"So… Operation Zero… Your entire order…" said Vaukel, "you plan to take out both the Rebels and empire at the same time?"
"…Not so much 'take out' the empire… Rather… Reform it," said Daralec, "the emperor is gone, and he's left the empire with no successor, no Senate to keep it alive… Only vast group of high-ranking imperial officers and dark side agents who are currently at each other's throats for the imperial throne."
"So basically, a combination of loyalists and power-hungry mongrels," said Vaukel.
"Correct," said Daralec, "the first phase was to create a chain of attacks within both factions to keep them distracted, make it seem like both sides were… How to put this lightly… 'Play for keeps'. With the Alliance and the Empire in chaos, our Hunters are dropped in to take out the Rebel Cells as well as any big-time imperial threats during the mess."
"And what about the main force?" asked Vaukel.
"We come in behind them and go for the major imperial factions," said Daralec, "you know, the ones who aren't too keen on… Reformation of their beloved empire."
"…But you'll make sure that innocents aren't caught in the crossfire, right?" asked Vaukel.
"Huh?" asked Daralec.
"You'll make sure that innocents aren't caught in the crossfire… Right?" asked Vaukel.
"Of course, we will… Why wouldn't we?" asked Daralec.
Daralec looked down for a moment, but then he smiled and shook his head.
"…No reason, I just wanted to make sure," he said.
"Well… What do you say? Can we count on your help?" asked Daralec.
"…If I say no and you won't force me to join… What'll happen to me?" asked Vaukel.
"…You'll just stay here," said Daralec, "we won't take your life, but we would like it if you joined us."
Vaukel looked down at his tray of food for a moment as he began to weigh his options. On the one hand, staying out of another conflict is something he wanted more than anything else, especially after the events of The Clone Wars. At least here on Erus, he could actually be something other than a Jedi Commander… Or a Jedi Fugitive.
He could take up a different role, a farmer, an artist, a simple man.
But on the other…
"…Alright, I'm in," he said.
Daralec smirked and the boys shook hands. After they were done eating, Daralec took Vaukel to meet someone. The boys arrived in the Revanite Master training hall, where the person that Daralec was taking Vaukel to see was in the middle of meditating.
It was a young woman, she looked to be in her mid to late twenties. She had had braided blonde hair, brown eyes, and was wearing a Revanite Pursuer armor.
"Master Agabard," said Daralec.
The woman opened her eyes and looked up.
"Who's your friend Daralec?" she asked.
"This is Vaukel Savvare, I thought you'd like to give him a quick crash course on our order," said Daralec, "Vaukel, this is Revanite Master Julsha Agabard."
Julsha stood up and looked at Vaukel.
"Ah, you must be the Jedi Knight of Miss Abaven," she said, "mm… I see that you've spent some time in one of our healing pods… I expected you to be a little… Older."
Vaukel found himself blushing.
"Um… Sorry to disappoint you?" he asked slowly.
Julsha smiled and let out a laugh.
"Relax, I'm not going to bite you," she said.
"W-With all due respect Master… He's… Kind of been through a lot," said Daralec.
"It's alright, Daralec," giggled Julsha, "what's the harm in a little teasing?"
Vaukel brushed some of his bangs back and cleared his throat.
"Ah, but I forget myself," said Julsha, "now… You wanted me to give him a… Crash course?"
"Yes… Isn't… That usually the protocol for members of the Jedi Order who had just been knighted?" asked Daralec.
Julsha laughed.
"I thought Master Ersanan trained you better, child," she said, "we don't do 'Crash Courses' for those who have become knights or lords. They get the same treatment like everyone else."
Vaukel swallowed.
"But since he has already been inside of our healing pods… I would say he more than passed the initiation," said Julsha, "so…"
Vaukel felt his cheeks get warm when he saw the Revanite Master reach into her cleavage and pull something out. It was he lightsabers!
"What in the blue blazes?" he thought.
"Let's see where you are with your combat," she said with a grin as she ignited her lightsabers.
Vaukel drew and ignited his lightsaber as well.
"Oh boy," he thought with a sigh.
Julsha jumped and brought her blades down, already forcing Vaukel to tank up once the silver main hand blade connected with his blue blade.
