Exterior: Kashyyyk, forest, Marek hut, evening.
Relishing the carnage of the scorched forest floor, dead bodies, and trees in flames whilst he struck down Jedi Master Mallie Marek, Darth Maul asked Jedi Master Kento Marek, "Where is the Chosen One? Where is Skywalker?"
As he intensely duelled the Dathomirian devil, Kento defied, "Even if I knew, I'd never tell the likes of you, Sith," before being sent flying into a wall then the ceiling, landing on his stomach.
Picking up and pulling a crying baby girl towards him with the Force, Maul gave a mortifying smirk as he drove his blade through her chest.
"No!" screamed Kento.
The Sith had murdered a newborn baby!
Feeling a vergence in the Force making him tremble before he regained his composure, Maul snarled, "I sense someone far more powerful than both of you Jedi scum nearby.
Where is your Master?"
Struggling for breath as he was Force choked, Kento replied, "The dark side has clouded your mind. You killed my master, years ago."
"Then now you will share his fate," sinisterly vowed Maul who swung one of his sabers, since he'd separated his saberstaff, but it was pulled away from him.
Turning, Maul saw a horrified two year old boy, with ocean blue eyes and short dark hair, holding said lightsaber.
"So, the Jedi have a son?" asked Maul, "What fun… what fun. Hahahaha, he will make a fine apprentice.
And together: we will destroy my masters, Darths Sidious and Plagueis. And perhaps we shall rule the galaxy."
Kento shouted, "Galen, run!" before being struck down by Maul who Force pulled the saber back into his hand.
"Nooooo!" screamed Galen.
Turning to the boy, Maul snarled, "Come to me, boy.
I can feel your anger… give into it.
You are mine now, whether you like it or not.
Soon, very soon, you will call me your 'Master,'.
Be it as my slave or my student, you will know me as 'Master Maul,'."
Though he was terrified, Galen defyingly screamed, "Never!" and caught Maul off-guard by suddenly glowing a bright gold and casting a massive wave of yellow lightning before falling to the ground.
Rising to his feet, Maul snarled, "Then you will die!"
His vision in and out of focus, an exhausted Galen saw Maul running at him, saber in hand, about to strike him down, but the demon was suddenly sent flying back.
Getting up to see battle-hardened armoured warriors in helmets with T-bar visors, Maul growled, "Hmmm, Mandalorians."
"Step away from the kid, Dar'Jetti. He's under our protection." authoritatively said a Mandalorian, wearing metallic gray armour with red pauldrons and a red cape, wielding a flat black bladed laser sword with a pointed end.
It was Jaster Mereel of the True Mandalorians who'd been entrusted with the mantle of Mand'alor . Mand'alor: the Redeemer!
One of the other Mandos, Jango Fett, took up Kento's lightsaber.
Engaging in a fierce battle with Maul, Jaster and Jango, who Galen saw as Knights in shining armour, exchanged several strikes, counters, parries and slashes.
Then the ground shook as Galen summoned a monster known as a Terrentetek through the Force before finally passing out.
As the beast attacked Maul, Jango gently picked Galen up, reassuringly held him in his arms, and took the boy to safety whilst Jaster's True Mandalorians, alongside the native Wookies, fought against a droid army of various models, and the barbaric Tor Vizsla's Death Watch.
"Ni kar'tayl gai sa'ad," Jango softly vowed whilst carrying the tiny foundling.
3 years later.
Interior: Concord Dawn, True Mandalorians stronghold, late morning.
As he watched in interest as the soldiers practiced their drills, Galen was mesmerised by the darksaber wielded by his Mand'alor, Jaster Mereel.
Placing a hard on the boy's shoulder as he came up to him, Jaster asked, "You like the sword? I do too."
"Can I hold it?" asked Galen, "please?"
Mereel nodded as he held out the hilt, "You're a very special kid.
You may have gifts most don't understand, but that's a good thing.
I see that fire in your eyes. That spirit in your heart.
You're one of us, and you have the potential to become jatnese be te jatnese.
One of the next Mand'alor, the leader of the Mandalorians. Mandokarla."
"Thank you, Ba'buir Jaster. Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum."
Mereel couldn't help smiling, "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum too, lil 'un.
I knew your father, Kento. He was a jate man, and ner vod.
Imagine that: another Mand'alor and Jetii as brothers. In fact, I was there for your birth, and I'm your godfather."
Galen smiled back as he held the hilt in his hand, then began feeling a headache from an echo through the Force.
Holding the hilt aloft, Marek ignited its blade, "Wow, it's so light, Ba'buir." and practiced some moves he'd learnt from the sword upon touching it.
As she approached and ruffled the little boy's hair, a sexy assassin by the name of Aurra Sing chuckled, "You boys love playing with your swords," making Marek snicker at the remark, though he wasn't sure why he found it so funny.
"Is it time for another lesson, Aurra?" asked the little foundling.
"C'mon, kiddo, time to practice deflection. It's one of the most important things to know when you have a lightsaber and feel the Force,"
"Okay, Aurra." said Marek who sensed a disturbance, "There's someone in trouble… a Force adept's soon to be auctioned off and sold into slavery.
Her name is… Eldra Kaitis. We need to help her,"
Jaster asked, "Where?"
"The moon of Drazkel. And Maul's after her too. If we don't make it in time, he'll kill her,"
After a flashback to her own past, Aurra nodded, "Let's go."
Donning his helmet, Jaster mobilised the Mandalorians.
A few nights later.
Interior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian stronghold, Aurra's quarters, evening.
After waking up from a horrific nightmare/flashback, little Galen quietly entered to find the deadly Huntress sleeping topless.
As he gently tickled her acrobatic, taut tummy with one hand, she lightly squirmed and laughed innocently before rolling over, facing towards him.
As his hand retreated, he quietly asked, "Aurra? Are you awake?"
Though unhappy about being woken up, Aurra's irritation faded and her expression softened as soon as she saw the look on the little boy's face upon turning on the light.
