The forces of the Alliance have landed on the Star Forge, the last refuge of the Sedition. Vala Skywalker, and her apprentice, Aja Pinal, have now engaged the Knights of Ren. As the fighting has intensified, Vala has become separated from her student, and is forced to face three knights alone, as her troops are occupied with the other two, as well as several enemy droids.


I thought the Knights of Ren were gone! But… here I am, fighting three of them, with two more trying to take out my troops! I hope Aja finds her way back here soon! I could really use her help! Or any help for that matter! Vala thinks.

Vala finally manages to take down one of the knights, a man named Krogan Ren. However, she is still forced to contend with the tattooed Vaxis Ren, and the group's apparent leader, Mandara Ren.

"Well, Skywalker… all alone now. This won't last much longer, but don't worry. We won't kill you. We have plans for you." Mandara Ren says.

"Is that so? Are you going to take me hostage and hold me for ransom? It won't work! You'll get nothing! Other than a lot of trouble! Not just from the Alliance. My mother… will have a price on your head so big, that you won't be able to go anywhere near a populated system! So, if I were you, I would think very carefully before doing something foolish." Vala says.

"The Queen of Aquilae can send all the bounty hunters she wants! They won't do any good against us!" Mandara says.

"Your arrogance will be your downfall." Vala says.

"Arrogance? What do you think you are, princess? Assuming you're always right! You have no idea what's going on here, yet you make assumptions! Maybe you're the arrogant one!" Mandara says.


Vala and Mandara resume their duel. Soon, Aja returns to the fight, and takes her place beside Vala. The two look at each other, and Vala smiles briefly.

"I see you survived the fall. Perhaps you may be of use to us after all." Mandara says.

"I'm not as dumb as you look!" Aja says.

"You've got spirit, kid. I'll give you that. But spirit alone won't save you." Mandara says.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Aja says.

"We'll see." Mandara says.

Before Mandara can resume the fight, she is distracted as something lightly taps against her foot. She looks down, only to see a small, silver ball.

That… looks like a shifter knob. Where did this come from? What kind of game are they playing here? Mandara thinks.

The ball suddenly flies up, and hits her in the face. Then, it flies away from her, and into the hand of a short creature wearing silver beskar armor, with large green ears coming out of the sides of his helmet.

"Duke Grogu…" Vala says.

"General Skywalker. Good to see you again, it is." Grogu says.

"You arrived just in time. We could use a hand here." Vala says.

"Hmm. Darksiders these are?" Grogu asks.

"Knights of Ren, supposedly. They were apparently the true leaders of the Sedition." Vala answers.

"Stop them we must. Allow the Knights of Ren to return, we cannot. Take care of the leader, I will." Grogu says.

"I can help you." Vala says.

"Face her alone, I will. Spoken I have." Grogu says.

I know better than to argue with Grogu. Once he has made up his mind, there's no changing it. Vala thinks.

"Aja, with me. We'll take care of the other one." Vala says.


Vala and Aja engage Vaxis Ren, leaving Grogu to deal with Mandara.

"The Duke of Mandalore himself! I heard you were short." Mandara says.

"Help you, insults will not." Grogu says.

"You're nothing! You're not even a meter tall, and you sound like a brain damaged child when you speak! You're just a waste of my time!" Mandara says.

"If so certain are you, then nothing to fear, you have." Grogu says.

"According to your laws, if I defeat you in combat, then I will become the ruler of Mandalore. Unexpected, but I think my master would be pleased with this development." Mandara says.

"What master do you serve?" Grogu asks. Mandara laughs.

"Wouldn't you like to know! As if I would tell you! All you need to know is that everything is going according to his plan." Mandara says.

"Find this master we will. Defeat him we will." Grogu says.

"You'll fail. Now, let's make this quick. I promise to give you a proper Mandalorian death." Mandara says.

Mandara activates her lightsaber. Grougu activates the weapon in his right hand, and a black blade emerges. This is the darksaber, an ancient weapon that has become a symbol of leadership for the Mandalorians.

Once his weapon is ready, Grogu engages Mandara, moving with great precision and speed. He compensates for his short stature by attacking his opponent at different heights. Mandara is forced to adjust her fighting style, as she is used to fighting opponents of normal humanoid height.


