Chapter 24

Rogue Jedi

CORUSCANT

Far from the war, in the heart of the Galactic Republic the people of Coruscant were rising to go to work, as others returned from their after hours shifts. The world that never slept had a thick set of dark gray clouds over the northern hemisphere that had most of the population. A light sprinkle of rain fell from the heavens as people walked from the upper city to the lower city. Among them in the lower city markets, Senate Guard Commander Captain Naquila was perusing the wares of a local market; he wasn't dressed in his blue armor but instead wore the simple robes of a commoner. A green cloak over dark blue garments with a basket under his arm.

He stopped by a local vendor looking at some fresh off world fruit, a twi'lek man was watching him patiently, "Captain Naquila, always here for the fresh stuff I see."

"Your too kind, I'm sorry to hear about you Blue Boys, those Red Guards give me the creeps on the holonet." Bato said as Naquila handed him some fruit.

"Yes they are…. unsettling, but the Senate Guard is still here." He said as Bato bagged the food for him, Naquila produced a handful of credits to give to him.

Bato grunted "You know I got denied again to move to the upper city, something about my papers not being in order, never even heard of that stuff."

"Papers?" Naquila asked "Yeah, they said since Ryloth is a protectorate I'm not technically a citizen can you believe that."

Bato handed him the bag "Feels like I don't even recognize the Republic sometimes." Bato said "Keep faith Bato, once the war is over and a new Chancellor is elected I'm sure the Senate Guard will be restored to its former glory." Naquila said smiling.

He left the vendor and started to walk when a group of school children ran past him playing in the streets, they were weequay, twi'leks, ithorians, humans and many more. A sign of proof that the Republic was still a sign of hope in the galaxy and would be again in the future. Captain Naquila moved on when he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a holoscreens overhead showing the latest Republic Wanted Posters, a new face had claimed the highest bounty, and it was spreading. Leo Rock's face was plastered across every holoscreens in a matter of second reading as such.

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE

FOR CRIMES

AGAINST THE REPUBLIC

Leo Rock

The Berserker

There was a picture of Leo at the center, it wasn't a flattering one showing his teeth, his eyes narrow like a snarl lightsaber above. Below the picture were a series of his crimes:

Wanted for:

Treason, Attempted Murder of a Jedi, Attempted Murder of a Republic General,Theft of Republic Military Property, Kidnapping…

The list of offenses went on and on scrolling till it finally showed the bounty.

9,000,000 Million Credits

Naquila dropped his food as the wanted posters spread across Coruscant, all the way up in the upper city Senators Orn Free Taa was eating breakfast when he saw the bounty appear on his holopad. The large twi'lek dropped his fork and covered his face in shock seeing the news. In the halls of the Senate Senators Chuchi, Organa and even Padme witnessed the news that rushed across the Senate offices. Back in the lower city Bounty Hunters gathered around the boards looking at it some already heading to their ships others starting to shake hands for deals and partnerships for the bounty, in one Cantina a single person looked at the wanted posters without any look of opportunity, her blue eyes closed as she shook her lekku head "You idiot Rusty."

Meanwhile, back at the Jedi Temple Obi-Wan stood on one of the outer balconies looking over Coruscant, he had his hands behind his back while the sun rose over the mountains of skyscrapers in the distance. "Master Kenobi, is everything alright?" Obi-Wan saw he was joined by Master Tera Sinube, the elderly cosian jedi master walked out onto the balcony with his cane.

"Greetings Master Sinube, I was just out here thinking?" Obi-Wan said back to him.

"You've seen the news, the Republic has put a… a bounty on your former padawans head." Sinube said.

Obi-Wan stiffened "I have…" Obi-Wan said.

Sinube stood beside him "Word has spread through the Temple, those who don't know about the great hall incident know now and, I fear dark times are ahead for the Jedi."

"You believe the rumors, we're on the verge of another Schism?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I don't know Master Kenobi, the jedi have always weathered such storms but this one feels different. Never has a jedi broken from our order in such a way?" Sinube pointed out leaning on his cane.

Obi-Wan crossed his arms over his chest Sinube noticing that Obi-Wan had discarded his bracers and gloves, his naked hands out in his robes sleeves "In what way?"

"Is your former pupil so wrong, have we as an Order not given up our beliefs to fight this war?" He asked Obi-Wan.

"I… I do not disagree, but how he went about it was wrong, Leo had no right to draw his lightsaber against fellow jedi." Obi-Wan argued.

"But you saw yourself, he was only defending himself and he was never in any real danger from the Council, the danger came from his battle meditation." Sinube pointed out.

Obi-Wan gapped at him "What are you saying, that Leo influenced the jedi in the great hall to fight for him, he's not capable-" "Of swaying minds to believe they can win a fight?" Sinube interrupted.