"Ooh, late night visits? That's so romantic. Darling, you sure know how to make a girl feel special," cheekily greeted the Huntress who softly asked, "are you ok, Honey?"
Half pleadingly, he asked, "Can I stay in here with you, tonight? I had a nightmare… and it was really bad. Please?"
Sympathetic, she couldn't deny the poor thing so she moved over to make room for him, "C'mere, Honey,"
He climbed into the bed, lying next to her as she pulled the covers over both of them.
"Anything you'd like to say, little one?"
"Thank you, Aurra," gratefully replied the child.
"You're welcome, Honey."
He sweetly endeared, "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Aurra,"
Sing returned, "I love you too, Galen." and gently wrapped her arms around him as they snuggled up to each other.
"Goodnight, Aurra," whispered Marek as her presence calmed him.
"Goodnight, Galen." softly replied the huntress as she kissed his temple, protectively holding the boy in her arms whilst they drifted off to sleep.
A month later.
Exterior: Galidraan, campsite, mid-morning.
As the Mandalorians saw ships overhead, Jango rushed into a tent, and ordered, "Galen, you need to take cover,"
Worried, the boy asked, "Dad, what's happening?"
"We're under attack. Stay out of sight until it's safe."
Not daring to argue, he took cover in tall grass, using the Force and a stealth belt to turn invisible and mask his presence.
As the sound of several lightsabers igniting was heard, a deep, strong voice called out, "Mandalorians! I am Master Dooku of the Jedi Order!
You stand accused of murder! In the name of Senator Palpatine of the Galactic Senate, you are under arrest.
Surrender, and we will ensure you are treated fairly."
A female human Jedi with blonde hair arrogantly added, "But fight us, and we will bring swift justice," before a heated skirmish broke out between the clan and the Jedi strike team.
Confused, Marek thought, "Why are the Jetii after us? What's going on? And who's Palpatine?" then watched in horror as his Aliit were murdered by the Jedi, shed tears, and felt rage building up inside him.
Shortly thereafter.
As he saw Dooku stab Jaster through the chest and steal the darksaber from him, as if collecting a trophy, Galen had had enough.
Falling to his knees in despair after killing 6 Jedi with his bare hands, Jango growled, "You've killed us all, damn you! We're all dead because of you!"
Emerging from his hiding place and running over, Galen screamed, "Noooo!" and dropped to his knees, next to Jaster's body, when he realised every present member of the aliit except himself and Jango were dead, "No! Please, no…"
One of the Jedi asked, "They were taking care of a child?"
Aghast by the revelation, a battle hardened soldier of a Jedi, with a gruff voice, remorsefully asked, "Oh, no… what've we done?
This wasn't supposed to happen," fell to his knees, and dropped his saber. "I signed on to protect children, not orphan them! Damn it! Damn it all!"
A bald headed human male, with dark skin, dismissed, in a deadpanned tone, "Get over it, Kota. We did what we had to do," as he stood over the dead body of Myles, who'd been cut in half, wielding a purple blade.
Picking up his weapon as he rose to his feet, Kota shouted at his fellow Knight, "The hell we did, Windu!"
With tears running down his face, Galen screamed, "You killed them all! You murdered ner aliit! I hate you!" then drew his saber and attacked Dooku head-on.
To his shock, horror and disbelief, Dooku found himself under a fierce attack by the last thing he'd ever wanted to fight: a small child who looked at him as if he were a monster.
One whose skills with a lightsaber seemed to manifest in the moment before being sent flying back by a powerful bolt of electric judgement from his disturbingly young opponent.
Turning his attention to Windu, Marek leapt at him and performed several reckless but unpredictable strikes putting the shocked Jedi Master on the defensive whether he wanted to be on it or not.
Then the purple bladed bastard was sent crashing into the side of his own ship by a bolt of purple lightning.
The Jedi strike team, with mixed feelings on the matter, made their exit before anything else could happen.
But it was already too late. The damage had been done… He was once more turned into collateral damage.
Momentarily thereafter.
As if Galen's day couldn't get any worse, they were suddenly ambushed by the Death Watch who stunned Jango.
"Life day's come early," gloated Tor Vizsla before suddenly being shot several times in the lap by Galen who'd picked up a westar-34, making him loudly exclaim in pain as he was also launched into a boulder by the Force.
"Go to hell!" growled Marek who realised what they'd done whilst his eyes burned yellow, "You'll pay for this! I swear you'll pay!"
As he viciously attacked the scum, he managed to cut down 10 of them with his blade, then electrocuted another 20.
Force choked another 5 whilst countering attacks from swords, and deflecting blaster bolts back into their guns.
And telekinetically threw back a couple of grenades before Vizsla ignited a darksaber.
The bastard Jedi had given it to the Death Watch!?
In the midst of a fatiguing duel which he found himself winning, Galen took an opening and stabbed Vizsla in the lap, making the bastard gasp in pain, before Force pushing him into a rock formation.
Several of the remaining scum collectively thought, "Ooh, that's gotta hurt."
"Is this a Jedi youngling?" asked one of the scum, confused, "or is he a mini Sith?"
"Don't call me that!" shouted Marek who leapt out of the way of flamethrowers, and cut a cable as it began wrapping around his leg, then landed on his feet and incinerated another 5 of the scum before he was hit by several repulsors from all sides, knocking him to the ground as he dropped his weapons.
As a female warrior with an owl on her pauldron signalled with her hand, half of the remaining scum fired their grappling lines at Marek, who'd got to his feet, tying him up, but he still struggled in an effort to free himself.
They all sent a jolt of electricity through the cable, making him scream in pain, but it still didn't incapacitate him.
Then he performed a Force repulse which freed him and sent them all flying back. But he was exhausted due to his lack of experience using and controlling his powers.
"That was a very nice try, kid. I'll give you points, you've got a helluva lot of fight in you. I admire that spirit." said the femme fatale.
