Not so soon after, Kyle overheard the rumors circulating of the wars progression. It was a dead heat between the two combatants. Each side now at a significant disadvantage entering a war of attrition. Neither the citizens of the Galactic Republic or the Confederacy cared for the war and wished for their domestic needs to be met. However, the side that is winning can at least muster up better than poultry support from its people. Unfortunately, The Clone War entered what many are calling a stalemate.

However, that may not last for long as a player has been placed on the board. If the war was managed like a gigantic, never ending chess game then the C.I.S did the equivalent of freeing their king to roam and prey on the pawns and bishops. No matter where Kyle went everyone in the Jedi Temple talked about the Malevolence.

Wandering into the refectory, taking himself out a tray he was disappointed to learn he's just missed the curfew for breakfast and would have to settle for lunch. Deciding to eat light, Kyle picks himself out an orange and a bottle of almakian apple juice. The refectory didn't have much a personality to it. Only drab grey walls to go along with equally colorless long tables. Kyle got a good sense at how hallow the hall is when he saw it was only him a few other initiates inside.

Deciding to socialize he went over to a small group of initiates to hopefully strike up a conversation. "Hi!" He says, somewhat overly eager. He couldn't help it. Kyle isn't one to break the preverbal ice. "I'm Kyle." Sitting next to him are two initiates both of the human race, likely older than him as they both had thick facial hair. They paid him lip service and proceeded to converse amongst themselves before leaving.

Asuka walked up to him and gently tapped her hand on his shoulder. "Made you look." She fooled him into looking into the wrong direction. Kyle was happy to see her. And she brought a friend. "This is Barriss Offee, I meant her earlier today."

"Oh, yeah. You guys have the same Master." He extends his hand to shake the Mirialan's. Barriss usually bowed to show respect, Kyle didn't feel like getting up to perform the courtesy. "How did your first mission go?"

"You haven't heard?" Asuka said in disbelief.

"I've heard rumors, but I never thought them to be true!" Kyle quips. Asuka quickly explains to a confused Barriss Kyle is only exuding sarcasm and to not take him seriously - ever.

"The Separatists have developed a super weapon. We don't even know what is the full extent of its power." Asuka confesses. "Me and Master Unduli were the ones who discovered the weapon."

Kyle wasn't too concerned. The Separatists had these trump cards before. The Galactic Republic always finds a way to level the playing field. "All we know is it possesses the capability to basically turn the strongest ships in the navy off."

"It's been done twice in the last week." Barriss adds.

"The Jedi are setting up a reconnaissance mission to learn more about the Malevolence. We don't know who they are sending." Asuka explains. "Master Obi-Wan just returned from Mandalore. My guess is he's the one they're sending."

"Shouldn't they give him a rest?" Kyle pondered aloud. "He's been going a hundred miles an hour for a while."

"We can rest when the war is over." Barriss states bluntly. Kyle thinks to himself 'Last I checked, people need sleep.'

"Where did the Malevolence last strike?" He asks.

"Above Geonosis. It helped swing the battle to the Separatists favor and drive the Republic out with their tail between their legs." Asuka answers.

A Youngling from Master Sinube's class rushes to the table, the same kid who tried to touch the Togruta's head tails. "Hey, Zach." Kyle greets. The boy didn't return the formal greeting.

"The Jedi Council wishes to see you." Zach said, though he did not specify whom. Kyle points to Barriss, Zach shakes his head. He then moves his finger to Asuka and again the boy shakes his head. Kyle points to himself.

"Me?" Zach nods. Kyle couldn't believe it. Since when does the council actively seek out a low ranking Padawan? He hasn't done anything wrong the past couple of weeks and remained tight lipped about his hatred of archive duty. What did the council find out about him, he worried.

Asuka offered to hang right outside of the council meeting room to offer support for Kyle. He appreciated her generosity. He wanted to finish his tiny portion lunch, but his stomach wouldn't allow it. "Don't be nervous." Asuka could tell Kyle was getting increasingly agitated the closer they got to the council. "You're hands are very sweaty." She points out. She hands him a napkin to wipe off the moister.

"You can't be in trouble if you haven't done anything." She assures him.

"But what if I did something and simply forgot about it?" He ponders. The idea sounding less unhinged in his mind where it originated.

"What?" At this moment a cat got Kyle's tongue he wasn't able to speak or think. He was just moving flesh.

"I'm here for you." If Kyle could muster up the breath, he'd thank Asuka for her kindness. The one thing he hopes to never take for granted is the generosity of his friends.

This was Kyle's first time in front of the Jedi Council. He looked around at the twelve seats and could name them all. In another circumstance he probably would and ask for an autograph. He couldn't help himself. As a child he looked up to the Jedi and dedicated himself to their religion even when it seemed unlikely they'd take him in.

"Please come to the center of the circle." A black skinned Jedi Master ordered of Kyle. He knew him as Mace Windu. One of, if not the most powerful Jedi in the order. Kyle was surprised to see Obi-Wan in his chair watching the proceedings. "He really never takes a break." Kyle thinks to himself.