"I… I never considered it, that he was unknowingly affecting other jedi?" Kenobi said scratching his beard, a sign he was thinking.

"I know nothing for certain, but as a sign of my age there are many Jedi who agree with his words, that the Council has lost touch with the order, that they may be leading the Jedi in the wrong direction." Sinube illustrated.

Obi-Wan dropped his hand from his face "All the more reason this war has to end, and that Leo and the Jedi with him have to be brought back before someone is killed."

OUTER RIM

Knight

Across the galaxy, the first on the hunt were regrouping after their first failed attempt to capture their target. Windu and Plo were leaning over the holotable looking at a Galactic map, Aayla was next to Ki-Adi looking at the new wanted poster "Every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for him now." Ki-Adi said to her.

"And the Jedi with him are now in even greater danger." She said worried.

Mundi nodded "Yes, my own Padawan O-Mer went with them and your former Master, with the padawans and younglings they will be stretched thin." He said.

Aayla turned to Mundi "I don't know why my own teacher went with them, but Master Vos will die before he lets any harm come to the younglings and padawans."

"That may be, but they may throw themselves into danger regardless of Master Vos's protection, or Master Bulqs, they refused to give Leo up what can we expect if we confront them in person." Ki-Adi said.

"You think the other jedi who are following him will fight if tells them too?" Aayla asked Ki-Adi.

He folded his arms over his baggy robes "...Rock accuses Council of having broken with our own beliefs to fight this, many jedi who are still in the temple support that theory I fear if he is not brought back to face our judgment more will follow him, much like the First Schism." Ki-Adi explained as Admiral Dallin was looking at fleet moments behind them she noticed Master Plo move away from the holotable and head to the front of the bridge. She followed the Kel Dor jedi "Master Plo?"

"Admiral, what can I do for you?" He asked.

"This isn't the first time the Jedi order has… splintered?" She asked him.

Plo turned to her "That's putting it delicately, you're referring to the Orders schisms."

"Yes, my father told me you would tell stories to the Rendili volunteers in the trenches, he always said that when they pressed you about the Schisms you… grew silent." She said as Plo put his hands behind his back "There have been four in our order's history." Plo explained.

Mundi tapped his claws against his palm "The last one was two thousand years ago, its result ended with a millennium of Sith presence in the galaxy."

"And the others?" She asked.

Plo glanced at her "With all do respect General, the history of Sith and Jedi always drags the Republic and it's military into it somehow." She said staunchly.

Giving her a long stare, Tess showed her fathers strength in not backing down "Ver well, the third schism was a result of jedi in order studying the Sith teachings, when they were discovered they fled the temple but the planet was blockaded." Plo said while she stood there silently listening "Coruscant was smaller then, the thousands of levels had yet to rise but it was still a planet covered in a city, the fallen jedi scattered across the planet and turned it into a battlefield between those loyal and those who were not. By the time they escaped to the Vultar system it was too late."

"The Vultar system, that was destroyed over four thousand years ago?" She said.

"Yes, the dark jedi used a mysterious artifact in an attempt to destroy Coruscant and unknowingly destroyed themselves and the entire system, two more sith wars would follow from their betrayal." Plo told her, Tess processed it "An entire star system, destroyed?"

Plo nodded "Which is why we must find these lost jedi before it's too late."

But the Jedi master wasn't finished yet. "The second schism is what gave rise to the Sith as we know them today."

"The hundred year darkness, my mother would tell me and my sister stories at night to make us behave, about the monstrous armies." Tess said.

"A wise woman, the Sith of that era are told to the younglings to behave, Ajunta Paul, Exar Kun, the Infiltrators all from the Second Schism."

Tess looked out at the stars then back at Plo, almost afraid to ask "And-and the first?"

"That is what scares me the most, the First Great Schism twenty five thousand years ago when the Republic was young and the Jedi were not yet it's official guardians." Plo explained "A young Jedi Knight named Xendor defied the Council, if the legends are to be believed Xendor sought to expand his knowledge into the forbidden teachings but also learn from other adolescent force orders, he fled the order in secret soon others followed they went to a world known as Lettow."

"The Legions of Lettow, I remember learning about them at the Rendili Military Academy, it was one of the first widespread Galactic conflicts involving the jedi?" She asked him.

Plo nodded "A student of history, a wise profession given how it looks to repeat itself."

"How's that?" Tess asked.

"Leo, like Xendor is a renunciate forsaking our teachings and the orders hierarchy, Xendor's followers were left alone for a time but then they attacked the Jedi Capital on Ossus and were repelled before the conflict spilt onto the left of the galaxy which is why we must bring them back into the fold." Plo said strongly.