"Oh boy!" he thought with a panic.
Vaukel looked over at Daralec, who was standing a few feet away.
"Daralec, if I get hurt, I will kill you," he thought bitterly.
/\/\/\/\/\
"What's the empire doing on Belsavis?" asked Kayla.
"…Go to hell," hissed the bound, bruised, and bloodied imperial officer.
Kayla frowned and had her hand on the man's throat.
"…I know you remember me, Kade," she hissed, "now what's the empire doing on Belsavis?"
Kade smirked and let out a choked laugh.
"Hehe… Inquisitor Abaven… You look different without Lord Vader's collar around your neck-"
But Kade was cut off as Kayla started to choke the man out with the Force.
"I'M NOT ASKING AGAIN!" she roared.
"Kayla, enough…" said Juzem.
Kayla let out a huff and let the officer go. Shokan stepped forward and looked the man right in the eyes.
"…What are you looking at, you freak?" muttered Kade.
Shokan responded by taking a deep breath, closing his eyes, and putting his hand on Kade's head.
"W-What is he doing?" asked Kayla.
"Oh, sometimes it takes a second," said Nikron.
Kayla looked over at Kade and saw the imperial officer start grimace and groan with discomfort. Shokan gave Kade a hard stare and the imperial officer began to grit his teeth and groan in pain.
"…It's worse if you try to fight it," said Shokan, "trust me."
Kade started to sweat and shake, his muscles tightened, he started to tug on the binders that kept him in his chair, he began to hyperventilate. Kayla's eyes began to widen as veins began to pop up along Kade's head. Unable to keep it in, Kade let out a blood-curdling scream… And dropped his head.
"…Got it," said Shokan.
Blood began to drip out of Kade's nose. Shokan turned and looked at his teammates.
"The Sith Imperium got a tip that a crew of pirates came here to this planet to drop off some high-valued cargo sometime during the war between the empire and the rebellion. One of the pirates left to go find someone who could help them identify what this cargo was, and they were coming back here for it," said Shokan, "unfortunately, the Sith Imperium was waiting for the pirates and they chased them down to the planet, resulting in a massive fight to break out and causing the pirate crew to break off. The chaos was so bad that the rebellion caught wind of what the Sith Imperium were up to and came here to find separated crew of pirates."
Shokan looked back at Kade.
"The Sith Imperium believe this cargo to be… Rakatan," he said, "but no records have been confirmed."
"…Rakatan," said Kayla, "say… Isn't that forge I used to make my new armor and weapons composed of… Rakatan Technology?"
"That's right," said Nikron.
"That's bad news, if this crew of pirates really did come across some possible Rakatan Technology, we need to get it back and fast," said Juzem, "if the rebellion or the Sith Imperium get to it first, this could get very ugly."
"Shokan, did you manage to see where the pirates were chased?" asked Nikron.
Shokan gave a shrug.
"The pirates were chased down to the Maximum-Security section and the Sith Imperium tried to follow, but somehow the pirates managed to get some of the old droids online and force the bastards to retreat," said Shokan, "there's no telling if they're still there or not."
"Then that's where we'll have to go," said Nikron.
Nikron looked over to the right.
"And it looks like we have our method of transportation for us," he said, seeing a cluster of speeder bikes.
The four hunters walked over, and each grabbed a bike, then they fired them up and headed towards Maximum-Security.
"So… What exactly is the story behind Belsavis?" asked Kayla.
"The story?" asked Shokan.
"Yeah, what's the story? You say 'Maximum-Security' like it's some kind of giant prison planet," said Kayla.
"…It is," said Shokan.
Kayla's eyes went wide.
"Wait, what!? Who built such a place!?" she exclaimed.
"The same people who built the Star Forge," said Juzem.
Kayla looked at the Miraluka.
"The Rakatan's made a prison planet? Why?" asked Kayla.
"No idea," said Nikron, "little is known about the Rakatan's, only that they were an ancient race of highly-technologically advanced race of conquerors who ruled the entire galaxy, and then… Poof… They just up and vanished."
"All we can tell you is that the Rakatan's built this prison and the droids that they constructed are still able to function to this day," said Shokan.
