-Chapter 4: A Legend is Born-

Location: Malastare

"There's always a bit of truth in legends."

Early the next day, Scipio received the dossier Dooku had promised. Contained within were all the details concerning the soldier's next mission, including his opponents.

"You're going to Malastare!" He announced to the soldier who was laying on a medical table, receiving a vitamin injection. "That campaign promises to be a long one. Looks like you're tasked with eliminating Republic patrols." Offering the document to the soldier, he took it with his right hand. His left arm had a trio of IV injections stuck in it, rendering it temporarily incapable of movement. Holding the datapad up to his visor, the soldier quickly read through the mission details.

Malastare was home to several fuel reservoirs that were proving vital to Republic forces. Such a fueling outpost would not only be a valuable Separatist asset but would also put the Republic at a disadvantage. Separatist forces had already made landfall and were engaging Republic forces and had made a hard push, driving their opponents back. The soldier's job was to eliminate any Clone patrols that may still be behind Separatist lines. The last thing the main force needed, this close to a victory, was to be hounded from behind.

His opponents took the form of Jedi General Mace Windu, a member of the Jedi High Council and a legendary Jedi in his own right. His Clone Commander, CC-6454 or better known as 'Ponds' had fought on Ryloth. The soldier was now eager to fight off those who had taken Ryloth from the Separatists. In addition, Anakin Skywalker and his Clone captain, CT-7567 or simply 'Rex', were also to be involved in the defensive operation. Skywalker was becoming a popular Jedi in this war, the soldier hoped to one day take him down a few pegs with a critical loss by his own hand.

He was looking forward to this assignment.

"That'll do it for the injections." Scipio stated as he walked over and began removing the needles. "You'd better get ready for your first true mission as a 'combat specialist'." Scipio told him, grinning a little as he remembered the title Dooku had given his soldier. "Your helmet has been updated with some new scanning options. I'll make sure to keep you fully equipped. Oh! That reminds me, I have something for you." The doctor quickly strode over to a nearby crate as the soldier sat up and climbed off the table. He quickly rolled his left shoulder and flexed his arm, regaining some feeling after the needles had done their work. The limb was back to full functionality in moments, thanks to his enhanced body. He looked up to see Scipio returning with his jacket and a rifle. "This is a new rifle I had shipped here by the Trade Federation. It is a blaster carbine, so you can make it fire more than one shot per trigger pull." He explained, handing the new weapon to the soldier. He quickly got a feel for it, holding it in a typical firing position and staring down the scope mounted on top. The bulk of the weapon was up at the front, making for a thick and heavy body but also boasting a simple rifle butt on a telescoping post. There was no barrel to speak of, most of it was contained within the body, providing a very flat appearance for the front of the rifle. "They say it's a member of the BR8 series. It's small enough to be the perfect tactical weapon, but powerful enough for you to maintain your edge." Scipio explained. Then, he held up his folded jacket. "I've added a few magnetic straps to the back of your jacket to act as storage. Just place the rifle and it will be held in place." He informed him, offering up the article of clothing. The soldier set his new acquisition down on the table and pulled on his jacket. Once done up, he tried out the crisscrossing straps Scipio had installed. Sure enough, the rifle grabbed on with a click, firmly held in place. Testing out the durability of the new grip, the soldier twisted back and forth and rolled his arms in an effort to knock it loose. But no matter the motion, his rifle remained in place. Pleased with the results, Scipio laid a hand on the soldier's shoulder. "I have complete faith in you, my boy. Now prove the Council correct in promoting you, show them what you've got. Go and raise some hell." He instructed. The soldier nodded, ready and willing to go forth and fight the Republic.


Malastare was a jungle world, not nearly as colorful as Felucia but certainly boasted enough trees to give the soldier plenty of hiding places. He observed the landscape as his shuttle descended from the skies, making its way towards the Separatist base of operations. The sun was low in the sky, slowly sinking as the day drew to a close. Nightfall could prove valuable on this world. The soldier would be able to blend in with the trees perfectly under the cover of darkness.

But the Republic wouldn't wait for darkness. Battle was happening here and now and the soldier needed to secure the flanks of the droid forces. Off in the distance, the soldier could see the outlines of refinerys where the Dug populace harvested the fuel Malastare was known for.

Dugs were a bizarre species to be sure. The soldier had studied them once and had to look sideways, just to make sure he was looking at the image right. But he was not concerned with the species of this world. If any got in the way, he would kill them... just like the Twi'leks on Ryloth. His shuttle landed next to a C-9979 landing craft where troop carriers were unloading battle droid forces. Upon disembarking, he was greeted by a tactical droid.

