Berserker Book V

by Blitzkrieger

Traitor, Heretic, fallen jedi, Leo Rock exiled from the Order. Leo and his Black Knights are on a mission to remind the Jedi of who they truly are, but in a galaxy that increasingly distrusts Jedi, enemies on all sides. He'll face not just Clones and Droids, but Maul's Shadow Collective. With little choice, Leo must assemble an army for the one thing the galaxy needs, revolution.

1. Reforged

WARNING: THIS SERIES IS NOT MY OWN, STAR WARS BELONGS TO DISNEY/LUCASFILMS, ALL CHARACTERS DO AS WELL. THAT BEING SAID CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THIS ARE FOR THE SAKE OF FICTION AND STORYTELLING, THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE ORIGINAL PROPERTY. BEWARE OF THE FOLLOWING: GORE, SWEARING, DISTURBING IMAGERY, SEXUAL CONTENT(+18), RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, SWASHBUCKLING ACTION

Chapter 1

Reforged

The hammer fell with the sound of conviction at the end of it, with every strike the dying embers renewed with a life, the metal revealing the power inside. Again the hammer struck the anvil bending and folding the metal to his will. Again a powerful strike never losing rhythm, like ringing a bell the hammer struck again, as the fire next to it spat out sparks of heat and fire. The heat from the furnace was like a dragon's breath warming him against the cold night, his work had continued without stop as he had removed his shirt. Scars etched his body like a road on solid earth, there were claw marks on his back underneath he had a wound from a lightsaber that had impaled him, nearly missing his spine. His hammer arm bore bite marks of his own teeth which he had given himself, there were more of course others unseen and far greater than the rest. His broad chest had formed with some sprouts of hair over his torso and around his jawline to match the same ghostly white that caught the red of the fire in each strand. Around his neck hung a small leather string and at its base wrapped tightly together in knots was a kyber crystal that glowed with every hammer strike pulsing like his own beating heart. Again he hammered the metal almost finished with his work. It wasn't a weapon, yet, instead it was something that would bring hope to his allies and fear to his enemies. Taking one more look at it he examined the metal before lifting it up with the force and slowly dipping it into a bucket of ice water steam rising from its edge he let it rise from the water that trickled out of the eyeholes, the mask finally complete. It was more of a helmet as it would protect his entire head the top was flat and smooth, made to wrap around the wearers entire head, two slits were the face mask had been forged on in a protruding wedge three dots for filters were set that still needed to be connected to the interior that was yet to be connected but he looked at it. A proper knight's helm forged from the iron of the world he was on, touching it to his hand he felt the metal was still warm, the fires not dead yet. But it wouldn't burn him he slowly held it up looking at the hollow eye slits before turning around and putting the helmet on he walked over to a broken window that reflected the fires behind him to look at his reflection, his green eyes peering out of the helmet back at him.

CORUSCANT

Jedi Temple

Obi-Wan awoke from his sleep rising slowly, he rose from his bed tossing aside his sleeping robes to head to his refresher. He let the hot water rush over his face before he finished with other routines to clean himself, wiping his hand over the fogged up mirror Obi-Wan noticed his beard had started to grow thick and long from the time since he last shaved, it had gotten longer around the edges giving his jawline a more rectangle shape that he didn't care for. Reaching for the clippers Obi-Wan started to trim the beard, letting the loose hairs and stray ones till the beard till it was tightly sheared to match his face. Taking a handful of water he washed the lingering flecks of hair off his face till Obi-Wan saw something he never thought he'd ever see: a grey hair, two, three not a whole streak had started to form at the base of his forehead in his chestnut brown hair.

Letting out a sigh Obi-Wan looked at himself with a smile "Not so young anymore I'm afraid are we?" He asked himself before he left and walked out of the bathroom. Grabbing a fresh pair of light beige robes Obi-Wan dressed himself in them and then leather boots he took his lightsaber on his belt and started to look for his clone bracers when he remembered why he'd gotten rid of them in the first place.

….The Jedi were meant to be more than this, to protect all-life, not just the Republic, but if our precious code chains you to your apathy…. then I will no longer serve as your weapon...

Obi-Wan composed himself before he grabbed his dark brown jedi cloak and put it on over his robes before he left his apartment within the temple. He walked out of the Knights apartments to the rest of the temple, he passed by Jedi who bowed to the council member in respect or nodded as he passed.

A group of younglings suddenly ran in front of them, one of them stumbling to fall at his feet. He was a Nikito with green skin and black eyes wearing dark brown robes "Tyro come on." His friends shouted after him till they saw the Master in front of them.

Smiling at the boy, Obi-Wan offered his hand to the youngling "Nothing broken I hope?" The youngling looked up at Obi-Wan, and a pang of terror crossed his face before he got up.

"N-N-no Master." The youngling said not to take his hand and run along to catch up to his friends.

Obi-Wan was shocked to see the youngling react that way "Don't take it personal, Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan looked behind to see Luminara standing behind him, his face softened at the sight of her.

"In the months since the… schism, the younger jedi here distrust the Council members above all others, it will pass." She said reluctantly.

"We can pray Luminara, there's been no word in months from the deserters, only these rumors of pirate crews and gangs vanishing with lightsaber marks left all over their ships?" Obi-Wan said as the two walked together.

Luminara looked away from his gaze "What is it?"

"I overheard Master Windu and Master Drallig speaking today, the Sentinels have found nothing yet…" "But what?" Obi-Wan asked her to stop near a stairwell.

She hesitated to answer "Certain Jedi ruins and old outposts have evidence to show they have been recently used, old vaults opened, supplies taken, your former Padawan is still out there." She explained.

"... have there been others?" Obi-Wan asked her.

Luminara didn't answer at first "I'm afraid so, three Jedi have disappeared and three younglings have fled the Temple stowing away on a cargo ship off the upper city docks before we could stop them."

"There's an off world, already?" Obi-Wan asked her.

She gave a weak nod "Be at peace, we know where they're going we'll recover them in no time there ship is heading to Malastare, we've alerted the Dug Council of their arrival and they've agreed to assist in apprehending them." Luminara said to Obi-Wan hoping to give him some peace of mind.