As the kid fell to his knees in exhaustion, they bound him with even more grappling lines than before, and quickly put him in binders for good measure.
Crouching down to look into Marek's blue eyes after using a medpac, Tor scowled at the boy, "That was a mistake, you little brat," then slapped Marek's face.
Galen spat in Vizsla's face, "My only mistake was not killing you first, you coward.
You're a filthy traitor… and a disgrace to your armour. You don't deserve it or the dha'kad, Kyr'tsad scum."
Tor wiped his face, stood up, and readied the darksaber to strike down the boy.
As Vizsla swung his blade at the boy who neither flinched nor blinked, the femme fatale blocked it with a vibroblade, "Stop!"
Stepping back in surprise, Tor asked, "Why should I?"
"It'd be wasting his potential… his power. You saw what he just did. Our ultimate weapon against our enemies could be this boy."
"I'll humour you." grunted Tor, after thinking it through.
As she knelt down to him, and took off her helmet revealing fair skin, shoulder length orange hair and emerald green eyes, a beautiful girl, in her early twenties, asked, "Hello, little one. My name's Bo-Katan Kryze. Heiress to the throne of Mandalore. What's your name?"
Cautious, Galen renamed himself, "Kane Fett."
She smiled, "It's nice to meet you, Kane."
"I'm not sure if the feeling's mutual, yet, Princess."
"Why don't you join us, kiddo?" offered Bo, "if you're able to do what you just did at your age, you could be a great asset when you're older."
"I'm sorry, your highness, but I can't and won't join Kyr'tsad.
Not even for you whose beauty makes even the brightest stars seem dull by comparison."
Flattered by the kid, Bo-Katan smiled, "Awww, you're adorable. But why can't you join?"
"Kyr'tsad are the enemy of all true Mando'ade.
Zealots, scum, terrorists and thugs who betrayed the Mando'ade.
No Mando'ad can coexist with those aruetii.
By joining the Death Watch, you've forfeited your claim to the throne.
As long as you're one of them, you have no claim to the throne." answered the kid, "You are all dar'manda."
Bo-Katan was taken aback by his words, and the present company was surprised a child even knew some of those words.
Kane added, "Bo, you need better friends than this scum and villainy.
I know pirates with more honour and loyalty," whilst thinking of a certain Weequay.
Chuckling to herself, Bo-Katan asked, "In that case, would you like to be my friend?
I'll take good care of you, little one. Everyone needs a family, and it looks like yours just went extinct."
"There's an or else, isn't there?" asked Kane who frowned.
"If you'll be a good little boy and come with us, we'll let your daddy live and leave him unharmed. Or they can kill your daddy and take you anyway."
With a sad sigh, young Fett looked at her, "I- I'll go with you. Just please don't hurt him.
And how do I know any of you will keep your word?
Death watch has no honour. Why should I trust any of you?"
After a moment, Galen found himself being hugged by Bo-Katan, triggering his psychometry, "Hey, we're not the evil monsters you think we are."
Marek raised an eyebrow, "You're literally called the 'death society,'.
And Vizsla definitely is."
"He's leading us in the footsteps of Mand'alor: The Ultimate."
"Ugh, that bastard?" asked a disgusted Kane/Galen, "why would you want to be like a piece of Tor Vizsla?"
Everyone gave the kid a strange look.
"Did you just replace 'shit,' with 'Tor Vizsla,'?" chuckled Bo-Katan, amused.
"What's the difference?" quipped the boy, earning a scowl from the bastard himself.
"Ursa, come say hello to the little one," said Bo-Katan as she gestured for one of her squad to come over.
Removing her helmet, a young, fair-skinned, brunette woman greeted, "Hello, young one… I'm Ursa Wren."
"Hi, Ursa," returned Kane, "aren't you both too beautiful for the death watch?
Also, things would be better for all of you if either yourself or Bo-Katan leads instead of Vizsla.
You have the potential to restore not only your own honour, but that of those in your ranks.
Restore the right to call yourselves 'Mandalorians,'."
Wren and Kryze smiled at the kid's optimistic statement.
Spiteful, Tor Vizsla called out, "Over my dead body will another woman be Mand'alor!" earning frowns from every present female member of Death Watch.
Young Fett scowled, "I can arrange that, you filthy dar'manda!
Also, you said that in front of the Princess!"
Everyone exchanged looks.
Kane gestured towards Vizsla, "He's brainless." before the Death Watch made their exit, taking him with them.
Moments later.
Waking up to see Galen's lightsaber on the ground in front of him, a heartbroken Jango held it in his hand as he rose to his feet and saw the bodies of the dead Death Watch scum.
Realising what must've transpired, Jango shouted at the sky in despair, "Noooooo!"
An hour later.
Interior: Dxun, old Mando stronghold, Death Watch's base.
As two of the scum dragged him to the dungeon by his arms, Kane felt beyond miserable as he was then locked in a cell with other prisoners, mostly women, but a few boys too.
After the guards walked away, a slightly older human girl asked the mini Mando, "What's your name?"
"Kane Fett. What's yours?"
She replied, "Fennec… Fennec Shand."
Kane/Galen gave a small smile, "It's nice to meet you, Fennec."
"Why did they take you? Usually they only take women."
"I'm one of the True Mandalorians. Death Watch used the Jetii to wipe us out, and took me as a prisoner."
"That can't possibly be the only reason."
Having somehow slipped out of his bonds, Kane admitted, "I kind of attacked and killed some of them."
The other prisoners exchanged looks, in disbelief.
A little Cathar girl asked, "Why are you still alive if you did that?"
"No idea, but I have powers I can't explain. What's your name?"
"I'm Selina."
"That's a really nice name."
Interior: Dxun, Death Watch base, torture chamber.
"I have a bad feeling about this," quietly said Kane before being forcefully and tightly strapped into a torture chair.
"Now you'll pay for what you did, you little brat." sneered Chop'aa who cruelly, brutally, mercilessly and sadistically tortured the mini Mando.