Tess scratched her chin with her glove "I see, you think given time other jedi will follow him and when he has enough on his side there won't be room for two jedi orders?"

"That is a worst case scenario, but there is no need for a conflict between us. We all, want the same thing: an end to the war and the Jedi to return as peacekeepers." Plo sighed.

The Admiral gave a firm nod with a smile up to him "Then we better hurry, I saw the bounty. I'd rather not compete with the Bounty Hunters guild and fight a war." She said as a clone bridge officer came up to them.

"Excuse me Admiral, General, this just came in on one of our secure channels." He said offering her a holopad. Tess took it with Plo taking an entrance along with Mace Windu, her eyes widened "What are these?" She asked.

Plo looked at the holopad, a series of numbers and symbols "This is an old Jedi code, a cypher known only to a few it translates as…. hmmm… coordinates?" Plo said tapping his fingers on the controls entered them in "Ruul, the third moon of Sriluur, in the periphery sector."

"And the home of Jedi Master Sora Bulq's family estate?" Mace Windu said as Ki-Adi and Aayla joined him.

"A Jedi Master has an estate?" Tess asked them "Before he was brought to the order, Master Bulq was the heir to a well known Weequay family, but before he knew of his heritage he was already a Jedi Master and his family had passed on, I believe that is why he and Leo are allies." Aayla said.

Tess gave the jedi a puzzled look "What does that have to do with General- I mean Rock?"

Plo Koon looked at the other Masters "Rock never told her?" He said.

"Told me what?" Tess asked, "That Rock is not his real name." Windu explained, Tess's eyes almost bulged out of her head she looked at Windu then at Plo confused.

"Would someone care to elaborate?" Admiral Dallin asked them, "Admiral Dallin, you father told you of the Stark Hyperspace War, yes?" Plo asked her.

"Of course, Rendili celebrates the victory every year when the Republic defeats Stark Commercial Combine." She said back to him.

Plo locked his fingers "Yes Stark, as in Iaco Stark the leader of the rebels he had a son Napoleon who was taken in by the jedi as a condition of his amnesty."

Tess's face scrunched up in confusion before loosening, putting it together "Are you saying what I think your saying, Leo is-" "Oh stars yes, how many times do we have to say it." All heads went to the bridge entrance Anakin walked in with Cin behind him.

Anakin strode up to them "Leo isn't who you think he is Admiral, his real name is Napoleon Stark, heir to the Stark Rebellion. I just spoke with the Chancellor. He's made this our priority to capture Leo and return him to Coruscant to face trial for his crimes against the Republic." Anakin said to the assembly.

"When we capture Rock, he will answer to the Council then the Republic." Mace countered in another standoff with Anakin.

"Fine by me, as long as we take him down now do we have the lead." Anakin asked.

Plo handed the holopad to Anakin "Better, we have a jedi on the inside someone sent us there destination."

RUUL

Leo flew the Rogue Shadow toward the gas giant of Sriluur, it was a tan beige ball of gas and steam, a ring of asteroids surrounded it with three small moons one of them their destination, Ruul. A small pale blue marble of a moon, the Rogue Shadow descended to it seeing it was a garden world of mountain terrain covered in thick vegetation, waterfalls flowing into pools that turned into millions of rivers covered the surface. Leo looked down at the planet for any signs of civilization "Are there any settlements?" He asked Sian Jiesel who was in the copilot seat.

"Other then the old Bulq Estate and the servants that lived there, no, and they've both been abandoned for many years." Sian said as she pressed a button giving him the coordiantes.

Leo followed her directions to the only place cleared of the gardens, a large rundown estate, it had crumbling gray stone gate walls with a large gray castle at its center, circular buildings like the palaces of hutts dominated its structure with a crumbling building Leo could only recognize by its foundation. A river was running out from a thick jungle across the ground and to Leo's surprise there were a handful of ships landed around the estate.

"Those ships?" Leo asked, looking at her.

Sian nodded "The Rogue Jedi have been Bulq's estate as a base of operations." Sian answered.

"Base of operations, for what?" Leo asked her as he set the ship down "What else, survival." Among the ships Leo spotted a quad jumper, an aurore-class shuttle with heavy damage, and what he was most surprised by was of a fully furnished gray painted Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor, more commonly known as the Delta-7 Aethersprite light interceptor or Jedi starfighter.

Leo stood from his seat and followed Sian back into the commons where the other jedi were gathered. Jinx and Quinlan were leaning against a wall, Yin, Abraxas and Zubain were gathered around speaking to Ferren while the younglings were all huddled around Petro who was resting on the couch an ice pack on his wrapped up head with Katooni holding his head in her lap, Esther, the former Temple Guard stood alone, wearing a full bodied cloak minus the hood "If it's okay with you I'd like to address your followers." Sian asked.