"Apprehend, do the dugs know not to hurt them?" Obi-Wan asked her "It's not the dugs I'm worried about."

MALASTARE

Malastare was a forested planet located in the Malastare system of the Mid Rim, situated along the Hydian Way. Its core was home to large reserves of Malastarian fuel, a toxic fuel found only on Malastare. It was the homeworld of the Dug species, though it was represented in the Galactic Senate by the Gran species, who had colonised Malastare. Ainlee Teem, the senator of Malastare, was nominated in the election for Supreme Chancellor during the Invasion of Naboo. During the Clone Wars, Malastare was the location of a battle between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems over the planet's fuel reserves. The battle awoke a creature known as the Zillo Beast, which the Republic successfully neutralized, leading the Dug Council to sign a treaty with the Republic allowing them access to their fuel reserves. But right now the most important thing about Malastare were three Jedi padawans who had just leapt off a supply ship landing outside of Pixelto's refugee camp. A small second city surrounded the Dug capital in an ocean of tents and shanties.

The three robed padawans used the ship's cloud of dust it had kicked up to blend into a throng of refugees that were pushing toward the ship. A line of Dug pikemen were holding the refugees back. A mix of human and alien peoples from Christophsis to zygerrian all shouting for food, water, medicine anything really. One of the padawans, the shortest of them, looked back through the crowd as people pushed on, he accidentally bumped into a red headed woman making him fall.

The woman saw the boy go down and something made her shout "Move!" She yelled at the refugees "Don't trample the kid." She snapped at the refugees. Her voice was commanding and strong despite her sunken cheeks and lean frame. The people started to do as she said before she knelt down to help him up. "Come on lad, get up or you won't get any food." She said reaching to help the boy.

But when she saw poking out of the folds of his robe, was his lightsaber "... Jedi…" she whispered "JEDI!" Someone shouted.

A score of screams and gasps went through the crowd as the other younglings came running to pull the youngest Jedi to his feet "You just had to do something didn't you." A girl's voice, she was in a dark brown robe said, the other was in a white one. "Don't do anything, just try to find a way out." He said.

"Karking Jedi, you destroyed my home." One refugee snapped.

The one in white held up his arms "We mean you no harm, let us pass." He asked.

"You took our homes- I lost my husband-" another person shouted, the female jedi reached into her robe "She's going for her lightsaber to get her." A refugee with a pipe appeared to swing at her but the one in white held up his hand and sent the man flying with the force "Jedi sorcerers!" Another person chucked a bottle at them in a flash. The one in white drew a blue lightsaber in reaction to shatter the bottle. "YOU THERE STOP!" A dug pikemen shouted, the jedi looked to see the guards heading for them "Run." The one with the lightsaber said before they sprinted out into the refugee camp. Hours of running over a recently cleared forest to make way for a new refinery. The field was covered in severed tree trunks and left over construction machinery, they fled a patrol of mounted dug pikemen chasing them on the backs of their two legged mounts.

The Dugs laughed and hollering as they opened fire with shock bolts against the fleeing padawans "Please leave us be!" One of them shouted under a dark brown cloak they had stopped showing their hands.

"We are Jedi, we mean you no harm!" But the Dug's chased after him "Jedi or not, surrender or die." The Dug shouted but showed no signs of slowing down.

One of the padawans turned, swearing "Damnit." She said running and tackling the other jedi out of the way of the dugs mount before they held up their hand knocking the dug off the mount and throwing him back into the others. The mounts spooked, scattered running in every direction.

Their hoods fell and the two Padawan's were barely out of their youngling years, the one who almost got ran over was a young boy, he had black hair and a brown skin with matching eyes, he was covered in dirt from being pushed to the ground. His black hair was cut short to the scalp on one side the other flipped over his head with a padawan braid on the other side "Thanks Maris…" the boy coughed as she stood up. The one who saved him was a zabrak girl with pale white skin, midnight black hair and yellow eyes, her horns were uncommonly red instead of a dark black or pale bone. She wore a dark brown robe like all the others over her clothes "Maris watched the Dugs flee."

"Get up, Dray, we have to keep moving." She said pulling the boy called Dray to his feet.

The one ahead of them was looking around "Lotor you feel anything?" Maris asked third, he turned to her, the eldest among them he was kneeling over the ground hand on it. He was human like Dray but with fair skin and bleach blonde hair cut neat, with a long padawan braid. He wore a robe over white high collared jedi robe, Dray had on a brown robes with a beige vest and Maris bore a dark black leather outfit of tight trousers and a harness held tube top showing off her pale white navel.

"The Dugs are regrouping, we need to keep moving." Lotor said as Maris nodded.

"We can't out run them on foot, maybe if we talk to them, let them know we're jedi- you know the Good Guys?" Dray, the youngest of them suggested.

"Don't be so naive, those Dugs want us dead, maybe we should give them a taste of their own medicine?" Maris spat.

Lotor turned to her "No, the Dugs are scared, that's all we have no need to invite their wrath as well." Lotor said.

"Okay, what if we just took that then?" Dray suggested pointing to a land speeder across from them.

Maris blinked for a second before she ruffled his black hair "Good eye kid, but I'm driving." She said running to the speeder "Kid, your like two years older than me." Dray snapped as they got in. The speeder drove off in a whoosh over the ashes of the ruined forest into the distance.

"Lotor do you know we can find them?" Maris asked him, the blonde padawan held his hand over his hood to keep it up "The other padawan with them, Jinx he and I belonged in the same initiate clan, Hawkbat, we kept a holomessage frequency when I told him of you, he offered to meet us here."

"And me?" Dray asked in the back seat, Lotor smirked "He said their leader would protect any jedi who wanted sanctuary."

The speeder raced into a forest into the distance, passing by trees and branches overhead that blotted out the sun "This is the first green I've seen since we got here." Dray said to them. "The planet here is full of fuel, the dugs clear the forest so they can sell fuel to the Republic, it's a shame to waste such natural beauty but until the war is over it may be necessary." Lotor said.

"Necessary- necessary?" Maris asked while she drove the speeder, "Look at what it's done to the galaxy, to the Order those Dugs wanted to kill Dray they didn't even care he's a child, not like the Masters do either, or his teacher for that matter."