In agony and pain, Kane screamed, shrieked and writhed as the sick bastard tortured him while the guards became increasingly uncomfortable by watching.
A few of the guards pulled off their helmets and grabbed the nearest empty buckets to throw up.
The poor kid was soon gagged to stop him screaming, and he was given just enough of a jolt of electricity on the right voltage to keep him from passing out whenever it seemed like he would.
A disembodied voice whispered, "Be strong… you can survive this. Stay strong, young one… cuyanir… survive."
3 straight months of non-stop torture later.
Interior: Dxun, Death Watch base, torture chamber, late evening.
Galen/Kane had no idea how he was still alive, but his anger was beginning to numb a little of the pain.
"That's right, runt, suffer." snarled Notimo, with a vile grin, "You'll break, and be no more than a slave to the Death Watch.
We'll be your masters."
Entering and freezing in disgust, one of the guards shouted, "Enough! That's enough! You need to stop! This is too much!"
Barging in to see what was happening, Bo-Katan, who'd just returned from business off-world, ordered, "Stop this! Now!"
Ceasing with a sigh of annoyance, Chop'aa scoffed, "Fine, killjoy."
Disgusted by the horrific state of the small child who was crying, bleeding, limping, shivering, spasming and shaking, Bo-Katan glared at Notimo, "What have you done?
What have you done!?"
"I-"
"Prepare the infirmary and a bacta tank for the kid, now!" hissed Kryze as she untied the boy who had tears running down his face before he coughed up blood whilst a pair of guards ran to the infirmary to prepare a tank.
As she gently cradled the boy in her arms, Bo-Katan softly comforted, "Hey, shh, don't cry, little one… It's gonna be ok. You're gonna be ok, now."
Walking in, Ursa, hoping to lighten the mood, asked, "Practicing for motherhood, Bo?"
Notimo opened his mouth to say something but was cut off as his victim choked him with the Force for a few moments before slamming him into several walls, and passing out.
Unbeknownst to the scum, the kid's psychometry had been going off like crazy the whole time he was being tortured, making it inconceivably worse.
5 mins later.
Interior: Dxun, Death Watch base, infirmary.
Aghast, Rook Kast, who'd thrown up when she saw the state of the kid, said, "This was low, even for a sick, disturbed bastard like Notimo,"
After being cleaned up, the poor kid was carefully lowered into a bacta tank.
Bo-Katan agreed, "Notimo is a deranged psychopath. Don't know why we keep him around."
Ursa chimed in, "How the kid's still alive is nothing short of a miracle."
Rook guessed, "Maybe he was engineered in a lab. No child should have this kind of stamina. He should be dead."
Kane's vital signs were suddenly going crazy.
"What the hell?" asked a shocked Bo-Katan.
"You're asking me? Not sure he's actually a human, and his M-count is in the millions."
A week later.
Interior: Dxun, Death Watch base, quarters, evening.
As he was brought up to Bo's room after being discharged from the infirmary and being outfitted with a Force suppressing collar and wristband, Kane/Galen cautiously asked, "What's going on?"
"After that stunt Notimo pulled, I'll be keeping a closer eye on you, little womp rat. You'll be rooming with me."
"You lied to me, so why am I getting special treatment now? Is it because of my powers?
Or do they just separate any prisoners who can and will fight back?
Or is it guilt from breaking your promise to me?"
"You know you lost that fight?"
"No, I stood down. I was exhausted from fighting both the Jetii and Kyr'tsad.
And you had guns aimed at my dad's head."
"Fair point. Depending on your behaviour, you'll either sleep on a bed or in a cage.
And it'll be what decides your size portion of food."
"If the other prisoners are treated fairly, not abused, malnourished, hurt, tortured, defiled or killed, I could try to behave.
But keep that psycho, Notimo, away from them."
Bo-Katan chuckled to herself, "For someone in no position to negotiate, you're being quite selfless. Are you being a hero?"
"I'm no hero, I'm a Mandalorian. We have no word for hero.
Don't need one. Being what others call heroic is the Mandalorian way.
And unlike Death Watch, I keep my promises."
"Yep, you're definitely one of Jaster's."
"Fair warning: I get nightmares… intense ones."
"What about, little one?"
"The day my kin were killed, and about the torture I was put through.
I'm a viber like the Kiffar are… a psychometric."
"What does that mean?"
"It wasn't just my own pain I was feeling when Notimo tortured me. I had visions.
I felt the pain and emotions of everyone who's ever been tortured in this place.
I experienced every possible form of torture that's ever been inflicted here.
Including torture by Force adepts, as if it was happening to me.
I heard the screams and cries of the victims too."
Bo's eyes widened in shock, "Dank farrik. That must've really done a number on you, kiddo."
"Since you talked about turning me into a weapon: am I meant to be trained as one?"
"Starting tomorrow."
"If the other prisoners are safe, I'll do the training."
"I'll tell the others your terms."
"Okay."
"I'm assuming you can't always sleep by yourself because of the nightmares? You're going to need someone to comfort and hold you?"
"Maybe…"
"Well, I guess that's my job. Also, I'm supposed to be your handler, so sorry about letting you be tortured like that." softly said Bo-Katan.
"You should be sorry! And what the hell do you mean by 'handler,'?"
"You're either going to join us or be our slave. That being said, I'm now your owner, if it's the latter.
And you're going to do as we tell you, got it?"
"No," mumbled Kane.
"Kid, now's really not the time to be stubborn."
The disembodied voice said, "Find me, young one…"
"Huh?" asked Kane who looked around the room for the source of the voice, "Bo, did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"That voice…" exhaled Kane, feeling a chill in the air.
"Voice? What voice?" asked Bo-Katan, "I didn't hear anything. You ok? You don't look so good."
After a moment, Kane fainted.
3 months later.
Exterior: Dxun, Death Watch base, courtyard, late afternoon.