"Revan and his allies were apparently the only ones who were familiar with this kind of technology," said Juzem, "however, if he had left any further records of the Rakatans, their empire, or their tech, they're either lost or destroyed."
"And that's why it's up to us to acquire any and all Rakata technology that has been discovered," said Nikron, "only those within our order are capable of understanding it."
Kayla didn't say anything. She was too busy absorbing all of this new information. Rakatan technology. An Infinite Empire. An ancient prison. She couldn't help but wonder… Did Lord Vader know about this? Did the emperor know about this?
"LOOK OUT!" screamed Shokan.
The young hunter jumped off his speeder bike, via backflip just as a hail of blaster bolts came flying towards them. The speeder bike tumbled across the ground and went over two gunnery crews that Kayla recognized.
"OFF THE BIKES, NOW!" she screamed, slamming on the brakes, and coming to a screeching halt.
The other hunters did the same as Shokan stuck the landing, then they all proceeded to break off into groups of two as the bolts came flying at them once again.
"Those bastards set up an E-Webb defense line, they'll fill use with more holes than a Geonosian Hive," said Kayla.
"They turned the Minimum-Security section into a base camp? Oh great," muttered Shokan.
"This is the South Gate, we've detected four intruders," said the left imperial gunner, "requesting assistance."
"We're not getting inside of this area until we take out those guns," said Kayla.
"Oh yes we are," said Shokan.
"Oh no, we're not," Nikron said, pointing to a squad of stormtroopers heading their way.
Among the stormtroopers, was someone that Kayla recognized all too well.
"Saber Guard," she said.
The Saber Guard eyed the four hunters.
"…Kill them all," he ordered.
"Refresh my memory… Blasters and knifes aren't meant for us to not blow our cover, right?" asked Kayla.
"Yes," said Nikron.
"Good," said Kayla.
She ignited her lightsaber and charged in.
"Well, no sense waiting around," said Shokan.
The other hunters joined in, their lightsabers flaring to life as they began to relentlessly cut through the stormtroopers. The saber guard watched as the hunters took down the imperial soldiers, using a combination of swings from their lightsabers and unarmed strikes to take down multiple adversaries.
The saber guard looked back at the E-Webb gunners.
"What are you waiting for? OPEN FIRE!" he barked.
"But sir, we can't get a clear shot," said the gunner on the right.
"Just do it!" barked the saber guard.
The saber guard moved behind the gunners, letting the heavy blasters start spraying the battle zone.
"Look out!" yelled Nikron.
The hunters ran for cover. The remaining stormtroopers, ended up getting caught in the crossfire and were gunned down.
"Shokan, can you get behind the guns?" asked Juzem.
Shokan took a peek at the gunners, then he looked over at the wall.
"…We don't need to get behind the guns, we just need to get through the wall," he said.
"If we're going to go through the wall, we need to get the attention of those gunners," said Juzem.
"Leave that to me," Kayla said as she deactivated and clipped her lightsabers to her belt.
She drew her blaster pistol and fired off a few shots.
"HEY!" she barked, "YOU WANT ME!"
Kayla fired a few more shots, catching the attention of both gunner crews and causing them to fire on her. Kayla ducked down.
"Shokan, go," she said.
Shokan nodded and sped over to the right side of the wall while Kayla provided cover fire for him. The young hunter ignited his lightsaber and began to cut into the wall.
"I'd better make this qui-"
But Shokan's thoughts were interrupted when he sensed someone swing on him from behind. Shokan ducked down and rolled back as a crimson red blade struck the wall. It was the saber guard.
"Shokan!" yelled Nikron.
The imperial gunners fired, forcing the hunter to hunker down with the other three.
"These bastards aren't giving us any leeway," muttered Kayla.
"If they're not going to let us through… Then we'll have to let ourselves through," said Nikron.
Meanwhile, Shokan was busy trading blows with the saber guard over by the prison wall. The young hunter kept his swings varied and swift, never too strong, and never too light as Shokan appeared to keep himself planted to the ground, never going too far in any direction as the saber guard unleashed a flurry of blows.
