Being sick has some advantages - I can do a lot of reading and writing. Yes, more dialog! I think I'm getting the hang of it. Yes, I had a little diversion into '24', but I'm back now.

Bishop Takes Knight

Malachor V – The City of Serphants – Late Afternoon

The Mandalorian star shined brightly in the sky as Jedi Knight Seja wandered back to the Serphants hold. Basilisk droids hummed overhead as the warriors prepared for Revan's arrival. Squat buildings lined the avenue that the Jedi traversed with little street traffic flowing along the city's arteries.

Seja grit his teeth against the knowledge that he would have to slay Serphants – Revan had commanded it and he would not fail her. His reputation as the Mandalorian Slayer had been solidified on unwavering dedication to duty in her name.

But what of Callista?

She was suppose to have been a mere dalliance, a means to an end, or, as his compatriot liked to say, a Tie Breaking Pazaak Card. Initially, she was just that – a conduit of intelligence for Revan. Desperate for attention from her warrior husband, Lord Vako, Callista proved to be easy prey for the trained operative.

If only it had remained so.

Nothing had prepared Seja for the quiet, intelligent strength that surrounded this woman. Surely, the Jedi training he had received on Dantooine from his master was woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the flesh…or the heart.

Revan's formation of a professional intelligence service only created a false sense of security around his soul, giving him the ruthlessness to carry out his mission, but not the experience or wisdom to understand why. Now, his heart beat only for her and he had not the will to defy it.

The cruel dominion of Revan's ambition had shattered the strange equilibrium that Seja had achieved in the Serphants Clan. He knew it would have to end, but could he not prolong it another day?

He hissed out a long breath, lengthening his strides until he came to the fortress of his sponsor. There, the sentries allowed him entry amid the buzz of battle droids and the clang of steel in the courtyard. He walked purposefully toward the quarters of the bodyguards…toward Callista.

Seja's heart beat to a quicker pace as he approached. Something gnawed at his gut, but his mind doused all debate. Something was different today.

Where is the serving girl, Mira?

The undercover Jedi pushed the door open to find Callista gazing out into the courtyard. He breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned upon hearing his entry and her face spoke volumes. He knew he had to get her out of here – off of this doomed planet. Callista quickly glanced around to ensure all was safe and they rushed together.

The intensity of the embrace was maddening to the slayer and he gripped her tightly. Through clenched teeth, he whispered, "This war…we must get away. I know a way out…for both of us."

She pushed him back to look into his eyes. "How is that possible? We cannot just leave. Your pledge to the clan? What of that?"

Seja hesitated for a moment and Callista knew there was more to him than met the eye. She had come to understand his moods, his thoughts.

"There is more to this tale of mine," he began.

She put a hand to his mouth. "No…no, I don't want to know. I don't care. I only want what we have to never end. Why must Revan come? Why must she destroy what we have?"

The Jedi didn't speak. Instead, he just inhaled the fragrance of her skin, letting her essence imprint itself in his mind. Finally, he spoke, "You know why she comes. It is for the greater good."

The hard reality of impending Mandalorian defeat overcame Callista's defiance and she nodded silently. Taking Seja's hand, she led him to the door, but two armored Mandalorians stepped in, brandishing vibrodaggers, points downward.

Seja stopped, surprised. "What is the meaning of this? I am a friend to Serphants himself. Stand aside."

Vako stepped in before the startled pair, armored to the neck, his face twisted in a scowl. Callista gasped. Vako too, held his vibrodagger to his chest, point downward, as dictated by warrior tradition. This time, blood and honor were at stake.

"Vako," Seja said hopefully, "I'm glad you're here." Perhaps he could still bluff his way out. Fighting here would be folly – not with Callista so close.

Mira stepped in, her head and arms in bandages, and removed all doubt. Before Seja could react, Vako's dagger came across the Jedi's cheek, ripping through flesh. Blood spattered across a transparisteel window.

The Compound of the Ordo Clan – Early Evening

High walls surrounded the great fortress of the Ordo Clan in the capital city. Here, the mightiest of the clan prepared for the final defense of the homeworld. Deep within the keep, Canderous Ordo studied the holographic map of the system, looking for ways to beat Revan.

"That fool, Serphants, doesn't understand that the way of Mandalore is in the offense," he said in his gravelly voice to Ergeron. "I am satisfied that Cassus Fett has decided to stand with us and take the fight to Revan."

Canderous struck an imposing image, tall and stocky of build, clad in a blue Mandalorian harness that was buffed to a mirror sheen. His helmet lay on the table nearby, polished and fit for a warrior. His hair was cropped short and dark, with graying temples, giving him a weathered, experienced demeanor. Canderous' face bore many scars from endless battles with one in particular standing out. A long, pinkish scar ran across his cheek where he had received a deep cut during his manhood duel.

Unconsciously, he ran a finger along the scar, remembering his first kill and the thrill of the hunt. After that, the blood of the warrior ran in his veins and all who could not oppose him would fall. There was something though, that the man who perished fighting the young Canderous had said…something about fate. He prophesied that the Mandalorians would perish because they would awaken something or someone that they could not defeat – that they would become the vanquished.

"Bah, defeatist rubbish," he muttered.

"What, Canderous? I did not catch that," inquired Ergeron.

"Nothing…. Are the Basilisk Droids ready for battle?"

"Indeed. Though I miss Jagi's steadying hand in keeping the younger warriors in line."