"My followers?" Leo asked Sian.

"... That a yes?" Sian asked him.

"Um… yeah sure." Leo said, crossing his arms.

Sian walked out into the middle of the room, "Until Master Bulq can regain consciousness I believe I should let you all know, we aren't the only jedi here." She said getting the other Jedi's minus Vos and Leo's attention more. "Before the war began and as it started, there were a number of jedi like myself who couldn't even fathom it, how it was against our orders code, so when the war actually started we like you chose to leave the Councils command behind." Sian elaborated to them.

She walked over to the younglings and knelt over Petro "We have skilled healers here who will be able to restore your strength, and if you choose to stay with us our protection." She said before she walked back over to Leo.

She looked at him, and Leo stared back unsure what she meant, then he noticed everyone was looking at him. "Um right, thank you Master Jiesel."

"I want us to meet these other jedi, before we discuss what we'll do next, have everyone treated and maybe even some food." Leo said, looking back at Sian.

"Ruul is known as a garden world for a reason, come." Sian said, ushering them to follow. Everyone started to follow her out of the ship and the younglings got ready to move Petro when Esther came up to them.

She held out her hands "Allow me." She said, carrying him up in her arms.

They all exited the ship looking at the estate and at the ships gathered around it, Sian stopped just short of the estates main building and the doors opened. Two people emerged from the estate, a man and a woman. The man was wearing dark brown jedi robes, with a beige vest, his head was covered auburn hair tied in a ponytail with bangs on each side of his head and he wore a lightsaber at his belt. He had a young youthful slender face showing he was leaving adolescence behind for manhood. The woman beside him had pale white skin of a near human with spots around where her eyebrows would be, her black hair was tied back in a raised style with two braids, she wore a dark brown low cut gown under her thick robe.

"Rhad Tarn, Mira we have guests." Sian said up to them.

Leo examined each of their expressions, Rhad Tarn's cold eyes were filled with skepticism as was Mira's before she saw Esther holding Petro "-The youngling." She said practically leaping off the steps toward him.

She looked at his wrist and then his had, placing one hand on each "How did this happen?" She asked.

"We were ambushed by General Grievous." Quinlan explained.

"Master Vos, guess the war follows you, I bet it'll follow us here?" Rhad Tarn said he had a thick outer rim accent like Anakins.

Sian got between the two men "Easy Rhad, Master Bulq's hurt too. Without them someone could have died."

Rhad shut his mouth at her command before, they focused on Mira she closed her eyes and the all watched Petro who had been catatonic since Dantooine start to stir before he woke up. His green eyes darted around looking at everybody "Uh… what I miss?"

"Petro!" Katooni yelled, hugging him as the younglings all rushed to grab him and cheer patting him on the back "Whoa, whoa, whoa what happened, where's grievous?" Petro asked.

"Not here." Leo said over them "Lady Mira, do you have any food for these younglings?" Leo asked her.

Mira nodded "We do, but I should attend to your wounded?" She asked, looking at the other rogues.

"Good idea, Mira is our most skilled healer here, Sir Tarn will you escort the younglings to the kitchen?" Jiesel asked him.

Rhad clenched his jawline "Ugh fine, come on brats." He said walking back into the house, Esther started to follow "What you want some food too Zeltron?"

"My name is Esther Sir Tarn, and where the younglings go, I will go." She said stoically.

He just strolled into the estate ignoring her, the younglings and Esther following. Leo watched them go before he looked to Sian "Anything we should know?"

"Rhad Tarn spent most of his years as a jedi on the outer rim, where most of the Separated worlds are. I believe it broke his heart to see the places and people he fought for turned against the Republic, but you'll have to ask him that tonight." Sian explained.

The other Knights and Masters all gathered around her while Mira healed both Jinx and O-Mer, "Tonight, whats so special about tonight?" Ferren asked.

"Before you arrived, we decided that once all those who followed Sora and Leo that we would hold a council."

"A council for what?" Zubain asked.

Sian blinked at them "For what we plan to do of course, there were only six of us when we fled the Order. Now with you here our numbers are doubled, more mouths to feed, more ideas, more jedi we need a plan." She said to them.

Crossing his arms to think Leo gave nod "She's right, I've met two more of you Rogues, what of the other four you said six?"

"Myself included, along with Sora so there are really just two more, one who is waiting for you Leo at the waterfall." She said pointing to the river "Follow the stream to it, there he will see if you can be trusted to meet our leader." Sian said mysteriously.

Leo looked at Quinlan "Ah yes, this Mystery Master, why the secrecy?" Leo asked.