"Count Dooku informed me of your arrival." It stated in a monotone voice. "I understand you are here to protect our flanks and guard the rear." The soldier nodded in affirmation. "I will not stop you." The droid continued. "Republic forces are retreating, we are moving in to close the gap and attack their base of operations." It informed him. Accepting the information, the soldier moved on and left the base, now on the hunt for stray Clone patrols. He ventured deep into the jungle, stalking onwards through overgrown foliage and massive trees, winding his way through the dense forest in search of some opponents to kill.

Good thing time was on his side, this might take a while.

Hours passed as the soldier maneuvered through the jungle brush, carefully watching where he stepped to avoid making too much noise, just to make sure he didn't alert a patrol before he discovered them. On a world like this the element of surprise was crucial. As long as he could maintain it, his opponents were at a severe disadvantage. He had studied many elements of being stealthy, learning tips and tricks to conceal his form completely from his opponent. And thanks to the devices stored in his helmet, he could both see and hear his victims long before they saw him. On an environmental note, he was pleased the air was not nearly as thick and humid as Felucia was. Breathing shouldn't affect his performance, but the ability to suck in a lungful of clean, pure air was far more rewarding than the hot, choking stuff on Felucia. The woods began to thin as the soldier approached the edge of a cliff. Moving cautiously to avoid being detected, he crouched down low and made his way towards the edge. His helmet immediately picked up voices.

"Greene, how's everything back there?"

"For the sixth time Ace, all clear. There's nothing in this jungle!"

"You never know when a droid'll pop up, I just want to make sure."

Clones. His first patrol.

The soldier laid down and crept towards the edge. Barely poking his head out over the side, he could see a thin trail below where a party of four Clones were walking. He knew not their destination but could only assume they were this far behind enemy lines for only one purpose: to undermine Separatist efforts. The jungle continued on the opposite side of the cliff, possibly giving the soldier another area in which to hide if need be. The soldier began calculating the angle of attack, forming a battle plan in his mind. Good thing this trail was so narrow the Clones had to travel in single file. If he could kill the soldier in the rear, it would give him the best advantage to maintain his cover. But even if he couldn't hide fast enough, he had no doubt he could handle the other three. Quickly moving to a crouch, the soldier reached behind him and grabbed one of his knives. Leaping off the cliff, the soldier pounced on his unsuspecting victims. Beneath him, the Clones continued on, unaware of their impending death.

The soldier dropped down and struck hard, driving his knife through the top of the last Clone's helmet. The Clone gave a quick grunt of pain as the soldier twisted his knife, solidifying the blow. Withdrawing his blade, the soldier dove for the underbrush as the dead Clone fell over, blood spurting from the wound in his head. The attack happened within a matter of seconds. By the time the other Clones turned around, their brother was dead and the soldier was nowhere to be seen.

"Greene!" One of the cried, quickly running to and kneeling by the dead Clone's body.

"What happened?" The leader of the group, 'Ace' if the soldier remembered correctly, asked of the trooper investigating the body.

"I don't know! He's been stabbed, clean through the head!" The Clone explained.

"Somebody's out there." The other grimly mused. "Look alive boys, we're not alone." He stated, arming his blaster. The other Clone stood up and quickly pointed his blaster around, checking to see if he could spot their quarry.

Of course, he couldn't.

The soldier watched the scene play out, waiting for an opportunity. He had forgotten how difficult it would be to strike now that the remaining three were on high alert. But he had quickly devised a plan of attack to take down all three. He just needed to wait.

"We gotta keep moving. Look sharp, shoot at anything that moves." Ace commanded. "And Trace, watch yourself." The Clones began to move out, returning to their single file formation while looking all around for any sign of an attacker.

Perfect.

The soldier quickly darted from the trees, drawing his knife again, and moved in on the rear Clone, Trace. Dashing behind him, he reached around slit Trace's neck as he passed by. The trooper never knew what hit him. But the soldier's presence was quickly detected by Ace and the other Clone. But the Separatist kept moving, quickly using his momentum to bounce off the cliffside as he brought his knife around and stabbed clean through his victim's neck. The Clone gurgled as blood sprayed from the wound, choking on his collapsed windpipe. Drawing his sidearm as he slid to a halt, the soldier raised his pistol and fired three rounds in quick succession, killing Ace. Wrenching his blade free, the soldier stood still as both bodies fell to the ground. Holstering both weapons, the soldier rolled his shoulders as the exhilarating high died down. It felt good to be out murdering members of the Republic again. This was truly where he belonged. Taking a moment to analyze the path he had discovered, the soldier determined he might find some more patrols if he followed it.