"Master Obi-Wan has requested your assistance for a reconnaissance mission. The council is split whether or not you're up to the task. We figured it is best to ask you personally." Windu's straightforwardness struck Kyle as odd. Who says no to an opportunity like this? Kyle didn't want to know this figurative person. He accepted the invitation to re-enter the field of active duty, hiding his obvious enthusiasm.

"Thank you, Masters." He bows a few times to show his respect, needing a council member to step in and tell him that's enough. "I won't let you down." But his youthful eagerness did not impress the council, who remained unsure. It was apparent Kenobi was Kyle's biggest backer. He could tell this was the case. After all, Kenobi was the only one on the council not to give Kyle a dismissive look.

"They picked you?" Asuka couldn't even believe it. She quickly amended her response to sound less mean. "I mean, I'm not surprised I'm just... what's the word?" She snapped her fingers in hopes of the term.

"Flabbergasted?" Kyle meekly offers. "Yeah." Asuka says sincerely. "I'm happy for you."

(Scene break)

There was a brief confrontation between Proxy and General Grievous when Dooku's new apprentice resumed control of the Malevolence. Grievous swears he was promised the role of leading the Malevolence. Proxy took satisfaction knowing that isn't true and that the Sith had only one name in mind. His.

"You don't intimidate me, General. Why don't you shuffle papers like the Count ordered you to." Proxy demeans the warrior staring right into his yellow beady eyes. "This is my post. Yours is elsewhere." The general merely growled a response like an animal denied its prey by the strongest of the pack.

The prisoners of war on the Republic's side have all been transported from Geonosis to Kadavo to be sold into slavery. The Zygerrian Empire usually traffics bondservants of the Togruta, Ewok and Twi'lek races. But there is a market for Humans in areas heavily populated with aliens in the outer rim territories. Humans could take more of a beating upside the head than Togrutas or Twi'leks with their sensitive head tails. Made it easier to punish and treat them like cattle while not risking the well-being of the slave owners investment.

Personally, Proxy held no opinion on the matter. All people are trash and deserve to meet the terrible fate which awaits them. Either it be an afterlife devoid of meaning or a life dedicated to indentured servitude. The Zygerrians pay Dooku for the influx of slaves, Proxy didn't get to see a penny from the proceeds. For now, his biggest concern was maintaining the health and power of this super weapon that's proved its usefulness by saving Geonosis from the claws of the Galactic Republic when all else failed.

Since Geonosis, there hasn't been any conflict. The C.I.S weren't able to pluck any useful information from the Republic's ships as their databanks were whipped before being boarded, leaving only for them to be stripped down for scrap as the only way to make use of them.

A young short black haired captain named Tifa counseled Proxy against this however. Reminding him how useful possessing ships from the Republic's navy could become under the right circumstances. "At this point, they are nothing more than display models." Proxy tells her. The electro magnetic pulse relay fried the circuits of the ships. But Tifa remained steadfast in her belief.

"If we can repair just one it'll allow us to gain entry into routes exclusive to the Galactic Republic. It's worth the funds it'll demand."

"Alright, Captain. Have it your way." Proxy didn't mind when subordinates had ideas of their own. He implored Tifa to speak her mind when she felt he was making a mistake. It kept him sharp. The biggest reason why Proxy is where he is (or so he believes) and Grievous is a notch below him is the famed Jedi hunter always had to be right. Could never contemplate the reality that maybe he didn't have all the answers. All that mattered was his stupid Jedi trophies and kill streaks. Winning the war was secondary in his mind.

"What's our status report?" He gets around to asking her.

"The Malevolence is at 100 percent capacity. Light speed is still in need of repairs, our average speed is 450 miles." That last detail irked Proxy. He took off his hood to reveal his deep brown eyes and mid-back length, thick raven colored hair going with his fair skin.

"Didn't we reach 608 miles last week?"

"Our last jump to light speed took a lot out of our standard engines too." She fills in the holes for him. Proxy shakes his head.

"They gave me a state of the art weapon, but a subpar vehicle. Send our engineers and see what they can do."

A notification came across their map, a small Republic diplomatic looking ship flew past their radar. Proxy's eye twitched. "Captain... do our tractor beams still function?" Tifa fiddled with her datapad to find that indeed they are, and at full power too. Proxy's lips curled into a twisted smile. "Bring that ship here."

(Scene break)

Kyle was all ready and packed for his mission and couldn't hide his excitement. His first mission back in the field and it's with Obi-Wan! He simply could not believe his luck. "So what did Master Kenobi say your mission was?" Asuka watched Kyle as he finished zipping up his backpack and sling it over his shoulder.

"He said we're going to attack the Malevolence!" Kyle answered. "Well, I mean, try to do some recon to prepare for an assault in the future." He threw cold water on the initially exciting premise.

"At least you're back in the field." Asuka reminded him.

"Yeah. Another day here and I'd have gone crazy."