Lotor didn't say a word he just looked forward with his blue eyes, he stayed silent just as they came to a dead end in the road blocked by a fallen tree. "Must have been knocked over by a storm?" Dray said.

"I'll move it." Lotor said getting out of the speeder he pulled his hood down and approached the fallen tree when he stopped dead in his tracks "What need some help big boy?" Maris teased as she saw what Lotor saw, the tree hadn't been knocked over it had been cut, the stump had a clean cut at the start before gravity did the rest. In a flurry of motion and yells springing from behind the trees and swinging down on robes were a dozen gran bandits. The three eyed goat faced aliens surrounded the padawan pack all holding stolen blasters and melee weapons.

Maris reached under her robe "Don't try it lil lady!" One of the gran said, he was larger than the other dressed in armor and a sleeveless overcoat with multiple tattoos running up his left arm and around his face, that had the center eye covered with an eyepatch. "Bandits." Maris hissed.

"Bandits?" The lead gran said "We're simply men of the road looking to collect a tax for crossing our woods."

"Your woods, this planet belongs to the Dugs?" Dray said in the back seat looking around at all the bandits.

The bandits all laughed "The Dugs only care about that stinking gas in the mines, and selling it to those good for… nothing…." the Bandit chief looked at Dray and noticed under his robes sticking out was a lightsaber "JEDI!" He shouted.

All of the bandits held up their blasters as the lightsabers came out, Lotor wielded a radiant blue blade like the one Dray had taken out. Maris had tossed aside her robe and had an unusual pair of green tonfa hilted lightsabers and without her robe she was shown to be wearing only the harness tube top over her chest and around her neck, the rest of her white body was exposed to the air for all to see "Well come on then." She snapped at the bandits who were to busy ogling at her.

"Ugh men." She grumbled "Hey you chose that outfit." Dray said, rolling his eyes.

"Quit your gawking, these jedi are the ones who drove us from our homes." The bandit snapped, pulling out a blaster pointing it at Lotor.

The young man held his ground and raised a hand "We mean you no harm, nor would a jedi ever do such a thing."

"Yeah well your war sure did, we had a good life back on Christophsis until you damn jedi blue it to hell." The leader said. The bandits all snarled and growled at the jedi their anger seething out of them "Oh yeah what was it, mugging tourists?" Maris asked.

Lotor glared at her before the bandit turned his blaster on her "I was a karking accountant, with a six figure job I had my own penthouse, speeder now you made me a bandit and now your going to pay, KILL'EM!"

"Dray down!" Lotor shouted before the blasters unleashed on them, the jedi bunched up around the speeder as the bandits opened fire. Maris jumped into the fray kicking one away before she rushed another; she sliced his blaster in half before she was about to take his head. Lotor ran up and blocked her lightsaber pushing two bandits a way "No, no killing."

"They started it." Maris snapped at Lotor and she went back to back. "Then we finished it, you heard that he wasn't born a criminal, they're desperate, not sadistic."

They heard a loud scream "Well I could learn to be." They looked to the bandit leader who had Dray by his hair holding his lightsaber he'd somehow gotten to the speeder wrestling his weapon from him and holding the boy by the neck "Drop your weapons jedi, or we kill the boy."

"You were going to kill us anyway, why should we?" Lotor asked him.

"Because if you don't you're going to watch this kid's head roll." He said holding up Dray's own lightsaber to his neck.

Reluctantly Lotor and Maris turned off their lightsabers, "Now, what to do with three jedi we could sell you to the Separatists for a pretty penny, they pay good for jedi and then the Five Syndicates are always offering top dollar for rare merchandise hmmm?" The leader said looking Maris over and licking his lips, she snarled at him but he only smirked, unaware that one of his troops had been grabbed from the bushes and dragged in without warning.

"Ugh boss?" One of the bandits asked.

"Quite I'm thinking." The leader said as another was pulled into the brush.

The bandit snickered, "Or maybe we can just cook you alive, eat you?"

Another and another till the leader saw the three bandits surrounding Lotor and Maris were picked up off their feet and flung screaming into a nearby tree. "What the-" "Not what who." Someone said from behind the bandit chief.

The big gran spun around to see a green fist smash him across his beak knocking out three teeth before catching Drays lightsaber. Dray looked up to see a mysterious twi'lek standing over him. He was dressed in simple clothing, tan robes covered his body with iron twi'lek armor covering his forearms, stomach and neck with a plate on the front just below his belt where to all three of the padawans surprised were two lightsabers. Their saviors head was hidden behind a black headdress with a pendant on the forehead around his lekku with a mask, the mask itself resembling the armor that had indented holes in it had a series of them around the eyes, nose and mouth to breath. "You're slipping Lotor bandits, really." The man said as he tossed the lightsaber to Dray while helping him up.

"Come little brother this is yours." He said as Lotor recognized the voice, "Jinx?"

The twi'lek peeled back the mask to reveal he was none other than Jinx, "Jinx Vao." He said coming down to take Lotor in a brother handshake "Vao?" Maris asked.

"I chose it, it's a common enough Twi'lek name, besides I got tired of just being called Jinx all the time." Jinx said, he said. He was taller now, his voice deeper, less wirey and more mature.

"You and your friends are certainly one for names, black knight?" Dray said smiling at him, Jinx rolled his eyes "You know when he chose that name I don't think he knew it stick so much little brother, we are still Jedi." Jinx said over to him as he held out his hand and lifted the tree with the force tossing it aside.

He walked toward the speeder opening the side door "Come, the others are waiting and I sense the Dug patrols will be here soon."

"Others?" Lotor asked.

The speeder drove until the sun fell, arriving at an old abandoned mine that overlooked a small town in the distance at the bottom of a treeless valley that had old rusted pipes running to the village. "What's that?" Dray asked, looking at the village.

"It's Gastown, the mine here used to pump fuel down for local starships to refuel but it was just a pocket, nothing more, so the mine dried up and so did the town." Jinx said as he drove up to the mine, a large hollowed out cave to enter it was wide open and when the speeder got close the padawans saw inside the cave was the infamous stealth ship the Rogue Shadow.

