grief on her face. "I'm so sorry."

She steels herself again and starts shooting more ferociously at Maul's soldiers as me and Obi-Wan board the ship, which closes up and immediately takes off, the pilot up front directing us to Coruscant and away from the battle zone.

Master Kenobi sighs, sitting on a small chair in the main part of the ship, and I sit across from him, unsure of what to think. I don't really know how to talk to him in this situation, having never lost anyone to close to me before, except for Waxer and Echo, and of course when Ahsoka died on Mortis, before she was brought back. Waxer and Echo don't count too much because I wasn't in love with them obviously, and Ahsoka was brought back just a few minutes later...

Wait, did I just admit I was in love with Ahsoka?! I glance up at Obi-Wan, but he's too busy in his own mind to have noticed my thoughts. My comlink suddenly beeps, and I realize that the hologram transmitters I put at the docks where the Twilight crashed were still , I stood up and moved into the smaller hallway, opening the recording to see what they had picked up.

I dropped my lightsaber hilt in shock, horrified by the recording.


"...and with that being said, I'm afraid Mandalore has fallen under the rule of Maul and his brother, Savage Opress." Master Kenobi finishes, having just delivered the report of our mission. Me and Master Kenobi were standing in the middle of the Council chambers with all the other Masters. Anakin and Ahsoka were standing off to the side as well, listening to our report. The moment we got back, Master Kenobi called an emergency session to discuss the events of what occurred on Mandalore, and the Masters were deeply troubled by this. Before they could say anything about our report, I closed my eyes tightly, and Ahsoka looked over at me, probing along the bond in concern.

"Actually Master... Maul isn't in control of Mandalore. Not anymore," I tell everyone quietly. They look at me in confusion and bewilderment.

"What do you mean Jarik?" Master Kenobi asks in confusion.

Without a word a take a step forward and pull out a communicator, placing it on the ground and linking it up with the recording from my comlink.

A hologram from the docks taken earlier on Mandalore is displayed, showing two of Maul's guards approaching a ship, which is revealed to be a Republic shuttle. Master Kenobi glances at me and I gesture to the recording again.

"A Republic shuttle...?" Anakin says quietly.

The shuttle ramp is lowered, and the two guards ready their weapons as a figure steps out. Once the figure is revealed, everyone in the room either gasps or widens their eyes in surprise. Heading straight for the guards is a robed and hooded figure, heads held in front of him, and his face is concealed by the cloak.

"Halt!" one of the guards demands. I glance away as he is immediately silenced when the hooded Sith grabs them both in a force choke with a simple wave of his hand, strangling the life from them. As they fall to the ground, dead, the Sith calmly walks off of the recording towards a speeder parked nearby.

The recording ends after that, and I'm silent as everyone contemplates what we had just seen. Ahsoka, sensing the fear I was feeling from how close we were to being killed by the Sith Lord, sends me feelings of comfort and reassurance, and I grasp onto them gratefully.

"So the myth of the Master is true..." Master Mundi says quietly.

"Hmmm... disturbing, this revelation is. Fortunate you are, to have not encountered this Sith." Master Yoda tells me and Master Kenobi.

"I never knew he even existed... or that he was so close." Master Kenobi responds quietly, stunned.

"Masters, when we were rescuing Master Kenobi, I think... I think I felt his presence. It was so cold... and so dark..." I tell them, holding my arms in an attempt to draw myself inwards.

"You have done well Padawan Shan. Not only did you and Master Kenobi inform us of the development of Mandalore, you also brought proof of there being a Master of the Sith as well." Master Plo praises. I nod my head in understanding.

"Discuss this development, we will. Rest, you should, in light of this revelation." Master Yoda decides, and I bow my head in respect.

"Thank you Master," I say grateful. Master Kenobi gives me a proud and comforting smile as I head to the doors, and Ahsoka follows me after receiving permission from Anakin. Once we exit the council chambers, Ahsoka wraps her left arm around me in a side hug as we walk down, and I give her a grateful smile in response, still shook up from the dark presence in the Force.


Mando'a Translations:

aruetii - traitor, foreigner, outsider

ge'hutuun - bandit, villain, petty thief (can also mean a serious criminal you have no respect for) abusive