Allia watched Master Orgus carefully. He hadn't tried anything since he'd been captured, and that made her nervous. The flesh raiders with Bengel Morr growled again. More of their Force sensitive kin had been killed. War leaders must have died with them. They were the best the flesh raiders had, and they were nothing to the Jedi.

"Relax, girl," Bengel said. "They're not enough for us."

He kept saying that, but Allia wasn't sure.

"I don't like this Nalen," she said. "They're Onoka."

Bengel Morr sighed. "Every race in the Republic has a family like the Onoka. It doesn't make them special. The last Onoka Jedi died at the Sacking of Coruscant."

"After he killed eight Sith Lords," Orgus said.

Bengel glared at his former master.

"Don't worry, Allia," Nalen said. "With Master Bengel's skill and my new power, they don't stand a chance."

Allia smiled and nodded, but she would have felt better if they're hostage looked nervous.

"Keth," Nalen said. "How close are they?"

Keth started climbing a boulder.

"Don't bother," Bengel said. "One of them is nearly here. The other..." He listened. "The other has circled around and gone to the Forge."

"It's the female," Nalen said. "I know it. I can feel it. She's trying to build a lightsaber. We have to stop her."

Orgus looked away to hide his reaction.

"Go," Bengel said. "I don't need your help with one Padawan."

After the three Twi'lek left, Orgus said, "Your new apprentice will be very disappointed with you when he finds out."

Bengel said, "He'll be more receptive after the affects of the Fount have stabilized." He turned his head sharply, then pushed Master Orgus into a boulder, knocking him out. "I sensed you coming." He turned toward the Padawan , and the flesh raiders drew their weapons. "Your fear betrayed you. You're weak, like my old Master. You will fall. With him. The will of the Force guided me here for justice, to restore what the Jedi lost."

"Spare me the speeches," Agenord said.

"You don't understand," Bengel said. "You weren't on Coruscant. You never saw our greatest cut down or watched the temple burn. I escaped that destruction to see my own Master surrender to the Sith. They exterminated us, and he gave up."

"That's why you brought Master Orgus here? To make him pay?"

"One death changes nothing," Bengel said. "The weak will be sacrificed here, and the Jedi Order will be reborn from ashes."

"Enough," Agenord said, igniting his saber. "I'm here to end you."

Bengel's saber snapped to life. "So be it." He and the flesh raiders attacked.


"They approach," Qyzen said.

"I know," Yvisnusiish replied. She picked through the crystals, looking for two undamaged lenses. "Something will stop them."

"Fitting that it's you!" Nalen yelled from the base of the Forge. "Armed with the last lightsaber this Forge will ever make!"

"He's really annoying," Yvie said as she cleaned two blue lenses.

"I know Rajivari's secrets!" He called out. "Horrors that the Jedi have been chasing! And only I can protect us, our families and our- aahh!"

Three manka cats attacked Nalen and his companions. Keth and Allia fired on them. Keth missed, but Allia managed to kill one. The other two manka moved in cautiously. Nalen drew his vibrosword, hoping the sparks from the blade would scare the creatures.

"Told you," Yvie said to Qyzen. She inserted the lenses in her lightsaber, sealed it, and started the diagnostic program.

"Perhaps a test is not wise," Qyzen said.

"It'll be fine."

Allia and Keth fired again. The manka cats lept away, dodging the bolts, but continued stalking the Twi'lek. After a bit of yelling and gunfire, the green light on Yvie's saber blinked three times. She switched it into active mode, turned, and ran from the Forge. Halfway down the steps, she jumped at one of the manka cats, ignited her saber in the air, and plunged the blade into the animal's skull. The other cat leapt at her, but she pushed it with the Force, and it flew off the edge of the cliff. She turned and attacked Nalen, while his companions watched in shock. The new lightsaber felt right in Yvie's hands, powerful, what she deserved. She smiled at the fear in Nalen's eyes. He wasn't bad, she had to admit that, but he was a pilgrim with a vibrosword. He didn't stand a chance. She beat him back, weakened him with a few quick wounds, and knocked the sword from his hands. He dropped to the ground in front of her, his life, his death, completely in her hands. She smiled again while she considered his fate.