"You mean you're all here?" Lotor asked.

Jinx nodded at him "You thought we were just here for you?" Jinx asked him.

"Uh yeah, why are you here?" Maris asked behind them sitting next to Dray. Before he could answer springing from behind the abandoned equipment and crates were eight clone troopers in white armor with black stripes, two of them Arc Troopers. The padawans all tensed up "Troopers!" Maris snapped drawing her lightsabers before Jinx held up his hand "Whoa, whoa, whoa Dogma, Fives what's going on?" Jinx asked the lead Arc Trooper.

Captain Dogma, removed his helmet revealing his hair had started to grow back and he had even started to grow a beard to match but it was still short. Fives removed his helmet too his goatee back, he had kept his head shaved though. "Commander Jinx, we didn't recognize the others with you, just needed to be sure." Dogma said.

"You don't need to call me Commander anymore Captain." Jinx said walking up to him, he patted Fives on the shoulder "Tell Jax and his boys to stand down their friendlies."

Clone trooper Jax held his hand up signaling the other clones to lower their weapons, he'd made a few alterations to his armor, specially he was wearing an ammo harness over his armor with a pack over his back, Jax had even decided to get rid of the armor on his biceps and tore some holes in his body glove to show off his arms. The rest of his squad had all made alterations to their armor as well, some weren't wearing helmets in favor of bandanas, hats or goggles, others were like Jax and had gotten rid of parts of their armor like the shoulder pads or switched out the old boots for new ones.

"You have clones with you?" Maris asked, turning off her lightsaber.

"They were part of the clone battalion sent to capture us, but they were loyal to their General, good men all of them so don't worry." Jinx said as the clones all stood down "Just a bit jumpy."

They all waited for Jinx to answer but he hesitated "You should meet the others first." Jinx said, pulling the speeder into the mine. He hopped out and whistled "I'm back, I found them we had a run in with Kungs boys." He yelled into the mine.

"Kung?" Maris asked, "Those bandits have a leader named Kung local warlord who the Dugs have been letting run the outlands as long as he stays away from their mines, he's been raiding the smaller towns outside the Imperial City." Jinx said.

"And that will soon be brought to an end." A new voice said, the three padawans looked tos eye emerging from behind the Rogue Shadow was a tall slender jedi Master with one green eye and one grey cybernetic one that matched his gray hair tied behind his head in a ponytail, he leaned on a black and gold cane wearing a faded gray robe "M-Master Tholme." Lotor said bowing in respect to him, Dray hesitated then did so as Maris just stood there unimpressed."

Tholme looked at them then at Maris "These are them, Jinx?" He asked.

"Yes Master Tholme, this is Lotor, Maris Brood and Dray." Jinx said introducing the three of them "Dray?" Tholme said with interest.

"I knew your Master Salmara when she was a young girl." Tholme said over him, a wave of sadness appeared to rush over Dray as he avoided Tholmes two mismatched eyes "She was…. killed."

Tholme didn't push the subject seeing the sadness it brought him "And you, Lotor seem rather old to be a padawan?" Tholme said, holding up his cane.

"My Master had petitioned me for the Trials until… well it doesn't matter now sir." Lotor said looking away "I see, last that leaves us with this young lady, Maris Brood was it?" He said turning to her.

She smirked "Do I look like a lady old timer?" She asked, hand on her hip.

"Maris, show respect." Lotor hissed, but Jinx just smirked at her attitude and eventually to Lotor and Drays surprise so did Tholme "No you look like Jedi to me, strong young Jedi, Jinx says you came here seeking sanctuary?"

Dray suddenly blurted out "Yes, we heard the Black Knights would help us."

Tholme blinked hearing the name before he looked at Jinx "Hey, don't look at me, the names are growing on me too." Jinx said as he passed him.

"Where are you off too?" Lotor asked him "Where do you think, to see the man you came for." Jinx said walking into the mines. Tholme watched him go before he turned to face the other padawans "Come with me, you must be hungry after your journey." Tholme said, leading them past the Rogue Shadow toward the mines offices. They walked in to see it relit but still dirty down the hallways they heard the sound of fighting in the stance, Dray started to reach for his lightsaber.

"At ease, that would be Master Sian Jeisel giving a demonstration to the other younglings, they're about your age Dray." Tholme said over to the boy as they came into a large room where the three saw devaronian Jedi Master Sian Jeisel she was wielding a blue lightsaber, her attire hadn't changed much from the skirmish on Ruul. But she had opted to start wearing a shoulder pad on her left side with a gauntlet on the right her opponent was the holographic protocol droid Proxy using a training lightsaber against her as around her the rogue jedi initiates stood watching. Petro, Katooni, Gungi, Byph, Zatt and Ganodi sat around her they like Jinx had grown too.

Petro's hair had started to reach down to his shoulders messy and it kept like his attitude, he had on his jedi robes but his short sleeved tunic underneath had been replaced with a dark navy jacket under it covering his arms. Gungi the wookie had grown the largest out of all the padawans being a wookie he was now twice his size and instead of a harness around his chest he had opted into a red vest tied around the waist with his wooden lightsaber hilt. Byph also quite large to do his ithorian biology was wearing a dark brown tunic that had the sleeves and collar cut out so he could fit a backpack slung over his shoulder and he wore a pair of thick leather spats around his tough feet. Among the other humanoids Zatt was taller too, slightly bigger then Petro his lekku growing long down his back, opted for now wearing shoes over a long sleeved white shirt and brown tunic he had a pair of goggles around his head and additional to his lightsaber a series of tools and pouch over his chest. Ganodi sticking with her rodian heritage wore a pale pink robe with a lilac overcoat with a fur collar around her neck, while she had grown significantly she remained slender and petite to a fault. Last to catch Drays eyes was Katooni, the tholothian girl was maturing like all the others. Though instead of altering her jedi robe to much she had tired to keep the original design as much as possible save for the head dress around her own tendrils instead of a wooden one she had made it into a solid metal guard around her forehead, her robes themselves sleeveless showing her slender arms, a pair of fingerless gloves and white pants into her grey boots but what caught drays real attention was that her robe had completely cut out the part exposing her upper back that was mostly covered by the tendrils on her head.