"It wouldn't be much of a mystery or a secret if I told you." Sian said smiling at him, turning to go back into the estate.

Frowning to her smile Leo exhaled "Fine, but I want to check on Master Bulq before I go." Leo said heading back to the ship.

He entered it walking into the medical section to see Sora awake "Leo, where are we?"

"Ruul?" Leo replied walking up to his bed.

Sora blinked "Hmm I should have known, should have gone here first we could have avoided Grievous all together or finally killed that monster."

"This is your family estate, you never spoke of it?" Leo asked him.

Sora gave a grunt "It was never relevant, I was already an adult before I even knew I was from such a wealthy family by then my family was gone."

"But you were allowed to keep the estate?" Leo asked him, Sora nodded "Of course, Jedi are republic citizens, laws of inheritance still apply." He said.

Leo pulled up a seat next to the bed to talk, "I think you should know before we fled Dantooine the Council and the Republic arrived, I've been branded a traitor and a criminal by them."

"To be expected—." Sora said tensing his leg, starting to agitate him "I assume that makes us all criminals too for harboring you?" He asked.

Giving the master a hesitant nod "But the Council made everyone an offer, turn me over and they'll forgive you."

"A tempting offer, did anyone take it?" Sora asked him.

Leo shook his head "I really didn't give them time too, Sian told us we'll have a council tonight, there are enough ships here for anyone who wants to leave so they can." Leo said.

"But can you afford that, if the Order and the Republic are after you, you'll need people to protect you." Leo stood up "I don't need anyone to protect me, and I'm not about to start a-a- a Jedi Civil War…." Leo was furious at the idea but he calmed down sitting back down "We can't force anyone to stay here, but even then how can I let the younglings go back or anyone go back to fight the war?"

Sora was silent for a long time "It's not easy, not easy when the time comes." Sora said getting Leo's attention.

"Whatever the jedi teachings are about the force, about all living things I think they forget we, we jedi are still people." Sora said looking at his leg "We love, we laugh, we cry and we feel pain like anyone else."

"But Jedi are supposed to be selfless, we're supposed to endure that pain, be stronger than those emotions." Leo said back it oh I'm, Sora glanced over at him.

He sighed leaning back on the bed "Are we?" Sora asked him "Enduring pain is easy, choosing to ignore our emotions for reason and logic is easy." Sora said plainly.

"But then comes the time in all our lives, where it's not easy…." Sora said leaning up and grabbing Leo by the shoulder "When a boy must fall in line following his brothers and fathers, or to be his own man and stand for something greater than himself."

Leo pushed his arm away to leave but Sora's hand moved like a viper clenching around his wrist "I know it hurts Leo." Sora snapped "What, that this is my moment, no other jedi has any idea what I'm going through?"

"The force is cruel that way, it was cruel to me when they tested my loyalty to the code… I watched my padawan torn apart by droid blaster fire on Geonosis, all I could do was watch them die then you came..." Sora said, squeezing Leo's wrist. "When so many had just questioned, you sought answers, you are young and are not chained by the old ways of the jedi…. you must choose, if we are to save the Jedi then we must be prepared to do what's…. whats…. necessary…." Sora let his hand go limp and he fell back onto the bed unconscious.

"M-Medic!" Leo shouted leaning over the bed "Mira!" He shouted.

Soon the near human jedi healer ran into the room to see Sora passed out, she looked at his leg with one glance saying "He's lost a lot of blood, this will take time." She said Leo nodded, stepping away to let her work "Please, please help him." Leo said, backing away out of the room Sora's words echoing in his head, to choose, to do what's necessary.

He left the Rogue Shadow behind to see O-Mer, Jinx and Quinlan standing outside talking they were silent before he approached them. Both O-Mer and Jinx had shed their bandages now healed by Mira's power "Where are the others?" Leo asked.

"Zubain, Ferren and the padawans went off into the estate for food." Jinx said.

"You three should eat something too." Leo said as he looked to the stream coming out of the jungle, where the other Masters were.

He could feel something, someone was waiting for him at the end of the stream "Leo?"

He snapped his head toward O-Mer "Huh-What?" Leo asked.

"We said you should get some food too, you haven't eaten anything since we left?" Jinx suggested.

"I'm fine." Leo said reaching to his belt pulling out a ration stick "See, rations." He said as he took a bite of the stick the chalky bar was so dry he gagged when he swallowed "Riiiiiiight, you two go get some food I've got to talk to Leo before he meets the mystery master." Quinlan told the other padawans.

Both nodded "Yes Master, I'll save you a seat." Jinx said before they walked off.

"Walk with me?" Quinlan said heading toward the stream "Don't think I haven't noticed it." Quinlan said.

Leo glanced at him "Noticed what?"