Agenord killed the two flesh raiders quickly, disappointed that he had to. Their deaths were Bengel's fault. But, he didn't let the regret slow him. Bengel was strong and experienced, and not afraid to use the Dark Side. He was Agenord's first genuine challenge since that day. Normally, Agenord would hold back a little to learn from his opponent, but he couldn't this time. Defeating Bengel took Agenord's best. Bengel got close to victory more than once, but, finally, Agenord twisted Bengel's saber from his hands and knocked him to the ground.

"You've won," Bengel said. "Why has the Force guided me to this defeat?"

"You guided yourself to this path," Agenord said.

"You're stronger than any Jedi I've known. You could redeem the order and destroy the Sith."

"The Order doesn't need to be redeemed," Agenord replied.

"I understand," Bengel said. "You are the weapon I came to forge. Think-how else could you have beaten me?"

"I spent five years with the Battlemasters, and I train a lot."

Bengel shook his head. "Don't deny the truth. I have spent a lifetime learning the paths to power. That knowledge is now yours. Let me leave Tython and prepare the galaxy for your ascendance. I will deliver the gifts you need to claim your destiny."

Agenord thought for a moment, then struck Bengel with the pommel of his saber. "Sorry, not today."

"Well done, Padawan," Orgus said in a weak voice.

"How long have you been awake?" Agenord cut the bindings on Orgus's hands.

"Not long," Orgus said. "What did Bengel say at the end?"

"Nothing of importance."

Orgus stood slowly. "Your cousin will need our help."

A manka cat howled as it fell into the ravine.

"She'll be fine," Agenord said.

Orgus looked down at Bengel. "You've done a great thing. He deserves a second chance. The horrors he witnessed on Coruscant broke him-destroyed the gentle Padawan I trained. You, however, faced a challenge beyond any trial I could assign. There's nothing more I can teach you."

"Thank you, Master," Agenord replied.

"I sense some doubt in you, Agenord. Did Bengel's words reach you?"

"No, Master, of course not. I disobeyed the Jedi Code. I know Jedi aren't allowed to form attachments, but... something happened with Ranna."

"I'm proud of you for admitting the mistake," Orgus said. "A lesser Padawan would've kept it a secret. Whatever feelings you have for that girl, bury them now. If you don't, they'll only bring you suffering."

"I understand, Master."

"Teeseven, watch over Bengel." Orgus took the Nautolan's lightsaber. "We must see what's happened to Padawan Yvisnusiish."


"Surrender. Please," Yvie said to Nalen.

"I'd forgotten... the smell of my own blood. I... I yield."

"Please," Allia said. "You're not going to kill him?"

"I won't kill him," Yvie said. "He can go to the Jedi Temple until his fate is decided."

"But we still lose him," Keth said. "The village needs Nalen's help. How are we going to keep it together?"

"Have hope. Kalikori village is greater than one man," Yvie told him. "You must find your own strength."

"Yes," Allia said. "We will."

"Well said, Padawan," Orgus said, climbing up the path.

"It's good to see you alive, Master Orgus," Yvie said.

"Yes," Allia and Keth echoed.

"And, Bengel Morr?" Yvie asked.

"In custody," Agenord said.

"And, the village?" Nalen asked.

"Safe for now," Agenord replied. "The flesh raiders are focused on the Jedi Temple."

"How can we help?" Keth asked.

Agenord told him, "Their army is held together by their war leaders and the Force sensitives Bengel Morr trained. Stop them, and the army will lose cohesion."

"We'll help," Allia said.

"All of us," Nalen added.

"Let's go," Orgus said. "The Jedi need us."

"Small hunter," Qyzen said to Yvie. "When our battle is ended, we must talk. Scorekeeper has seen. Chosen for greatest honor."

"Of course, Qyzen."

The others started down, but Yvie held back a bit with Agenord.

"What do you think of that?" she said.

"It was a very nice speech," he replied.

"I paid attention in class," she said. "My grades were always really good. I even learned my vows."

"I already told Master Orgus."

"Oh," she said with a sigh. "Fine. Well, I have my lightsaber now. Let's kill some flesh raiders."