Kane was practising with a quarterstaff, under the watchful eyes of Ursa and Bo-Katan who were surprised by how quickly he was learning even without the Force seemingly present.
He figured it'd be smart to know how his captors fought, so he'd know how to kill them.
After disarming and decking Gar Saxon to finish the match, Kane was begrudgingly put in a triple reinforced Force suppressing, ray shielded cage, intended for fully grown Force wielding prisoners, after being collared as well as his limbs being overkill bound together by beskar shackles, cuffs and chains.
There were also Ysalamiri lizards in the compound.
Bo-Katan and Ursa weren't particularly fond of the idea of the little brat being locked up like a monster or a rabid animal.
"Are you going to recite the Jedi code to try and ignore your predicament?" taunted Saxon.
Kane saw, out of the corner of his eye, and deduced that Chop'aa was preparing to force himself on a very spiritual creature, who'd been securely tied between two poles in an X shape in the middle of the courtyard, naked, with a gag in her mouth.
She was a serene, beautiful, slim, agile, acrobatic, sexy, busty, perky, red skinned Togrutan woman with white patch-like facial markings with vertical red lines near her black eyes, and white lekku and montrals with navy stripes.
"Ni 'cuy nayc Jetii." snarled Kane who began, in mando'a, "Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength I gain power.
Through power I gain victory,"
"You're delusional," scoffed Saxon, "you're locked into those chains."
Kane smirked.
Overloading 3 dozen Force dampeners and suppressors which shattered into tiny pieces along with his numerous beskar bonds and the cage whilst killing all of Ysalamiri lizards, Kane shouted, in mando'a, "through victory, my chains are broken! The Force shall free me!"
Aghast, everyone who looked at him stepped back with their eyes widened as over a dozen Death Watchmen were knocked back by a wave of Force energy from a repulse.
"Holy shit!" exclaimed several onlookers.
The young Force adept's eyes burnt yellow as he telekinetically pulled Notimo away from the Togruta whilst simultaneously summoning the darksaber to his hand and freeing her from her bonds.
Then he blocked a series of attacks from Notimo's vibrosword as the bastard attacked.
Everyone looked in shock as the kid faced off against Notimo, without using the Force to aid him, parrying each strike and slash before disarming him, then knocking him onto his back.
Surprised but relieved, the Togruta, who was more than she seemed, thought, "How is the Force so strong with this little boy? Wait, those eyes… a Sith Lord? How young are they getting?"
Pointing the blade at Notimo, Kane growled, "Keep your filthy hands to yourself."
Chop'aa scoffed at the little brat, "She's a tail-head, it doesn't matter if she consents or not."
"That's 'Togruta,' and it does matter."
"Her kind will be grovelling at the feet of our kind when we conquer the galaxy.
When Mandalorians reign supreme."
Between vicious strikes, the foundling bluntly asked, "Do you mean Mandalorian supremacy? Or human supremacy?
There's a difference. And you are no Mandalorian."
Most of the present company was quite curious to know the answer.
As Kane stabbed Notimo between the legs and cut off his hands, onlookers gasped, "Ouch!"
"That's for trying to force yourself onto someone!" growled the young Force adept, "and this is for torturing me!" as he cast electric judgement, and slashed across his face, blinding him in his right eye, invaded and tore apart his mind with the Force, then held aloft the blade.
One of the Death Watchmen encouraged, "Finish him, kid! Kill the bastard!"
Lowering the blade after a deep breath as his eyes returned to their natural blue, Kane/Galen kicked Notimo in the face, knocking him out.
Holding a blaster to the Togruta's head, Tor said, "Give me the sword, or she dies."
Not willing to let innocence die, Kane replied, "If you let her go, and leave her, and the other prisoners, unharmed and undefiled, I'll give it back.
But if you double-cross me, you're dead.
And by 'you,' I mean Death Watch.
You know I'm not bluffing, since you took me for my powers."
Holstering his gun, and releasing the Togruta, Vizsla stepped towards the boy, "Now, the sword."
Reluctantly handing it back, Kane muttered, "Kriffing hut'uun,"
"You are disgustingly noble. You would give up that sword to save one life?"
"Unlike you, I value the lives of others more than I value power. I have honour,"
One of the scum groaned, "Oh, God, he's like a mini Jaster."
The mini Mando vowed, "One day, I'll bring you to justice, Vizsla.
I will reclaim that sword, but I'll do it fair and square."
Tor sneered, "Over my dead body."
"That's the plan. I will kill you."
Approaching the Togruta, Kane asked, "Are you ok, Ms?"
Finding herself hugging the small boy, she gratefully replied, "Thanks to you, young Master.
I am in your debt, my gallant Mandalorian." and kissed his cheek.
As his psychometry triggered, Kane learned who she was, but didn't care, whilst he returned the hug.
Galen/Kane firmly said, "If anyone tries the same stunt Notimo did, they're dead.
And for now, she'll be rooming with me.
If anyone has a problem with that, I don't care,"
In disbelief, one of the scum asked, "Isn't he our slave? Why's he acting like he's in charge?"
Bo-Katan replied, "More like a reluctant recruit. As his handler, I'll allow it.
And I think I'll see what happens when he has his own room."
The Togruta thought, "He's certainly very protective of others.
And he's the spitting image of an old friend.
But why would he want me rooming with him?"
Towering over the boy, Vizsla scolded, "You do not tell your Masters what to do, boy. You do not make demands. And you do not steal from us."
"You're not my Masters!" responded Kane who parried a punch from Vizsla and punched his face, breaking his nose.
Getting between the barbarian and the child, Rook mentioned, "He may still be suffering psychological side effects from all the torture Notimo put him through, and from the strangely failed attempts at conditioning."
Interjecting before anything else happened, Bo-Katan ordered, "Kid, get over here!"
Walking over to Kryze, Kane was about to open his mouth when she spanked him, "What was that for?"
"You didn't finish your enemy."
"He was already finished."
"You didn't kill him."