But which way should he go? Traveling to his right would lead back towards the Separatist base while traveling to his left would lead towards the battlefield... and the possibilities of more opponents to kill. The tactical droid did say the Republic was on the run, the Separatist flanks would be further ahead. And if that was the case, his mission lay further ahead. Stepping over the bodies before him, the soldier broke into a run and sprinted down the path with murder on his mind. Every time he readied for battle, every time he scored a kill he felt a massive adrenaline rush, sending him to a magnificent high every time he spilled Clone blood. Had this been ingrained in him? Was it something Scipio had done to him? Regardless of its origin, the soldier could get used to the rush. Daylight was fading fast, nightfall would soon be approaching. His opportunity to become a hunter would soon be at hand. The Republic would soon become his prey and they would swiftly learn to fear the predator that stalked them.

The soldier followed the trail towards the sounds of battle. Cannon rounds echoed loudly in the distance followed swiftly by the clamor of explosions, signifying the Separatist's use of mobile proton cannons. Nearing a clearing, the soldier stopped to look through a gap between the trees. The battle was off in the distance, vague outlines of the droid army on the horizon. Reaching up to his helmet, the soldier triggered the telescopic scan in his visor, allowing him to zoom in on the fighting. He could observe both forces from his vantage point, noting the presence of Falchion class tanks on the Republic side. The soldier saw wave after wave of B1 droids advancing before AAT's and proton cannons. The droid force must've been impressive enough to push back the Republic, given the kind of firepower they possessed. Assuming that the droid offensive was progressing well, the soldier determined that there may still be some Republic patrols behind their lines.

Patrols he would soon kill.

But given how long it had taken him to find just one patrol, he had to assume this kind of mission was not of grave importance to the Republic. No doubt they instead wanted to reinforce their own lines, rather than undermine Separatist operations. Remembering his studies, the soldier wondered if the Republic happened to have another plan, something they were waiting to employ. That would explain why they weren't terribly focused on defense.

Unfortunately, his current mission meant he did not concern himself with the battle at hand.

Disabling his telescopic scan, the soldier returned to the path, jogging on as he followed it towards what was becoming the very edge of the forest. The tail end of the Separatist forces were still within the jungle area as the battle sprawled out onto an open, rocky plateau. The soldier needed to make sure they weren't hit from behind by any Clone patrols with counter-productive plans in mind. Night had fallen, only the moon served to illuminate the world. Darkness set in quickly in the more forested areas, granting the cover of darkness he so sought. As he scanned the trees, a quick flash of white caught his attention, obvious in the nighttime glow.

Clones. Another patrol.

The soldier immediately dropped to a crouch, his brain on high alert. Shifting into a tactical mode, he began to quietly stalk towards where he had seen the flash of white. Adjusting his scanners, he began to pick up some chatter not too far away.

"Move out men and watch out for clankers." It seemed like a small patrol had managed to move behind Separatist lines. He could only assume they were planning on derailing any more Separatist advances. He began to move a little faster, hoping to stalk his opponents fully until he could strike hard and fast and painfully end them. He made his way through the jungle brush, trailing back the way he came, following his soon to be victims. He began to consider the possible weak points in his targets, already beginning to plan his attack. He stopped suddenly, no longer hearing the crunch of footprints in front of him. He quickly triggered the newly added thermal vision Scipio had installed in his helmet. Immediately, a series of heat signatures were revealed to his optics. He counted seven figures altogether, but he was surprised when three of the signatures showed up significantly smaller than the Clones. Were they Dugs? Dug scouts? Interesting choice of companions. He could probably fell them just as easily. He slowly continued to creep forward, hoping to inch close enough to see his opponents without being spotted. He heard more voices through his helmet receiver.

"The jungle is thick. Droids could very easily hide here." That sure didn't sound like a Clone. Must be one of the Dugs.

"Then we need to keep our eyes peeled."

"How're we supposed to fight droids if we can't even see 'em?"

"That's the fun part Blu. We're supposed to see them, not the other way around." If only that Clone knew he was being observed. The soldier laid low and soon spotted his quarry through the brush. Sure enough, four Clones and three Dugs stood not far away, studying a holomap. They must've been plotting the terrain, attempting to locate the Separatist base. Or sabotage it. Either way, their allegiance alone made them the soldier's enemies.

