-I'm back! Thanks for the review, Mira-Jade. Anyway, enjoy! I've had this chapter in mind ever since I started this fic, and its probably going to be the second-to-last one. Short fic, I know. But it's good, so please review. Read on!-SF12

Mustafar. It was a planet where countless evil had occurred. The battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, the base planet for the Separatists, and the events that led to Padme Amidala Naberrie's death. Gizor Delso, the last Separatist, had died defying the Empire on Mustafar, though it was probably for his own benefit. Whether for good or for evil, a great deal of blood had been shed on Mustafar, and Teron and Besko wanted nothing to do with it.

They had to go there anyway.

The Faith descended on a landing platform, right next to a small cruiser, assumedly Etarn's. Teron scanned the other ports above the lava, and found that none of them seemed to be in use. He then looked at the old droid factory on his own platform, and found what he was looking for. The few windows were full of light, and the faint sound of machinery leaked through the thick durasteel walls. This was it.

Besko and Teron started toward the factory, and, as if on cue, Etarn rocketed out of the building. Bracing themselves for a fight, The Jedi raced forward.

Teron swung his blade as the hunter landed, but Etarn managed to duck under the slash. He tossed a thermal detonator at Besko, who was knocked off his feet, but lived. Drawing a vibroblade, the Teevan engaged Teron in combat. The red blade stabbed and parried, matching the blue lightsaber clash by clash.

Besko eventually managed to get from his place on the ground. After checking for serious injury, and finding none, he raced back to the battle. The hunter tried his best, but, once again, became apparent that two Jedi were more than a match for him. So he resorted to one of the dangerous tricks he kept up his sleeve.

In an event eerily similar to one that occurred in the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Etarn simply turned in battle, and expertly threw his vibroblade at Besko. Even Teron or Besko, who were skilled Jedi, could not stop it at this rate. Besko dropped like a stone.

Teron let out a yell of pain and sadness at this. Etarn took this opportunity to kick the Jedi Knight onto his back. As he fell, his lightsaber slashed through his shoulder, ever so slightly, as his grip lessened.

Etarn grinned. In thirty seconds, he had immobilized one opponent, and would kill the other now. He had finally managed to defeat this certain two, who were particularly hard to kill. Drawing a repeater from his belt, the bounty hunter prepared to end the life of Teron Kenobi.

Teron's own thoughts were of Besko. The boy was alive, if barely. The living Force in him was ebbing, and he needed help. Teron could live, move…the wounds weren't that bad. But Besko required medical attention…and he needed it soon. Otherwise, the most promising Jedi apprentice Teron had ever seen would never get a chance to become a Knight.

Seeing the blaster looming above him, Teron realized he was probably going to die. He braced himself, and closed his eyes, drawing the Force around him…and blaster fire erupted.

Teron stiffened-but no pain came, except for what had already been inflicted. He opened his eyes, and saw Etarn trying in vain to dodge blaster bolts coming from an overhead ship. Teron knew that ship. He grinned broadly. Drell Laserfire.

Etarn fell and did not get up. The bolts had hit him one too many times, and he was never going to get up again.

Feeling some strength start to flow, thanks to a new ray of hope, Teron rose. The starship landed and Drell rushed out, Jet and Lieda following closely.

"Teron! Are you all right?" Drell asked worriedly, looking his friend over.

"I'm-ouch…okay. Besko needs real help, though. Worry about him!"

Lieda nodded and hurried toward the apprentice. Teron looked confusedly at the trio, before asking, "Erm…Just why did you come here?"

Drell gave a passionate smile. "I may not have that great Force thingy like you do, but I knew you were in danger. I found where you left from, and some reports there told me you were headed for Mustafar. Lieda and Jet agreed to come with me." He shot the two a glance of thanks, though Teron noticed, with amusement, that his eyes lingered the most on Lieda.

"And Minorto?" Teron questioned dryly.

"Eh, well, if you can believe it, he wanted to come. But he has the largest price on his head imaginable in these parts. Something about a Hutt crime lord dying-go figure. So we made him stay behind."

The chuckle Teron was planning caught and died in his throat as he turned to Besko. His Padawan looked so still, his breathing very shallow. His living force was hanging in there…but not for long.

"We have to leave-get to the closest planet that won't shoot us upon landing. Besko needs help." Lieda nodded her agreement and Teron hoisted the boy into his arms. He was surprisingly light…it scared the Jedi Knight.

"No one is leaving here alive." A deep voice, full of malice and contempt, rumbled.

Everyone spun around and the bounty hunters all drew weapons. Lieda gasped and Drell gave a surprised yelp. At least one hundred battle droids had assembled behind them, led by a tall man with a gray beard.

The man laughed. "So this is what I'm up against. A wounded Jedi Padawan, and three bounty hunters? Oh and Master Kenobi-I'm so afraid. And I thought I'd be in trouble. Heh."

Teron ground his teeth in annoyance. The man saw this and laughed again.

"Do you perhaps want to know my story before you die? Well, whether you do or not, I'll tell you."

"I was enlisted in the Imperial Army toward the end of the war. Or rather, I was forced to enter. I was a good gunner on a planet that was quickly losing Imperial control, and I was quickly grabbed and put in the army, despite the fact that I wasn't a clone. I learned the Imperial way, and liked it. The Empire proved to have too many flaws, however, and lost control of the entire galaxy to that pitiful Rebellion. I believe your great-uncle had something to do with that, Kenobi. After a while, I realized their flaw. They relied on humans-clones! Droids may not be as efficient, but they are easily manufactured, while soldiers must be trained. So I decided to try a theory. I have made all these droids out of recycled metals, and many more. I plan to retake the Republic in the name of a new Empire! I will win where so many have failed-Admiral Thrawn, Brakiss, and others. But, I, Kannden, will win! Others tried to stop my plan-Hiar, Ven, Cobral…but I got rid of most of them, and the Seers will lie low for now, thinking I'm after all of them! Their best members failed! But I will not fail in my task!"

Teron flashed a look at Drell. This didn't look good, but maybe the old man had forgot about them in his endless tirade about how triumphant his victory would be.

Fate had another idea, however.

"Oh and as for you…I've come up with a little contest. Let's see what happens when you take three bounty hunters, a Jedi with minor injuries, and one that's unconscious and make them fight, oh, I don't know…half of these droids? That's about fifty."

Teron groaned. Great. Just perfect. Now they were dead for sure. Unless… A plan formed in his mind as Kannden continued.

"I'll give you five minutes to plan and prepare, since I'm so generous. Then, I shall take fifty of my droids and watch from my transport ship."

"You're deranged, Imperial!" Jet spat. The old man shrugged and said "Four minutes, then."

The group formed a tight circle, and Drell addressed the others. "I don't suppose any of you have a brilliant, award-winning plan? Because otherwise, we're bantha fodder."

Teron cleared his throat. "It's not going to win any awards, but I've got an idea.

Glancing at the droids, Drell turned to the Jedi Knight. "It'll have to do."

-Second to last chapter, the last one will come soon. Epilogue-maybe. I might just cram it all into the last chapter. Depends. Review, and I'll fulfill a bribe. MAYbe.-SF12