"I won't strike him down, not yet."
"How noble." scoffed a gruff voice.
Turning to see who'd spoken, Kane clenched a fist, "Montross, you traitor! It was you, wasn't it?
You and your new friends set ner aliit up, on Galidraan, didn't you?
You helped them trick the Jetii, didn't you?"
"I did, and you know what? I liked seeing Jaster die.
Too bad they didn't kill Jango too." taunted Montross who asked, "What was your name, again?"
"I am Kane Fett, of aliit Fett. And you will face justice for what you've done."
"Not likely, I'm shipping out."
"Go on then. Run like the pathetic coward you are," scoffed the boy who vowed, "I will hunt you down, I will find you, and I will kill you."
Montross scoffed, "Dream on, k- agh, uh," and gasped for breath as the boy choked him with the Force.
"Be careful not to choke on your hubris, hut'uun." quipped Kane who released his grip.
Later.
Interior: Dxun, Death Watch base, Kane's room, evening.
Entering an average sized but dull room, Kane and the Togruta saw there was only one bed, plain black sheets and a blanket.
A few simple belongings were on a table near a barred window.
Nervous, she asked, "Master, did you only save me earlier because you wanted me for yourself?"
After blinking, he replied, "I don't think I'm old enough for that question, cyar'ika."
"If I may ask, Master, why am I still naked?"
"As far as I know, there were no spare clothes to give you.
Not that they'd give you any, anyway without any degrading or humiliating form of a trade.
Or at least no clothes that'd both fit and cover the private part."
She knew he was telling the truth before they lay on the bed.
"Private part?" she asked.
"Between the legs is the only real private part." innocently answered the kid, "others are just considered private by people taught to believe it is.
And by societal double standards like what's worn or not worn above the belt by who or what."
"That's true… Master, will you hold me while I sleep?" innocently asked the Togruta, "After what almost happened, earlier, I'll surely have nightmares about it."
"I get nightmares too, so that sounds like a good idea." replied Kane, "also, you're as mesh'la as an Angel."
Blushing, she thought, "This has been a strange complication in my mission.
He has a Jedi's heart, but was he tapping into the dark side?"
"What was it you were reciting earlier?" inquired the Togruta.
"I heard it was a variant of the Jetii code.
I'll say it in Galactic basic for you.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me."
The Togruta felt internally worried.
He chuckled, "I took some parts quite literally."
"I saw… impressive, and quite frightening.
Who are you? I mean really."
"I took the name Kane Fett on the day the Death Watch abducted me.
They tricked the Jetii into murdering my aliit.
My birth name is Galen Marek. Son of Kento Marek and Mallie Qel-Droma."
The Togruta's suspicions were confirmed, "I'm Shaak Ti."
"I'll keep your secret. And if we meet again after getting out of this place, I hope it's as friends."
"Come to the temple on Coruscant, sometime."
As she entered with some clothes, Bo-Katan handed them to Ti, "Here, these should fit."
Elsewhere.
Interior: Moon of Bogden, outpost.
As he met with a client, Jango said, "Help me get my boy back, then we'll talk more about the job, Jedi."
Sifo-Dyas nodded, "Very well, Jango."
A few weeks later.
Interior: Dxun, forest, beskar tomb, mid-morning.
After yet another escape from the ancient Mando outpost, Galen/Kane, single-handedly killed several of the predatory fauna, then came to visit what his captors dismissed as an imaginary friend of a kid going insane.
As he manifested a spectral form, the spirit of a human male in strange armour said, "Now you see me again, my boy. We are once more face to face."
Sitting down, Kane smiled, "You've been really nice to me, and taught me lots of stuff. But who are you?"
The spirit answered, "In life, my name was Freedon Nadd . I was once amongst the most promising Jedi in the Order, but my destiny lay elsewhere."
"Elsewhere?"
"In what I now realise was my greatest mistake and failure, I allowed myself to fall from the light.
I was blinded by arrogance, hubris, thirst for knowledge, and desperation for approval." said a regretful Nadd, "I was consumed by my anger, and my lust for power.
And a desperation to prove myself.
I even struck down my Master out of anger.
We lacked what everyone else had: a connection."
"Why?" asked Galen/Kane.
"Nothing was good enough for her.
She never wanted any Padawan throughout my entire apprenticeship.
And she made that brutally clear, every day. She'd say I wasn't worth her time.
My lack of connection with my Master, my hatred, and my anger sent me down the wrong path."
"What path?"
"The path of a Dark Jedi, then the path of a Sith."
"It's not too late for you," optimistically said the boy, "the fact that you're remorseful is proof of that.
There's still good in you. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate."
Changing the subject, Nadd asked, "How did you interpret the variant of the code I taught you?"
Kane recited, "Peace of mind is a lie. There is only the burning fires of passion and love in the heart.
Through the passions and love I feel for those I care for, I gain my strength.
Through the strength I gain from not being alone, I gain the power to endure.
Through power of will, I gain victory.
Through victory over my demons, my chains of guilt and sorrow are broken.
As its light guides me through the darkness, The Force shall free me."
"That is very good, my young friend. I have a gift for you, my boy," said Freedon Nadd as he levitated two objects in front of the child.
Holding a shoto lightsaber, the little boy ignited a bronze blade, "Wow, this is so cool!" before his psychometry was triggered, teaching him the entire history of the saber.
"Ah, to be young and amazed by the simplest things." laughed the spirit of Nadd who praised the boy, "If we'd met in my life, and I had remained a Jedi, you'd have been my prized pupil."
"Speaking of: you could make peace with all you've done, and let go of your guilt.
Ask forgiveness for your deeds.
The fact that you're sorry for what you've done proves there's still light in you."
"You believe I could be saved?"
"It is the will of the Force." replied Galen.
As the boy sensed a lightness in the Force, Dxun's moon and the spirit's tomb were purified and cleansed.
Feeling something he hadn't in several millennia, Nadd said, "I- I see a light. I can feel it again. Thank you." and disappeared.