"Enough droid." Sian said to Proxy who's halted "Remember, when fighting an opponent one on one, it's best to switch up forms. Who can tell me which form the droid was using?" Sian asked them.

Both Zatt and Petro shot their hands up and answered without hesitation "Form II." Zatt blurted out followed by Petro "No, Form I."

"Both wrong." She said folding her arms, Byph held up his hand and said something "Very good Byph, it was using both switching between the two." She said as Byph made a face at Petro and Zatt, as the younglings snickered at one another Sian took note of the newcomers.

"Guests?" She asked.

The younglings all turned around to see the three padawans staring blankly at them, Tholme made the quick introductions before Sian and him shared a look worth a thousand words "... what is it?" Dray asked.

"Better to say later, allow me to introduce these fine young jedi." Tholme said as he made the introductions, "This strapping young lad is Petro, the one with the tool belt is Zatt, the one looking so proud of himself right now is Byph." Tholme said making Byph giggle sheepishly at himself, Gungi made an introduction for himself and both the older padawans looked at themselves not understanding.

"Gerni?" Lotor asked, "He said Gungi." Dray replied.

"You speak Wookiee?" Maris asked him.

Dray looked at her puzzled "You don't?"

"We're rusty." She sneered "And these two young girls are Ganodi and Katooni." Tholme said finishing them off, "I remember you, you were there the day we were chosen for the Crucible." Katooni said recognizing Dray.

He scratched the back of his head "Uh yeah, didn't quite made the cut."

"Trust me, you're glad you didn't." Zatt elbowed Petro in the side "Oh yeah."

As Dray spoke to the kids his own age, even though he was slightly older "Master Sian, an honor to meet you at last." Lotor said bowing to her.

"A full bow, its been a while can't wait till you see K'ruhk." She said, as someone else entered the room "Jinx told me we had visitors." A rough voice said. Heads turned to the doorway where an ancient whipid jedi master stood in a straw hat and brown robe, the sleeves had been cut off exposing his gray furred arms, even at a few centuries K'Kruhk showed muscle under the folds of his whitening coat. Lotor was about to bow before Maris grabbed him by the collar.

"Oh give it a rest already, you're going to throw your back out Lolo." She teased as he glared at her "I am merely showing them the proper respect."

"Lolo?" Ganodi said before she snorted out a laugh, "A nickname I don't care for." Lotor said as he straightened his robes "He doesn't even like it when we call him Mr. Perfect, the traditionalist he is."

Lotor fumed "If I was a traditionalist I'd never have come here." He suddenly snapped.

A silence filled the room as Tholme stepped forward "Come, you must be tired and hungry, come we have food to spare."

The three followed them out of Sians lesson with Katooni waving goodbye to Dray who waved back, with a smile, when suddenly he saw Petro's head slide back out from behind Katooni. Petro's face was stone cold as he shook his head left and right at Dray who turned around walking away. "I wouldn't let the nickname get to you Lotor, there are plenty to throw around here."

"Like the Black Knights?" Dray suddenly said.

Tholme glanced down at him with a smirk and wink "Indeed."

"Why did you choose to call yourselves that, the Masters at the temple say its because you are loyal to no one but yourselves now, Master?" Lotor asked Tholme.

They made their way into another room, a cafeteria of sorts for minors where food had been laid out for them. Dray ran at it and started to woof it down as Maris came over and took a cup of water. Lotor however hung back waiting for an answer "It started more or less as a joke I think, when… you know who, decided to start this I asked him what would we be called and he referred to…" "The Black Knights."

Bopping his cane on the floor Tholme continued "Loyal to no Republic, no code, only to the people in need fighting for truth, justice, honor and freedom as true Jedi should, that's what 'he' says."

"And you that's what you will be doing?" Lotor asked.

"Will be, my boy why do you think we're here?" Tholme asked him.

Lotor paused for a few moments thinking "... You didn't come here for us, it's this Kung character, the underworld has been abuzz with his name lately he's what you would call an 'up and comer', bringing in off-world mercenaries? He raids village after village and the Dug Council does nothing, nor does the Republic."

"It's a little busy, don't you think?" Lotor suggested.

"This war is no excuse to deny the needs of everyday people, but I suspect something else. Perhaps you can help me?" Tholme suggested.

Lotor's face lit up like fireworks "Of course Master Tholme."

"Whhhr Knluur Faas?" Dray said with a mouth full of rations as Maris pushed a cup of blue milk to him "Ugh chew your food kid."

Dray took the milk gulping down his overstuffed face with a breath of relaxation when it went down "Where's Master Quinlan Vos, I thought he was here too?" He asked.

Tholme's smile vanished hearing his old Padawans name "Vos is dealing with another matter off world, but don't worry you'll see him soon should you choose to stay."

"Choose to, you're kicking us out already?" Maris asked him confused, "Force no, but everyone may come and go as they please, you'll understand more when you meet him."

"You say it like 'he's' some sort of genius?" Lotor asked skeptical, Tholme stifled an actual laugh "Trust me, no one lets him think that more than anyone himself, but I've found it easier for younger people to understand one of their own then an old man with one eye and one good leg." Tholme said just as he said it, a new person entered the room from behind them, it was Aayla Secura the twi'lek jedi knight who had been dragged along with them.

"Tholme." She said getting his attention.

Aayla was dressed in her typical twi'lek apparel dark brown short sleeved top with only one sleeve, an exposed navel like Maris and form fitting trousers with boots "Aayla, what is it?" Tholme asked.

"Gastown, it's under attack." She said,

Far below the supposed abandoned mine, the small Gastown was being ransacked by a mostly Gran bandit horde, but among them were a gallery of species, weequay, falleen, zygerrian and even short humans running around with grenades throwing them into nearby houses blowing the windows out. The bandits chased the dugs out of their homes shooting their blasters at signs and breaking into stores taking whatever they wanted. One gran with all three eyes, wearing armor holding a blaster rifle kicked a dug in the face over his cowering family, the partner holding their children. The bandit aimed his blaster at them eyes filled with bloodlust when he saw a boot behind the Dug. Looking up the bandit standing behind the Dug dressed in an odd assortment of garments was a mysterious stranger.