The problem the soldier now faced was how to quickly eliminate his opponents. With so many opponents, he would have to work quickly lest they somehow band together and overpower him.

That's when remembered his newest weapon from Scipio. A blaster carbine would be most efficient. Withdrawing the weapon from behind him, the soldier armed it. It gave a very audible click as the energy powered up.

Way too loud for his taste. The Clones were swiftly alerted.

"Did you hear that?" One of them asked as the group whipped around.

"Must be seppies! Arms up men!" The apparent commander of the group ordered. The soldier cursed inwardly, there went the element of surprise.

But, then again, he didn't really need it. He was the deadliest warrior in the Separatist Alliance after all, he could fight anywhere!

Charging from the bush, the soldier took aim and and let loose with a volley of shots, downing one of the Clones. His enemies could not see his body as his clothing was too dark and blended in perfectly with the jungle around them. All they could see were two blood-red eyes.

"What in the hell is that?!" One of the troopers shouted as the soldier rushed forward and tackled one of his teammates.

"A spirit of the night!" One of the Dugs shouted. "Kill it!" The Clone he had tackled managed to roll him off and the soldier quickly rose to his feet, training his rifle on a nearby Dug. But his opponents were quick and the Dug's were upon him. Dropping his rifle, the soldier started to fight off his shorter attackers. Grabbing one Dug and throwing him to the ground, he crushed the alien's skull between his boot and the hard dirt, blood splattering across the ground. One of the Dugs jumped onto his back, grabbing the armor around his shoulders as he attempted to kick the soldier down. Another alien was busy attempting to attack his feet but was swiftly kicked away when the soldier's boot collided with his chest. He rolled across the ground and rested by the Clones.

"One of you must report this to your commanders." He said. "That thing is something most unnatural." One of the Clones gave an order and a single trooper took off, running back the way they had come. As this was happening, the soldier had managed to grab hold of the Dug on his back and, summoning his brute strength, ripped off the alien's head in a fit of rage. Tossing the remains of the dismembered Dug aside, he rolled his shoulders and sized up his remaining opponents.

"What is that thing?" A Clone wondered in shock.

"Whatever it is, it ain't normal. That's for sure." Another replied, powering up his blaster. The soldier reached for his knives, drawing both and twirling them around in his hands. He'd do this the old way. Armored up, the Clones rushed ahead, unprepared for a meeting with their death. The soldier struck hard and fast, impaling a Clone's arm before turning him into a living shield, using his body to absorb incoming blaster fire. Removing his knife, the Separatist drove both weapons forward and proceeded to gut another Clone. His knives carved deeply into his opponent's midsection, slicing through organs and armor as though they were nothing. The Clone fell, dying as remnants of his innards spilled onto the ground and the soldier moved on. The next Clone fired a series of shots, but missed as the soldier drove his fist into the armored torso of the Clone before raising his other arm high and stabbing his blade into the exposed neck, severing the spine. But before he let his enemy fall, the soldier quickly slit the Clone's neck before moving on to the Dug. The alien was terrified, backing away as the now blood-soaked figure advanced upon him. With a flick of his wrists, the soldier threw his knives with pinpoint accuracy, sticking the Dug's hind legs to the ground. Trapped and powerless to move, the alien could only watch as the soldier planted a boot on his chest, drew his sidearm and aimed directly at his head. The last thing the Dug saw were a pair of blood-red eyes as his killer pulled the trigger.


-REPUBLIC BASE: MALASTARE-

Hours Later...

Anakin Skywalker watched alongside Mace Windu as the massive Separatist army advanced on their own lines. The flat plateau gave him a very generous look at the entire enemy force approaching them. He knew right away that they wouldn't last long against an army of that size.

"There's way too many of them." He said. "We don't have nearly enough forces to combat an army on that scale."

"Give it time, Skywalker." The Jedi Councilor replied. "Once our secret weapon is ready, each one of those droids will be done for."

"Let's hope it works. Rex has finished pulling back, all our forces have retreated another few kilometers. All I can say is that bomb better be ready soon." The Knight responded, a level of doubt in his voice.

"I thought you were supposed to be the cocky one?" Windu mused, noting Skywalker's change in behavior. But before the Knight could reply, Mace Windu's Clone commander CT-411, also known as 'Ponds', arrived with another Clone beside him.