Later that day.
Exterior: Dxun, forest, Death Watch base, Mando outpost, afternoon.
Kane was brought back to the stronghold, in Force dampening binders and a collar, by Bo-Katan, who was carrying him over her shoulder, and a hunting party.
He'd previously escaped into the jungle.
Not just to spite his captors, but to teach himself survival skills, and see how long it'd take their scouts to find him.
That, and he'd learnt to connect with most of the wildlife.
This time when the scouting party found him, he was a few clicks away from the tomb, and he'd slain a few beasts to rescue them from an ambush.
"I'll give you credit, you're very persistent, crafty, and surprisingly skilled, kiddo.
The beasts seem to like you, and that's really creepy since we're on the 'Demon Moon,' of Onderon."
"The ghost let me into his temple. You know the one made of beskar?" asked Kane.
"The voice in your head, again? You're losing it, you little Tarzan.
Can't say I blame you. But you're going insane."
"I've seen him, he's not just a voice in ner head.
He's strong with te Force… and he's very wise.
He was helping me learn to control my powers."
"And does he have a name?" asked Ursa.
"Freedon Nadd." answered the boy before the hunting party looked at each other, some with looks of horror behind their helmets.
"Sorry to break it to you, but that was a tomb, and he's bad news."
"So is Death Watch."
"No, he's much worse.
He's a Sith Lord who ruled Onderon with an iron fist using his dark magic."
"He sure didn't act like one, and he was sorry for his actions."
"Moving on: you did well finding food and a fresh water supply. You're creative but naïve.
I'll let you keep the lightsaber you found, and let your little excursion go unpunished."
"Thank you,"
"'Thank you, what? Say it, you sneaky little womp rat.
You know you'll be in trouble if you don't address me properly."
In refusal, the boy quoted, "Dobby has no masters, Dobby is a free Elf!" earning some strange looks and snickers from the hunting party.
"Is saying it really so hard, little one?"
"I'm not saying it, so don't ever expect me to," said Kane/Galen as he freed himself from the cuffs and collar.
"Fine, I'll let it slide."
Galen/Kane looked at Bo-Katan, "You, Ursa, and your loyalists could leave Death Watch behind, and come with me to help find my Buir.
You're better than this, I know it.
Be Mandalorian, not Death Watch. Reclaim your honour."
Kryze and Wren got back to the base where the kid was securely locked away from the other prisoners.
A couple of months later.
Exterior: Dxun, death watch base, courtyard, evening.
As his hologram appeared via holo-projector, Jango strongly said, "Tor Vizsla… you have something I want.
You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of… but you do not.
Soon… he will be back with me. He means more to me than you will ever know."
The next day.
Exterior: Dxun, death watch base, early morning.
Stealthily infiltrating the base and disabling security droids, mines, turrets and anti-air cannons, jamming their transmissions, and setting the munitions and ships to blow, Aurra quietly took out the sentries and found the cell block.
As she quietly freed and armed the prisoners, Aurra found Galen.
Then Death Watch found themselves besieged by a division of Mandalorians, several mercenaries, and their own prisoners.
Galen put his new lightsaber to good use deflecting blaster bolts whilst the Mandalorians covered their escape.
As Tor went to cut down Fennec who'd tripped backwards, Galen intervened, blocking with his bronze blade before launching him back with lightning, then helped up his friend.
Knowing everyone was outside the base, but safe from the creatures, Marek aided the Mandos as they got the prisoners to safety.
Later.
Interior: Concord Dawn, Protectors HQ, evening.
After all the former prisoners had been provided with medical attention, food, drink and shelter.
Speaking to Jango, a medic informed, "20% of his body's covered in scar tissue, and x-rays show at least twelve fractures that haven't properly healed.
He's barely said anything since his extraction. And he's barely eaten.
You'd best take it slow with him."
"Understood."
Galen and Jango were reunited.
After a silent hour just to process he'd been rescued, tears ran down Galen's face.
Hugging Jango tightly, Galen softly said, "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Buir."
Hugging him back, Jango returned, "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum too, lil 'un.
You're safe now… you're safe. I've got you, son."
"To protect myself, I took another name while in captivity," said Galen.
"What was it?"
"Kane Fett."
"That's a good, strong name. Sticking with it?"
"Maybe I can use it when I'm a mercenary like you." said Galen, with a keen smile.
After he and the now former prisoners told their saviours about everything that happened, Jango proudly said to his son, "You were very brave, lil 'un.
In fact, you've earned your first suit of armour."
Galen's eyes lit up and he began floating in the air, "Woah!" and began ascending then descending as he figured it out.
"Buir, look! I'm flying!" exclaimed Galen as he began flying around the camp, to people's surprise and amusement.
"Ok, come back down here, Peter Pan!" called Jango before the foundling landed on his feet.
Galen wondered, "Hey, Buir, where did all these Mandos come from?
I thought we were the only ones left."
A familiar Mando, in green and blue armour, answered, "Not the only ones."
"Ba'vodu Silas!" called out Galen as he tightly hugged his surrogate uncle, "also, who are these other Mandos?"
"They're another group of Mandalorians: the Journeyman Protectors." explained Silas, "Jaster was one before becoming Mand'alor."
"Do they do what Jetii are meant to do, Mando style?"
"That's one way to put it." answered a young man with fair skin, blue eyes, and red hair.
Galen greeted, "Su'cuy, what's your name?"
"Fenn Rau at your service, little one,"
"My birth name is Galen Marek.
But as a Mandalorian, I am Kane Fett."
"After the stories I've just heard about you and what I saw you do with my own eyes, I'd say you could make a fine Protector someday.
When you're of age, of course."
"Thanks. Two nice ladies from Kyr'tsad, of all things, told me I had the potential to be Mand'alor."
Every Mando within earshot was fascinated.
"Did they have names?"
"Bo-Katan Kryze and Ursa Wren.