They were wearing a brown hood that had a mantle flowing around their shoulders, underneath they wore a simple dark gray tunic with harness that was strapped over their shoulders keeping the hoods mantle down, and over his back and around the waist and matching leather gloves, their tunic draped to their knees and a pair strapped of boots with spats. "Leave." The stranger said.

"I'll leave after I've shot you in your karking…" The bandit raised the blaster up to the stranger when he noticed the stranger was wearing a metal mask with two eye holes looking right back at him. In a flash the stranger ripped a laser from behind his back all the bandits watched the merciless gran go down before they saw the stranger was holding in his gloved hand a cross guard lightsaber, there was a rounded pommel at the end but the hilt was wrapped up with leather straps, to the basket that extended out as two smaller emitters funneled out the energy until the center one matching the two smaller had one burning purple blade.

The dugs looked in absolute shock at the "JEDI!" One bandit said as the others all dropped their loot in favor of their blasters and weapons. The 'Jedi' held up their lightsaber with both hands in front of their chest, the laser between their eyes as they surrounded him, the dug villagers scattering for cover. "This is your final warning, leave these people in peace or suffer."

"There's only one kill'em!" A weequay said opening fire, the jedi jumped in the air as the bandits cross fired into one another taking out some of their numbers. When they looked up the bandit came down on the nearest bandit cutting him down where he stood. The bandits behind the dead one opened fire but he deflected their incoming shots force blasting one into a building before he deflected the others and sliced him across the chest with a reverse blade strike. One of the bandits, a short human, tossed a grenade at him and the Jedi turned around with a lightsaber behind his back and an open hand at the grenades, sending them back at him.

The explosion took the bandit in a fiery ball of thunder, the other bandits watched the jedi rush through the flames at them cutting away at their numbers like grass in a field. As he deflected three separate strands of blaster fire he hit one with a force push, leapt over stabbing one before he turned the bandit around using his body as a shield while still impaled on his lightsaber pushing toward the third who backed up into a nearby building before the stranger ran him through with the edge of his lightsaber sticking out of the dead bandit he was using as a shield. He pulled his sword out turning to face a handful of other bandits who started to back up after seeing their numbers quelled without the stranger ever breaking a sweat.

He twirled his lightsaber walking toward them as they backed up, opening fire, with one hand he deflected their fire the other used the force to lift two up and smash them together. Another he pulled on to his lightsaber before tossing their corpses aside. One who had been hiding behind two buildings ran out to catch his blindside at his right and was blasted with force lightning falling over motionless.

Ahead of them a group of the bandits had loaded up a land speeder with stolen goods when they saw the jedi. The captain was a Falleen in purple and gold armor watching him come "Jedi…" he gasped as he signaled his Falleen guards behind him to engage. The held up heavy blaster rifles at the jedi opening fire shooting down their own men before the Jedi jumped for cover behind some crates. The lead by the loot behind him had returned this time holding a rocket launcher aiming it at the crates just as the stranger looked out "Well at least they're keeping it interesting." He said. Getting back the stranger held up his hands and raised the crates sending them flying toward the bandits as the leader let a rocket loose on him. The crates intercepted the rocket exploding on impact and the stranger was gone.

"Where'd he go?" The bandit leader asked.

Suddenly they heard a whistle and looked at a nearby building, the wall exploding with the mysterious stranger bursting through. He cut the first falleen guard down and threw his lightsaber like a spear into the second before the Falleen captain drew a dagger and was met with a face full of force lightning. The dugs watched in awe as the bandits captain fell back smoking from the sudden burst of electricity, the bandits who had survived the attack watched as the stranger lifted the bandit off the ground. His arms were pulled out and so were his legs like invisible chains had grabbed them "Your Kungs men aren't you?" The stranger asked.

The captain gasped "-y-yes." Then the stranger noticed that stitched on the sleeve of the captains coat was the infamous mark of the black sun crime syndicate.

"He's working with the Black Sun now?" The stranger asked.

The captain said nothing before the strangers hand curled into a claw around his neck, the captain gasped and choked off from any air before he wheezed "-w-wait."

The grip loosened "We arrived yesterday, he's been paying good money to the syndicates I got ordered to help lead his troops"

"Troops huh, so he's promoting himself from bandit to Warlord?" The stranger said before he dropped the captain and held the lightsaber at his neck "You and your remaining men will deliver a message to Kung for me."

The captain rubbed his neck on his knees "What message?" He dared to ask.

"He and all who follow him have one night to leave Malastare." The stranger said.

The captain getting to his feet slowly gulped "And if he…. We refuse?"

The stranger, shorter than the towering falleen, took a step toward him and looked the snake man in the eyes "Do so at your own peril, I will not ask again."

The Falleen backed away seeing the look in his eye "We're leaving." The Captain told his men before the remaining bandits limped out of the village one moved to the speeder but when he caught the stranger looking at him the bandit left the loot alone. As they walked out of the village, a cheer went up from the dugs who ran out of their homes as the stranger turned around to the sound of "JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI!" The stranger held his lightsaber up and deactivated it, the two baskets under the secondary emitters retracted and he clipped it onto his belt just as the other Black Knights arrived with Lotor and Maris, but the Younglings and Dray were not among them.

Jynx rolled his eyes with a smirk as the other dugs saw the other jedi parting for them, Jinx approached the stranger and kicked a bandits helmet over to him "Couldn't wait for the rest of us?" He asked the stranger.

"I was already watching the town when they attacked, wasn't enough time." The stranger said under their mask as they pushed their hood back revealing the mask covered their entire head except for a collar around the neck and some exposed skin on the back. The mask was the same as the one the forger had made, mostly cleaned now oxidized metal before he pulled off the helm to reveal his face, Leo Rock.

Leo, like Jinx was starting to show signs of his age, his face was more defined in his cheeks and chin, the skin tightening around his jawline and neck. The infamous scar over his nose and under his eyes was still visible, his white hair that he once wore neat and shaved on the sides with a wolf's tail bun had started to grow rapidly again. Now longer and shaggier on the sides Leo's bun had become a short ponytail and to add to his changed appearance thick bristles of white hair growing around his lip, chin and down his cheeks in an adolescent youths attempt at a stubble.