"You were asking around, why everyone was here, but not me?" Quinlan asked, stopping at the edge of the jungle, the stream starting to widen between the trees.

Looking over his shoulder Leo nodded "So why did you follow?" Leo asked him.

Quinlan shrugged "Honestly, I wanted to see where things would go, when I saw a Sentinel attacking Jinx I didn't know what to do, I just acted."

"You attacked a Sentinel, I mean a Temple Guard?" Leo asked him trying to correct himself but Vos ignored the correction. "He's the second Padawan I've had, Aayla was the first and she stayed. Look, I agree with you about how Jedi are dying needlessly for the war but this is what we do." Quinlan said.

"What?" Leo asked him to be taken back.

Quinlan sighed "When the Republic calls, the Jedi are the first to answer, it's our duty, our sacred oath to be the guardians of peace."

"Obi-Wan always told me a peacekeeper belongs on the front lines of conflict, and Anakin would say it's to end it and restore the peace." Leo added looking into the jungle again.

"And what do you say?" Quinlan asked him.

Leo was silent for a long time. "I'll let you know when I figure that out." Leo said walking into the jungle alone disappearing into the shadows under the trees.

THE KNIGHT

Hanger

Back with the hunters, Dogma was addressing Jax and a larger group of the 703rd. "This is wrong Dogma, you know that." Jax said at the front of the group with other men knodding in agreement "It's not wrong it's orders, we are going to apprehend General Rock, non lethal rounds only." Dogma insisted on them.

Jax crossed his arms "But why would he leave without telling us, telling Admiral Dallin about it, something isn't adding up sir?" Jax replied.

"I know, I know, but we have a duty and our duty as the Generals and Admiral has told me is to find General Rock, the other Jedi and bring them back alive, we aren't going to hunt him like some kind of animal." Dogma told them assuringly. The clones all looked at him skeptically and unsure, Dogma let out a sigh and put his hands on his hips. Anakin was in the hanger working on the Jedi's ship as he often did when he was lost in own thoughts and saw the clones challenging Dogmas authority. He paused his improve to to the ships turning system when Dogma shook his head back and forth.

He stepped straight toward Jax "Men, we have our orders and I expect you all to remember your oath, your duty and what's expected of you." He ordered.

"Sir yes sir." Jax said.

"Dismissed." He said before Dogma left the group of his own accord storming away from them.

Before he could leave the hanger Anakin beaconed to him "Captain Dogma."

Stopping in his tracks he saw Anakin get off the ship and approach him, he gave the General the proper salute and stood at attention "General Skywalker."

"Glad to know you're keeping the men in line." Anakin said, tossing away the rag in his hand to clean his gloves "At ease."

Dogma let his arms fall to his side before he replied "They were never out of line sir, they'd be as concerned as any soldier would be going after their former General."

"Correct, former, but now Leo has shown his true colors." Anakin said in a snarl "The men won't have any issues following our orders?" The young knight asked him.

Dogma tensed up "Captain?"

"General Sir, the 703rd are some of the best troops I've ever seen second only to the 501st they are fearless, determined and above all sir they are loyal." Dogma told him looking Anakin in the eye.

"Just like you were to Krell?" Anakin asked walking around him in a semicircle "...Sir?" Dogma asked hesitantly.

Anakin was behind him now "I read the report, even after Krell was already acting suspiciously you refused to follow Captain Rex in arresting him."

"He… he was my General at the time sir, I didn't know what his motives were sir." Dogma said looking at the floor "And do you know what Leo's motives are, our records indicate he handpicked you for the 703rd and made you his third in command, quite a promotion to Arc trooper?" Anakin asked him to come back around.

Dogma met his gaze this time he was more focused "Good soldiers, follow orders that's all I've ever tried to be sir." He said, offering up his wrists for the General to cuff him.

"Just like Tup said before you and Fives went to Kamino, before Fives almost assassinat the Chancellor.?" Dogma looked over to the still masked Fives who was going by Draw now, he was on the other end of the hanger.

Fives saw Anakin interrogating Dogma and turned to leave the hanger "I-I don't get your meaning, sir?"

"I sense you're hiding something Captain, what is it?" Anakin asked, coming back around standing inches from him towering over the clone trooper in a menacing glare.

"I'm not hiding anything sir." Dogma protested.

Before Anakin could accuse him of anything a new voice interjected "Skywalker." Anakin turned around to see Plo Koon approaching him "We'll be arriving at Ruul soon, Master Windu wants you at the briefing for our plan." Plo said as Dogma tried to leave "We'll be right there, won't we Dogma?" He asked, Dogma froze in his tracks turning his heels again "Yes, Generals."