"I don't recognize your kind alien," the saber guard said as he locked blades with Shokan, "why would you come all the way out here to these parts?"
"Oh, you know, just thought I'd see the sights," Shokan grunted as he shoved the saber guard back and resumed their bout.
Meanwhile, Kayla and the others were still struggling with the guns… Or rather, just Kayla.
"I can't keep laying down suppressive fire forever Nikron," said Kayla, "if you're going to do something, do it now."
Nikron didn't say anything, instead he just closed his eyes, reached out with the Force, and brought his right arm down, tearing the archway of the prison gate down on the gunners, crushing them.
"There," he said.
The saber guard, who was going in for a cross slash, stopped and whirled around, hearing the loud crash.
"What in the blazes-"
But they were cut off as Shokan swung and struck his neck with full force. However, the bronze blade didn't cut through the saber guard's armor.
"Lightsaber resistant, eh?" he thought.
The saber guard looked at Shokan again, then he looked back at the crushed stormtrooper gunner crews… Then the saber guard took off.
"We got a runner!" Shokan called out.
"After him!" yelled Nikron.
The hunters gave chase.
/\/\/\/\/\
"You have a fire in you, Vaukel," said Julsha, "who was your master?"
Vaukel was quiet for a moment.
"…My master was Kayla's father," he said.
"Ahh… So that explains the strong bond you have with her," said Julsha, "well… You certainly seem to have the potential to be a Revanite… But the question is Vaukel… Are you ready to shed your old life and embrace your new life as Miss Kayla did?"
Vaukel gave Julsha an amused look.
"What's to shed? The old life I had come to know came to an end with the Execution of Order 66," he said, "I lost my friends. My master. I spent a good part of my life on the run until I ended up under the protection of Clan Cold-Blood… It's not like I have many other options laid out before me."
"So, this is what you truly want?" asked Julsha.
Vaukel nodded.
"Yes ma'am," he said.
Julsha clasped her hands behind her back.
"Flowing through all, there is balance. There is no peace without a passion to create. There is no passion without peace to guide. Knowledge fades without the strength to act. Power blinds without the serenity to see," she said as she paced back and forth in front of Vaukel, "there is freedom in life. There is purpose in death. The Force is all things, and I am the Force."
Julsha stopped in front of Vaukel and put a hand on his shoulder.
"By the power granted to me by the Grandmaster," she said, "Vaukel Savvare… I make you, my apprentice."
Vaukel gave her a smile.
"Thank you… Master," he said.
"Now, come, come… Let's go get you your new robes," said Julsha.
Vaukel followed his master so he could get his new apprentice robes.
"As much as I'd like to be made into a full-fledged Revanite… I think it may be for the best," he thought, "I don't know much about these people, so it seems a lot wiser to start from the bottom and work my way up like Kayla did…"
"Julsha," said a voice.
Vaukel looked and saw Malakam approach his master.
"High Master, have you met my new apprentice?" asked Julsha.
"New… Apprentice?" asked Malakam.
Julsha nodded.
"Vaukel, this is High Master Malakam," said Julsha, "Malakam, this is Vaukel."
Malakam looked at Vaukel.
"Ah… I recognize you," he said, "you're Kayla's step-brother, are you not?"
"Yes… Yes, I am," said Vaukel.
"Mm… I hope that you will be much more… Tame… Than her," said Malakam.
Malakam looked at Julsha.
"The main fleet is almost ready," he said, "we'll be moving out soon."
"Understood, I'll just get him fitted in his new robes and give him a rundown of the basics," she said.
"Good," said Malakam.
The High Master left.
"…Why do you call him 'High Master'?" asked Vaukel.
"Mm?" asked Julsha, "oh thaaaaaat… That's just a rank we give to Revanite Masters who have ascended to the council."
"Oh," said Vaukel, "wait, you guys actually have a council?"
"Of course, we might not follow one single path like the Jedi or Sith, but we still have a council to keep things in line," said Julsha.
"…Funny…" said Vaukel, "and here I took you guys as the free-spirited type."
Julsha smirked.
"Oh, these lessons are going to be fun… Little Jedi," she said sweetly.
It was at that moment that Vaukel… Caught himself, blushing.