"Hey I'm not complaining, it seems like you didn't need our help anyway Leo." Jinx said while he turned around to look at the Dugs.

He approached the villagers as an older dug with white hair and a cane for his lower arms to lean on approached them. He was dressed in a common garb with a scarf showing symbols on it to probably designate him as a local magistrate or judge, "Thank you, thank you Master jedi." The judge said, bowing his gray haired head.

"Don't thank us elder, this is the duty of a Jedi, your goods are over there reclaiming them." Leo said down to him. The elder gave a nod to the younger dug's to rush over to the almost stolen loot and recover what was rightfully theirs. As Leo and Jinx spoke to the elder, Tholme walked past them looking at the bandits' tracks kneeling over them and rubbing the ground seeing some of the dirt didn't match the ones around where their boot prints were.

Up above on a hill overlooking Gastown, Dray and the younglings watched beside Master K'Kruhk "Why don't we get to go down there?" Dray asked, looking over at him.

"Patience young Dray." K'Kruhk said as he sat beside the younglings "Yeah don't worry about it new guy, if your looking for action you'll get it soon enough." Zatt said throwing a long arm around his shoulder, Zatt had started to sprout like a beanstalk already taller than both Dray and Petro.

"Action?" Dray asked.

Ganodi snickered "Last time two of us wandered off, well General Grievous showed up so we all agreed it best we stick togehter and Master K'Kruhk volunteered to be our Nanny, no offense Master." Ganodi said back to the whipid who just smiled at her.

K'Kruhk merely replied with "None taken, to care for the future is a great honor even if the name is 'Nanny'."

Down in Gastown Leo had finsihed speaking with the elder walking over to Tholme "What do you see?" He asked.

"The soil on the bandits boots." Tholme said getting to his feet to show him it was a dark black versus the purplish red of the town's dirt "It's only this color in the mountains in this sector, caused from the rain mixing with the fumes of the gas." He explained.

"So that's where Kungs hideout is?" Sian said hands on her hips as the BK's spoke to one another with Lotor and Maris watching.

Leo turned to her seeing the two new padawans behind her "Most likely, I spoke with the elder, the raids are getting worse, now it's not just the Gran, Black Sun is here too."

"The Black Sun, Rhad use to fight them all the time-?" Sian stopped just short of mentioning anything further, the name Rhad of Rhad Tarn was a jedi corrupted by the dark side, someone Leo was forced to kill in order to save the younglings "We could use his help right now." Leo said quietly.

He walked past Sian to Lotor and Maris, Lotor and Leo were approximately the same height, but Lotor had about a year on him as Maris and Leo seemed to be about the same age "Jinx, these are them?" Leo asked.

"There's a third, but he's pretty young, we left him with K'Kruhk and the younglings, Lotor and Maris?" Jinx said, introducing them.

Leo walked up to them and before Lotor could bow Maris whispered "I swear if you bow I'm going to kick you."

"I wouldn't stop you if you did Maris.' Leo overheard her, he took a look at each of them "There's no need for formalities here, we try to treat everyone here equally." Leo said as he looked back at Tholme "Council?" He asked.

Sian and Tholme both nodded and at the same time "Council."

"Council?" Maris asked.

"Is there an Echo in here?" Jinx asked cocking a brow "No longer with us, alright where's K'Kruhk and the kids?" Leo asked.

Later the Black Knights and renegade Padawans were up on the hill sitting amongst some stones that had been arranged in circles for them to sit in, a small fire was lit as dusk set in "So Kung is working with the Black Sun, and is maybe hiding somewhere in the mountains?" K'Kruhk repeated after Leo had informed him of what was going on.

"Well what are we waiting for, we should go after him now?" Petro suggested in front of the younglings "The sooner we deal with him the better, better to strike now before he can regroup his forces now that he'll soon know where here?" Sian said as Lotor, Dray and Maris watched the discussions unfold beside Jinx who was sitting legs crossed beside them.

"They do this often?" Lotor whispered to Jinx.

Jinx gave him a wink "Leo insists, before we do anything too serious we all talk it through everyone has a voice, even the younglings." Jinx said as Gungi said something to the whole group, everyone listening to his long growls and wookie speak "Well said Gungi." Leo said standing in the middle as presiding over the Council.

"We don't know the full extent of Kungs forces, all we know is he used to be a bandit, now he's going for Warlord, do we go to the Dug Council with this, it is their world after all?" Leo asked the group.

Jinx stood up "For what good it will do us, the Republic has asked the Dug Council to recapture these three for the Order, if we go to the Dugs we'll be serving ourselves up on a platter for the Council on Coruscant."

"He has a point, when we started this we knew the Blak Knights would have to work outside the law." Tholme said, standing away from the fire looking over the horizon.

Leo thought for a few seconds "Lotor, Maris, Dray, what do you all think we could use some new voices?" Leo asked.

None of them spoke at first, they just looked at one another "Uh, what men go to the Dug Council you have a crazy high bounty on your head Sir Rock?" Dray asked Leo.

Leo snickered "I do."

"So why risk getting caught, the Dugs have an army at their imperial palace where the Council is, you'd be captured for sure and after how they treated us for just being here?" Dray said referring back to the patrol chasing them on mounted beasts.

"He raises a fair point actually." Jinx said "By now the Dugs will have surely known we're here, how long till the Sentinels arrive."

IMPERIAL PALACE

Seat of the Dug Council

In another part of the planet, a Jedi transport ship flew toward the Imperial palace, a great tower of authority and majesty. The Imperial palace was carved into a great jagged mountain with metal around its stained glass windows that let light in. To outsider the it was an imposing building that held all the power on Malastare, as the Jedi transport landed on the outer landing pad the Dug Council with their royal guard was waiting to meet them at the head of the delegates was the Doge, leader of the Council. An older Dug dressed in burgundy garments and a black tunic using his forearms to stand he had his lower hands locked together in front of him.

"Begging your pardon Doge." One of the other Council members asked "But is it wise to let the Jedi come here after more of their kind are on the loose here, they're credibility isn't what it use to be?" The younger dug asked him.