Canderous nodded solemnly, believing that his childhood friend had perished during the Battle of Althir. "The list of our clan grows thin. We shall do Jagi honor and battle Revan to the last."

Ergeron brought up a schematic of the Mandalorian defense network. "Thus is the way of Mandalore," he acknowledged and then pointed to a cluster of droid satellites. "We already have a skirmish line set up at the edge of the system. Long-range sensors have detected movement and communications."

"Be wary though," chastised Canderous, raising his armored gauntlet. "We know how Revan has deceived us in the past with false signals and decoys. She is a demon, that one."

"Then, this shall be a battle to be remembered."

Meanwhile, on the roof of the command center, a lone figure, shrouded in a stealth field, lay in the gathering darkness, waiting for an opportunity.

Dressed in a neutral gray body suit, Atton Rand listened to the conversation below through earphones that received a data feed from a tiny insect-like droid in the room. Atton's visor displayed the two Mandalorian warriors strutting around the holographic image of the system.

"Ah, so there is the location of the defensive satellites," he whispered.

The operative had the surveillance droid zoom in on the face of the warrior in blue and he identified the man as the target he was to eliminate. "Nice to meet you, Canderous Ordo. Pity we won't become better acquainted."

Static crackled in his earpiece, catching his attention. "Lying down on the job, I see," a female voice came through.

"Kayla? Spying on the spy, are we?" he whispered back. Initially, he was worried about the Mandalorians intercepting any communications, but he had been very careful to use frequency-hopping to elude Mandalorian intelligence. He smiled in spite of the danger, finding her familiar voice comforting in the dark.

"It could be some time before those bombastic Mandalorians give you the opportunity to strike, so I thought I'd kill some time. So, Jaq, what brings you here?"

The operative nearly laughed at the ridiculous question – surely, Kayla knew there was a righteous war to stop Mandalorian aggression and that Revan had sent them there to prosecute that war. "Why, I heard Malachor Five has the best Pazaak game in the Galaxy and I couldn't resist."

"No, silly boy, why did you join Republic Intelligence? All of this skulking around…I read that you were some hotshot pilot."

"Checking up on me, are you?" he answered, enjoying the flirtatious game. "I didn't realize that Jedi were so amiable. I always picture you as dried up, shriveled old husks, endlessly debating minutiae. Well, except Revan and Malak, of course."

"Old husks you say? You seemed rather taken with this old husk earlier. You're right though, except for Revan and Malak, the Order is full of shriveled old husks."

Atton adjusted his posture to ease tingling in his legs. "You wish, old husk," he retorted playfully. "You had me at a disadvantage and I was just making appearances for the Mandies."

Her chuckle bolstered his spirits. "All for the greater good, huh?" she said, prodding him.

"You betcha, sister…wait…transmit the layout of the Mandalorian defense network to Revan ASAP. I'll get back to you - our target is moving."

Atton switched the commlink back to the droid audio and watched as Canderous departed the command center. The operative's heart began beating quickly, pumping blood to his organs and muscles, preparing him for the kill. Under the stealth field, he crept along the roof, avoiding various sensors with his finely-honed skills.

The Ordo commander entered a computer room and began to access files. Atton had the insect droid follow and position itself overlooking Canderous.

"Downloading files on Revan, are we? Seeking clues as to her intentions…to bad it's too late in the game."

Atton slid like a spider down a vertical surface to peer into a small, transparisteel window. He could now see his prey with his own eyes. With one hand, he pulled his disruptor pistol from a holster and with the other hand, he activated a cutting laser to bore through the window.

Just as he was about to apply the laser to the window, his earpiece crackled again – it was Kayla.

"Jaq, abort abort abort. Repeat, abort…sanitize and prepare for extraction."

"What? I'm ready for the kill."

"Something's gone wrong. You have your orders."

Atton's blood ran cold. What could have gone wrong?

With a sour grunt, he sheathed his weapon and the laser and fired a cable away from the Ordo hold.

Within the computer room, Canderous Ordo looked up. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The small window above his head was clear, showing the dark night.

"Hrmph. This is not a time to get jittery."

Ergeron rushed in. "Canderous, come quickly."

He rushed back into the command center, where elements of the Republic Fleet were dropping out of hyperspace.

"That should be Admiral Karath's screening force," advised Ergeron.

"Indeed. Malak should not be too far behind. The two compliment each other – Karath finds and fixes us until Malak arrives with the hammer. Revan maneuvers them with the ease of a pistol."

Canderous put his hand to his chin as tiny specks of light appeared on the holographic display. "Republic carriers launching starfighters. I suspect that Forn Dodonna is leading them," he added, knowing as much about his enemy as they knew about him.

The Republic starfighters swept toward the defensive network and were soon met by the skirmish line, manned by the Fetts. The Republic attack turned away suddenly and the Fetts bolted after them. A second wave of Republic starfighters then slammed into the Mandalorians.

Canderous nodded. "And so it begins."

A/N - I wanted to add more layers onto the Seja/Callista angle with more into the cloak and dagger realm. I also want to build on the Mandalorian culture. The cloak and dagger theme continues with Atton and I wanted to set up some of his backstory with the Jedi. The whole warrior deal with Canderous always intrigued me and I wanted to contrast him now with where he will be, working for Davik Kang. Now, he is a proud warrior, leading men and keeping his equipment in top shape, unlike the battered mercenary we see later.I like seeing how characters transition with time and events. I also see Canderous as a knowledgeable leader and he sees the strategy unfolding before him.