RUUL

Outer Grounds of The Bulq Estate

Having followed the stream across the jungle floor, Leo came to a great waterfall of rushing currents that showered down into a clear pool that reflected the stars above in a shimmering magnificent. The sun was down and Sriluur was overhead casting a great shadow on them from above, Leo stopped seeing he'd reached the end of the river and sensed something. Then he noticed it, at first he saw it was a basketfloating in the water, but when it floated up to the edge of the pool he saw it was an upside down was a straw jingasa hat.

Plucking it from the water he crouched over it and felt a presence, then emerging from waterfall he saw who was waiting for him. Leo rose to his feet to see gray haired whipid in beige jedi robes with a brown robe over the rest of his body. Whiphids were tall, muscled, furred sentient beings from the planet Toola. They were notable for their large tusks which he bore out from under his jaw. On Toola, Whiphids lived a primitive lifestyle, hunting caraboose and other large animals, such as the motmot, their favored prey. Their language consisted of approximately six thousand words. As Whiphids came into contact with more technically advanced races that came to Toola to buy ice, they began to show great curiosity about the rest of the galaxy. Many Whiphids left Toola, supporting themselves as big game hunters, mercenaries, or bounty hunters. Whiphids averaged about 2.5 meters and could weigh up to 400 kilos. They were covered by long yellow-white or gold fur and had stubby fur-covered tails. Their faces were elongated, with prominent foreheads and long, bowed cheekbones. Like all of his kind this Whiphid's face was furless apart from a few hairs on the lips and chin. Two large tusks protruded from the lower jaw, and their massive arms ended with thick three-fingered hands, the fingers ending in sharp claws. Female Whiphids tended to be slightly shorter and heavier than the males. Their eyes protruded slightly from their heads, his long snout showed his age as did the length of his gray mane.

Leo looked at the hat and set it down waiting for the whiphid jedi to say something, but the roaring waterfall was the only noise they could hear. He rose to his feet and moved is hand to his lightsaber, turning on both whiphid's sleeve flashed and a green lightsaber birthed from inside the folds of his robes, but again the whiphid made no movements he watched Leo with both his yellow eyes. Even as he read him through the force he felt no hostility, no anger towards him, the whipid jedi was stoic, calm, serene.

Raising his lightsaber around, Leo turned off the lightsaber and so did his 'opponent' "Forgive me Master, you took me by surprise." Leo said.

"I sensed your fear, young one, but you controlled it well." The Whiphid said wading through the water toward him, flecks of water tangled in his thick hair and robes "I am Master K'Krukh and you are Leo Rock?" The jedi named K'Krukh said introducing him. Kneeling down Leo offered the Master his straw hat which K'Krukh put on his head with one massive claw.

Then it hit him "Wait, the Master K'Krukh of the 416th everyone thinks you died at the Battle of Teyr with your men?" Leo asked him.

K'Krukh raised his hat a bit, Leo met his yellow eyes "As I wanted them to, that battle was a needless one, my men pushed forward bravely even as I planned to order a withdraw."

"Withdraw, the Republic won that battle?" Leo asked him "With the earliest highest casualties of the war, against my better judgment and at the men's insistence we pushed forward to achieve that so-called victory and yet the war still rages." Master K'Krukh said back to him.

Leo could feel the pain in his words and from the force, so he decided to change the subject "Master K'Krukh, Master Jiesel said you would test me before I met your leader what for?" Leo asked.

K'Krukh sat down and held out his hand for Leo to join him so he did, both Jedi sat legs crossed while the waterfell behind them. K'Krukh looked long and hard into Leo's eyes who looked back "Hmmm, you are a difficult one to read, so many emotions so much pain and loss, the dark side has touched you."

"It touches all of us, no matter how close we try to stay to the light." Leo replied.

K'Krukh scratched his jawline, stroking his long mane "It does doesn't it, tell me why now did you leave the Order?"

"I didn't leave." Leo said quickly "I was… exiled." Leo replied feeling like he just swallowed bile saying the word "For what reason?"

"I couldn't follow the Council anymore, they asked me to do things that were against me the Jedi way, when they sought to arrest me I only defended myself. I didn't know it would draw other jedi into the conflict."

K'Krukh took interest at this "Conflict?"

"I confronted the Council, in the great hall with over a hundred jedi watching before I knew I was fighting for my life and the hall had erupted into chaos, jedi fighting jedi." Leo told him, K'Krukh stroked his mane his claws combining the seems between the hairs "Why did the other jedi fight?"

Shaking his head in all honestly Leo said "The order is dividing those who see the war as our duty to the Republic and-" "And those who see the war as against the jedi way like you?" K'Krukh asked him.

"I don't pretend to know what's best for the Order, but the Council they were asking me to do things I just couldn't do." Leo confessed.