The Doge snickered "If we want to keep our alliance with the Republic and they continue to buy our fuel we must."

The Jedi's shuttle landed before the ramp lowered with two jedi emerging the first was a woman with brown hair tied back in a braided bun held together by two pins. She wore makeup around her eyes in a purple lavender shade with green lipstick, her skin was porcelain and she wore typical female jedi garb in a faded green tunic. A sleeveless tunic with a low collar that had stripped black around it, her arms were covered up to her biceps with strapped sleeves that had the same black pattern on her elbows. The tunic went down to her knees and she wore a pair of metal lined boots with two lightsabers on her belt, behind her stood a zabrak padawan. He had brown eyes and a brown braid that had grown long enough to fall around his neck, he had tan skin slightly darker than his Master. He dressed in a traditional beige jedi robe with brown pants and boots, with some alterations similar to his master instead of having the baggy sleeves his arms were wrapped up from his knuckles to his biceps, showing of broad muscular shoulders, also sporting a lightsaber. His crown of horns on the top of his head consisted of four large ones on each corner of his head, two smaller ones in front of his ears and then at the center of his head two above his eye brows with a row of them lining the top of his scalp.

The Doge and his entourage approached them both Jedi, bowing "Doge Nakha Urus, allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Jedi Master Keelyvine Reus, and this is my padawan learner Tyzen Xebec." The woman said as they rose.

The Doge bowed back in response "Welcome Master Jedi, we are honored to have you with us to help recover your lost…. flock." He said, trying to pick the right words.

"The three padawans, your last transmission claims you lost them on the outskirts of the city?" Reus asked him.

"Indeed Master Jedi, our security forces were a bit overzealous in their attempt to apprehend these renegades." The Doge explained.

Tyzen's brown eyes narrowed and he looked at his Master who shared his unhappy look "Overzealous?"

"Understand, rogue jedi are something we are unaccustomed to, the fear of invasion by the Separatists has brought my people much, how would you say… contempt for Jedi." The Doge explained.

"Your fear is understandable, but we will not be here for long Doge, these padawan are misguided once we find them we will leave your world." Reus explained back as they started to walk into the palace, passing by Dug guards.

Upon entering the guards stood at attention for the Doge, as Master Reus and he spoke "Yes of course Master Jedi, they disappeared in one of our forests near a small settlement called Gastown, but I should warn you that sector is a lawless wasteland bandits prowl it looking for unsuspecting travelers, though I doubt that will be a problem."

"Bandits, how long has this been going on?" Tyzen asked behind them.

"They are a nuisance at best, young man." The Doge said back to him "But you're the Dug Council shouldn't they be stopped?" Tyzen asked.

Reus glanced back at him with a scowl "My padawan speaks out of turn, but he makes a fair assumption are these bandits are to track?"

"Yes and no." The Doge said walking past statues and art of the Dug, there was even a great painting of a Zillo beast. "All of our security resources are dedicated to protecting the fuel depots for your warships, and as more refugees arrive some turn to banditry instead of doing an honest day's work in the mines."

"Those mines are filled with your fuel, it's lethal to organic s?" Tyzen said, but the Doge was unfazed by the boys words "We provide adequate protection for the workers, but this war is stretching all worlds thin; perhaps you should win it sooner rather than later." He teased.

Tyzen glared back at the Doge but remained calm despite the insult "Thank you Doge, to find these lost children and if the force wills it help you with your bandit problem."

ZILLO HEIGHTS

Northern Mountain Range

The Black Sun captain who had led the raid on Gastown felt Kungs axe take his head with one swipe, it rolled down the steps of his throne for all the bandits to see "Lousy, sleemo, pooda Jedi thinks he can threaten me." Kung yelled as he slammed his axe into the platform around his stone leaving it embedded in the rock. Kungs throne room was in the heart of ancient Dug ruins, a great pyramid hidden in the sharp jagged rocks of the peaks, his hall was filled with Gran like himself, human bandits, Zygerrians, weequay, fanged twi'leks with tattoos and more all drinking and laughing as his men started to play kickball with the Black Sun captains head. Kung, himself a towering beast of a gran, was seven feet tall wearing metal armor over his shoulders, chest and muscular forearms. He wore black pants with a red sash and had the hide of a white striped nexu around his shoulders he slouched in his throne watching his men play with the messengers head, a blue skinned twi'lek slave girl in a mask had to avoid the flying head that would cause her to spill a tray of drinks as she watched Kung get up. She was wearing a gold mail shroud over her face with a headdress to match. She'd been dressed in a fishnet costume that wrapped around her neck with a collar and down her chest, waist and legs her arms and back exposed with a gap in the center of her chest showing some cleavage and navel.

Kung walked down the steps of this throne and out of the hall where the slave girl followed him, he pushed past two guards to a back room that had a holotable set up. Pressing a button Kung paced as waited for a hologram to appear, a dark cloaked figure who the slave girl couldn't see clearly from her hiding spot at the hallway entrance. "We've got a problem." Kung said to the shadow.

"And it is?" The shadow asked.

"Jedi are here, but not like the ones you said, these ones are different. They took out an entire squad of my men, even killed your Black Sun Captain and sent me his head as a warning to leave Malastare." Kung snapped. The shadow thought for a few seconds "Strange, jedi don't often act so straightforward with threats?" The shadow said as the slave girl pulled her mask down to reveal she was none other than Aayla Secura.

"What did the Jedi look like?" The shadow asked.

Kung growled "Men said he wore a mask, carried a white laser sword with a weird design."

"A mask?" The shadow asked.

Snarling at the questions Kung banged is fist on the holotable "Whats it matter what he looks like, he's coming for me and I need more men."

The Shadow didn't seem threatened by Kungs anger "Very well Kung, I will send three of my best, to assist you in dealing with this Jedi in the meantime do not forget our arrangement." Kung smiled hearing he'd have reinforcements "Of course, the Dug Council doesn't suspect a thing."

Before Aayla could hear more she felt a blaster pressed against her naked back, "Now where do you think you're going 'Jedi'." The stranger said as he cocked his blaster.