Meanwhile, Vala and Aja are still busy with Vaxis Ren. Although outnumbered, the darksider manages to stay in the fight by being unpredictable, with no apparent pattern to her fighting technique.

This one fights erratically. A combination of different styles with no apparent strategy. That suggests she doesn't really know what she's doing, and is relying on pure luck. I think I've found her weakness. Vala thinks.

"Aja, strike low! On three!" Vala says.

"Right! On three!" Aja says.

"One. Two. Three!" Vala says.

Aja charges toward Vaxis, and swings her saber toward the darksider's knees. Vaxis points her saber downward to protect her legs, leaving her upper body exposed.

Now's my chance. Vala thinks.

Vala throws her lightsaber like a spear, and it impales Vaxis in the chest. She drops her saber, and falls to the floor. Vala then uses the force to recall her saber.

"Good job. Now, let's go deal with the others. The Duke will handle the leader." Vala says.


As Vala and Aja move to engage the other two remaining Knights of Ren, Grogu is still battling Mandara.

"Defeated soon, you will be." Grogu says.

"I haven't lost yet!" Mandara says.

Mandara throws her lightsaber toward a catwalk above. The saber severs the walkway, and a portion of it comes down, falling straight for Grogu. Mandara laughs as her saber returns to her.

"Still think I've lost?" Mandara asks.

Grogu puts away his weapon, and raises his hands. The falling catwalk stops several feet above him.

"You can't hold that and fight me at the same time! Face it you little troll! I've won!" Mandara says.

Suddenly, Grogu extends one hand forward, and grabs Mandara with a grappling line, which wraps around her legs. Before she can react, Mandara is dragged forward, and falls. Grogu then gently pushes the catwalk forward, and releases it. He leaps backward, and the chunk of metal falls on Mandara, pinning her left leg. Due to the pain, the Knight of Ren is unable to concentrate well enough to free herself, and screams in frustration. She is quickly surrounded by Mandalorian warriors, who aim their blasters at her head.

"Wait! We need her alive!" Vala says, as she approaches with Aja at her side.

"You expect us to spare the life of this darksider scum?" A Mandalorian man asks.

"I have orders to capture enemy leaders and turn them over to Alliance Security. She's the only one left alive, so I have to make sure she stays that way.." Vala answers.

"My lord?" The Mandalorian man asks, looking at Grogu.

"Honor the general's request, we will." Grogu says.

"Understood." The man says. He puts away his weapon, and the other Mandalorians follow suit.

"Alright, let's get this debris off of her. Aja, a hand please." Vala says.

Vala and Aja extend their hands, and use the force to move the fallen debris off of Mandara.

"Care to finish our fight, Skywalker?" Mandara asks.

"You… are in no condition to fight." Vala answers. Mandara chuckles.

"This… isn't over." Mandara says.

"Think again." Vala says, as she sees Arvon arrive, along with Demarak, U5, and a large number of Alliance troops.

"Looks like you have things under control here." Arvon says.

"Unfortunately, you missed all the fun." Vala says.

"So it would seem." Arvon says.

"We have one prisoner left alive, and Duke Grogu has already agreed to let us have her." Vala says.

"Good. Then, we'll question her, and get the answers we need." Arvon says.

"I'm not your prisoner yet, Jedi!" Mandara says.

"I beg to differ. You are injured, and outnumbered. You have no support, and no escape route. Your tactical situation… is not ideal. Surrender is your only realistic option. Resisting further… would be suicide." Arvon says.

"We'll see about that!" Mandara shouts. She presses a button on her wrist comm, and the area is rocked by several small explosions, both above and below. In the chaos, Mandara rolls off of the catwalk, landing on another one below. She then limps out of the room. Although her escape is spotted by Arvon, no one is able to get to her in time.

"BB-8! I need a schematic of this area!" Arvon says. The droid beeps in response, then displays a hologram of the surrounding area. Arvon and Vala study the hologram.

"Looks like that corridor leads to a hangar. She probably has a ship waiting! We'd better hurry if we want to catch her!" Vala says.

"Vala… you and Aja go straight in. The rest of us will circle around and come in from opposite sides. Contact the closest ships, and have them ready to intercept any escaping craft." Arvon says.