"Sorry to bother you General," the commander announced his presence.

"It's alright Ponds. What have you?" Mace responded.

"This is Glock," the Clone responded, introducing the trooper beside him, "he was one of the men we sent on a long range patrol the other day. And he's got something to share with you."

"Let's hear it trooper." Mace replied, giving the Clone his full attention. "But before you begin, where are your squad mates?"

"Likely dead, sir." The trooper's response made Windu raise an eye in questioning.

"And how do you know that?"

"Sir, while we were out, we came under attack from... something."

"What do you mean 'something'?" Anakin wondered, now curious.

"When it first showed up, the Dugs called it a 'night phantom' or something like that. I-It didn't have a form, sir. It was all black with two red eyes." The trooper described.

"Red eyes?" Anakin repeated, giving Mace a questioning glance.

"Yes sir, I'm telling you, I saw it myself! It leapt out of the bush and killed one of our men before tackling another. The Dugs attacked it and they told me to report this back to you. But as I left, I could hear it tearing them apart." The Jedi stopped to consider the Clone's report.

"Have you heard this, Ponds?" Windu asked his commander.

"Aye sir, he told me first. That's when I decided to have him tell you." The commander positively affirmed. Windu knew not what to think. This was most certainly a strange report, he wasn't quite sure how to go about this. But one glance at the battle below told him their priorities needed to be focused elsewhere.

"Right then. Thank you for that intel trooper, go get some rest. We'll need everyone at full strength." Mace dismissed him.

"Yes sir." The Clone stood at attention and saluted before Ponds began to usher him back down. "They didn't believe me, did they?" The Clone wondered.

"I will admit, your story is a little odd. But I'm sure there are plenty of strange sightings. Remember what the Twi'leks on Ryloth were telling us?" Ponds reassured him.

"But I'm telling you sir, there was something out there and it killed my brothers!" The Clone urgently stated. "Something's out there, hunting us, and it fights for the Separatists."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it's a long way off. You needn't worry about it any more." Ponds replied. Meanwhile, the Jedi were also wrestling with the trooper's report.

"What do you make of all that Anakin?" Mace wondered.

"Sounds like there's a monster out there." Skywalker concluded. "But then again, all these different worlds with distinct species, who knows what it could've been."

"Agreed. If there were any concurrent reports it may be worthy of investigating. But right now, we need every man here." Windu stated, making his decision.

He had no idea what kind of 'monster' the trooper was describing. He had no idea it was the same being he had heard described on Ryloth. But little did he know that this sole report was to become one of the first accounts in the legend of a mysterious killer, who attacked swiftly and without hesitation, felling Clones and paving the way for Separatist victory.


The soldier thought his efforts had been worthwhile and his mission rather successful. Eight Clones dead along with a trio of natives. Not a bad set of kills for just one day. He assumed that Malastare would be just like Felucia and that the Republic would be forced to retreat. He could then aid in subjugating the planet, murdering any resistance the Dugs may have offered.

But he assumed wrong.

He watched from a distance as the Y-Wing bombers dropped the mother of all explosives. A massive EMP that lit up the whole battlefield when it detonated, the explosion as brilliant as a man-made dawn. The soldier was blinded by the massive explosion, only to realize moments later that the entire droid army had been eliminated, permanently shut down by the blast.

Malastare had been lost.

His shuttle left mere moments after the Republic unleashed their secret weapon. He didn't stick around to see the conclusion, to see the mighty Zillo Beast rise from under the ground. He immediately returned to his base and reported to Scipio. While his mission to Malastare had proven worthwhile, the entire force had been lost to a new kind of EMP bomb. This was intel the Separatist Council needed to hear.

"It seems like your work has been successful, but is so bittersweet in the face of such a tragic loss." Scipio mused as he observed the soldier's footage from his helmet. "But on a more personal note, it seems like I must properly train you in the workings of that blaster carbine. And make it a more silent weapon." The doctor mused. The soldier quickly nodded in agreement. "Fear not my boy, I have a few more upgrades planned for you to enhance your capabilities. But, first things first, I must send this data to the Council. They should begin preparing for future use of this bomb." Scipio added. The soldier watched as the moment was replayed before him. Now, more than ever, he wanted to be out there. He wanted revenge for such a cheap tactic that utterly wasted a good army. That was not how you fought a war. In his mind, a war was fought up close and personal, sheer skill and numbers determined the outcome, not by cheating with technology.

For now, he let his resentment stew, waiting for his next assignment from his superiors.