I tried convincing them to leave Death Watch, and to come with me."
"That was a noble gesture."
"Mr Rau, sir, can Buir, Ba'vodu and I stay here? At least until we figure something out?"
"By all means, young one."
"Thank you… Do you know anyone who can teach me to control my powers?
I'm strong with the Force… The Jetii magic."
Overhearing, a blind monk said, "Head to the planet Tython. There, you'll find the ruins of an ancient Jedi temple atop a mountain.
Sit upon the seeing stone.
If you reach out through the Force, it's possible that a Jedi will sense your presence, and come looking for you.
Or perhaps you'll be drawn to one whose presence you sense."
Aurra inquired, "You seem to know a lot about the Jedi. Who are you?"
"I'm Chirrut Imwe, one of the Guardians of the Whills.
I am not a Jedi, but I strongly believe in the Force.
I'm a protector of the Kyber temple of Jheda City."
Galen nodded, "I guess it's worth a shot… but I think I need time."
"You have a strong heart, young one.
The strongest stars have hearts of Kyber." said Chirrut, "May the Force be with you, always."
"You know some things about the Force.
Can you help me use it to process what happened?"
"I can try."
Aurra chuckled, "Jedi say there is no try."
Turning to Jango, Galen looked vengeful, "Montross is mine to kill.
He betrayed us by siding with the enemy, and I vowed to kill him."
"Fair enough."
Later.
Exterior: space.
As Galen suddenly pulled Slave 1 out of hyperspace, Jango, Silas and Aurra saw a beat-up freighter adrift.
Interior: Slave 1, cockpit.
Turning to his adoptive dad, Marek asked, "Buir, can we check it out?
There might be people onboard who need our help."
Checking the scanners, Silas's eyes widened, "The markings and model identify it as the Ebon Hawk.
That's the ship Mand'alor the Preserver used during the Jedi Civil War."
Having an idea, Marek asked, "Can we take it home, and have it fixed for us?"
"Sounds like a plan."
A week or so later.
Exterior: Tython, temple ruins, mid-day.
Landing Slave 1 in a clearing near the bottom of yet another ancient structure, Galen, Silas, Jango and Aurra disembarked.
Whilst exploring all over the planet, Galen asked, "Aurra, do you feel it too? The Force's super strong here."
"Which is why most of the architecture is Jedi temples, enclaves, libraries and sanctuaries.
If I recall, Tython is the Jedi Order's birthplace," replied Aurra, "In other words: sacred place, mind the language and be on your best behaviour."
As they reached the top of the mountain to see some large carven stone obelisks in a circle, they saw a large, smooth, dome-shaped stone, in the centre, with runes written around the bottom.
Sitting down upon the stone with his legs crossed, Galen closed his eyes and began to meditate, creating a large cylindrical barrier of Force energy, causing his companions to back away.
Elsewhere in the galaxy.
Multiple Jedi felt a disturbance, but were unsure how to respond.
Exterior: Rattatak, city, afternoon.
Whilst fending off some Death Watch marauders alongside his apprentice, Ky Narec sensed a presence in the Force, distracting him for only a second, when a wounded Tor Vizsla struck him down.
Rushing to her Jedi Master's side, a very young Dathomiri girl, hardly any older than Galen, with short blonde hair and ice-blue eyes screamed, "Master!" before taking up his saber and furiously attacking the bastards who retreated.
Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, meditation chamber.
Sensing an extremely powerful presence, Yoda, Aayla Secura, Shaak Ti and Luminara Unduli opened their eyes.
"What was that?" asked Luminara, a little concerned.
Yoda answered, "An awakening, there has been."
Shaak Ti felt the presence was familiar, "It's the boy…"
"Boy? What boy?" asked Unduli, curious.
"The Force adept I met on Dxun. The son of Kento and Mallie."
Secura smiled, "His presence feels so warm and full of life.
There's so much light… it's like a little star shining bright."
"Mandalorian, was he not? Hmmm? The boy from the report on Galidraan, he must be."
Interior: Naboo, Trade Federation control ship, dining room.
Lowering his hood, Obi-Wan Kenobi said, "I have a bad feeling about this."
"I don't sense anything," replied Qui-Gon Jinn.
"It's not about the mission, Master. It's something… elsewhere… elusive."
Exterior: Tatooine, Mos Espa, Akim's Munch.
A Kiffar male abruptly opened his hazel eyes.
Interior: Cloud city, cantina, Vapour room.
Suddenly waking up from being passed out drunk at his table, Rahm Kota sensed something and muttered, "Huh? What the kriff?"
Exterior: Tython, Jedi temple.
As the seeing stone finished, Galen breathed heavily in exhaustion before passing out.
Jango turned to Aurra, "So, do we just wait, now?"
"Yes." replied Sing.
Mando'a translations:
(Mand'alor - sole ruler of the Mandalorians.)
(Jetii - Jedi.)
(Ni kar'tayl gai sa'ad = I know your name as my child: The Mandalorian adoption vow.)
(Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum - I love you.)
(Jate - good.)
(Jatnese be te jatnese - the best of the best.)
(Mandokarla - you've got the right stuff.)
(Dha'Kad - Darksaber.)
(Ba'buir - grandparent.)
(Buir - father/mother.)
(Ba'vodu - uncle/aunt.)
(vod - brother/sister.)
(Ner aliit - my clan/family.)
(Su'cuy - hello.)
(Cuyir - is.)
(Cyar'ika - darling/sweetheart.)
(Aruetii - outsider, traitor.)
(Hut'uun - coward.)
(Kyr'tsad - Death Watch.)
(Dar'manda - Not Mandalorian. Soulless and with neither heritage nor identity.)
(Cuyanir - survive.)
(Gar - you/your.)
(Ni - I/me.)
(Ni 'cuy nayc Jetii - I am no Jedi.)
(Mando'ad - Child of Mandalore.)
(Mando'ade - Children of Mandalore.)
(Mesh'la - beautiful.)