"Understood." Vala says.


Now alone, Mandara is limping down a hallway. She activates her wrist comm.

"DV-6! Begin launch sequence!" Mandara says. Several seconds pass with no response.

Why didn't that stupid droid answer me? The Alliance didn't get anywhere near my shuttle! Mandara thinks.


Mandara continues down the hallway, until she reaches a small hangar. Expecting to see her shuttle, she is instead met with an empty room.

"Aargh!" Mandara screams.

"Is something wrong, Mandara?" A deep distorted voice asks from behind. Mandara turns around to face the source, a masked man in a black, hooded cloak.

"Master." Mandara says.

"You… are wondering where your shuttle is." The Master says.

"Some of the Sedition crew must have stolen it and escaped!" Mandara says.

"They didn't. I launched the shuttle, in order to serve as a diversion for the enemy fleet. It is very likely destroyed by now." The Master says.

"The Alliance is everywhere! We need to get off this station!" Mandara says.

"That… will not be necessary. You see… I'm not going anywhere." The Master says.

"Not going anywhere? We need to get to the rally point!" Mandara says.

"There is no rally point. There is no fleet waiting for us. There never was." The Master says.

"What?" Mandara asks.

"The Sedition ends here. It has fulfilled its purpose." The Master says.

"But… what about the war against the Jedi?" Mandara asks.

"That… will come. In time." The Master answers.

"So, what are we going to do, then? Go back into hiding?" Mandara asks.

"No. I have Vala Skywalker right where I want her." The Master answers.

"What If Skywalker won't turn?" Mandara asks.

"Then, I will settle for Arvon Cade or Demarak. Either of them could also become very powerful Lords of the Sith." The Master answers.

"So, let's say Skywalker refuses to turn. Would you let me kill her then?" Mandara asks.

"I will decide Skywalker's fate in due time, Mandara." The Master answers.

"Yes, my lord." Mandara says.

"As for you, you have also fulfilled your purpose." The Master says.

"Master?" Mandara asks.

"You… are not my apprentice. You were never meant to be. You were simply a tool that allowed me to work toward my goal. As were the other Knights of Ren." The Master answers.

"So, we were just pawns." Mandara says.

"Yes, and now it is time for you to perform the function best suited to a pawn! That of a sacrifice!" The Master says. Mandara draws her lightsaber.

"Damn you, old man!" Mandara shouts.

"You think you can challenge me? You are nothing but an insect!" The Master says.

The Master extends his hands, and unleashes force lightning. Mandara is unprepared for the attack, and is hit with the full force of it. She drops her saber, and falls to the floor, screaming in agony. The lighting attack continues for about a minute, until the screaming stops. Looking upon the badly burned Mandara as she breathes her last breath, the Master is satisfied that his work is done, and quickly leaves the hangar.


A few minutes later, Vala, Aja, and several Alliance troops enter the hangar, and Vala approaches Mandara's body.

"Is she…" Aja says.

"Quite dead. Burned pretty badly too." Vala says.

"Burned? There's no sign of an explosion anywhere in here!" Aja says.

"There is one other possibility. Electrical discharge. Such as the kind caused by… force lightning." Vala says.

"Force lightning? You mean a darksider did this? Why would they kill one of their own?" Aja asks.

"I don't know. With the exception of my grandmother, no living person has ever encountered a darksider. All I know is what I've read about, or what I've been told by her." Vala answers.

"Then, maybe we should ask her to come here and help us." Aja says.

"She would just tell me to figure it out myself, so I don't see much point in asking." Vala says.

"Oh well. It was worth a shot." Aja says.

"Here's what we do know. This woman is now dead. Possibly killed by force lightning. That means there's another darksider here that we haven't encountered yet. We need to get back to Arvon and discuss our next move." Vala says.

If there is a darksider that is strong enough to conjure lightning, then maybe involving my grandmother might not be such a bad idea. However, I think I will hold off on contacting her for now. I would like for Arvon and I to try to deal with this individual ourselves. Vala thinks.


Shadow of the Sith will be going on hiatus for a while, as I will be focusing on my other Star Wars fic, Apocalypse. I expect to return to this story by April or May. Thanks for reading.