"Such as?" K'Krukh asked, Leo looked away avoiding the question "If you expect us to trust you, you must trust us?" K'Krukh asked him.

Taking a deep breath, he faced K'Krukh again "Myself and two other Jedi discovered the clone army wasn't commissioned by Master Syfo Dyas like we thought, in fact it was Count Dooku all along." "Impossible." K'Krukh said before Leo almost stood up.

"Why would I lie, what do I gain, shortly after he left the Jedi Dooku had Syfo Dias murdered by the Pykes under the name Tyrannus his sith name Darth Tyrannus and assumed his identity, for all we know he went to Kamino instead of Dias?" Leo stated to him.

This got K'Krukh's attention "For all we know, are you saying you don't have proof?"

"... we don't, the Council swore us to secrecy but when I learned the Sith were behind the war , behind all of it I couldn't just shut up and fall in line." He said as K'Krukh listened "So what did you do, what caused your exile?"

"I went to the Chancellor, I wanted to open an investigation into Dooku's alter ego Darth Tyrannus." Leo explained to him.

K'Krukh stopped stroking his mane and hummed to himself, eyes closed "The Council was afraid of causing a panic, rightfully so if what you say about the battle in the temple is to be believed."

"After the fight, Master Yoda exiled everyone who believed in me. The handful of jedi who are with me were willing to follow me, but I think some want to go back." Leo said, K'Krukh tapped his claws on his knees thinking while the water flowed behind them.

"And will you?" K'Krukh asked him.

Leo shrugged "Will I what?"

"Allow them to return to the Order?" K'Krukh pressed him, Leo paused again before he said "... if that is there wish, but if they choose to stay I'll protect them to my last breath." Leo said.

K'Krukh was silent now, he closed his eyes for a few seconds before exhaling "I believe his intentions pure old friend." He said, but not to Leo, K'Krukh was speaking to someone else in that instance Leo felt a presence. It had been there the whole time but only now Leo felt it when he heard the brush move and someone walked out with the tapping of a dark black metal cane with a gold tipped black bird at its pommel. Leo turned to face them as he saw a dark mossy robed figure leaning on a cane staring down at him from under their hood "Thank you Master K'Krukh, I will take it from here."

Leo looked back at K'Krukh but the other jedi master was gone, it was just Leo and the shadow he faced now, alone. Leo was on his feet hand on his lightsaber "Who are you, how did I not sense you before?"

"Don't worry, very few, when I was younger I was talented in mind tricks and thus I am able to hide my presence from those who would seek me out, even force users like yourself." The shadow said tapping his cane on the ground and jumping it up to his hand pointing the gold beaked raven pommel toward him "Much like your battle mediation influencing the mind, Leo Rock, or as you are no longer a jedi do you prefer Napoleon Stark?" He asked.

At his sudden movement Leo turned his lightsaber on ready to defend himself, and maybe illuminate the Mysterious Master's face "I-am-a-Jedi." Leo said, raising his lightsaber toward the hood but the Shadow retreated, holding his sleeve up to shield his face.

"You know my name, but I don't know yours?" Leo asked unsure what else to call the stranger, he lowered his sword and he saw a smile under the shadows of the hood.

The smile opened "Indeed I know your name, I was the one who gave it to you." The stranger said, reaching up, with his cane to remove his green hood. It fell down and Leo came face to face with an elder jedi with gray hair once black, he only had one green eye, the left one had a scar across it with an eyepatch wrapped over his head, a long ponytail Atell behind his head and under his is robes he wore dark brown tunics with a black vest the wrinkles on his face still showed a fire of youth that he hadn't yet surrendered.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Master Tholme." Leo's eyes practically jumped from his head "Master… Tholme, two jedi returned from the dead, your apprentice-" Tholme held up his cane "I know Quinlan Vos is here, and believe me our reunion is the least of our worries, we have a traitor in your midst."

SEPARAITST FLEET

General Grievous walked onto his cruiser's bridge, and slammed his fist into the commander's chair as he sat down "Open a channel to Count Dooku." Grievous growled at the first droid.

In a few seconds the channel to Serenno was open "General, you've failed again I see."

Grievous snarled at the Dooku already knowing.

"Fear not General, you have another opportunity to kill more Jedi in a single day than ever before." The Count said to him, getting the General's spirits to pick up.

A hologram emerged between them "The rogue Jedi have fled to the third moon of Sriluur, Ruul and a single Republic ship carrying many members of the Jedi Council are on its way." Dooku stood up at the news "I will bring the full force of my fleet down on them, and destroy them in one attack." General Grievous said, holding up a fist.

"I'm sure you will be General." Dooku said smiling.