The black-haired jedi arrived to Coruscant far too late. He knew he wouldn't have been much help since his information was also late and he wasn't as adequate in battle as he would like. But the damage he saw as he circled the jedi temple made his eyes widen. The front door was completely destroyed, a smoldering ship deep inside. Random puffs of smoke were coming from all over the temple. He could see bodies lying everywhere, some wearing black cloaks, a lot wearing brown cloaks.

'shit.' He thought with a scowl.

As he turned the corner, his priorities were quickly switched as three interceptors turned to met him. The raven jolted before twisting his ship so the blaster shots missed. He quickly turned on his shield, preparing for a fight.

"38, go hook yourself up to—"

The raven stopped speaking due to a violent tremor. But it wasn't something that hit his ship. It wasn't even something that hit him. No, the tremor came from within the force. And it was as brutal as someone screaming.

The interceptors broke off their attack and scrambled into a full retreat. The raven watched them go before breathing out a sigh of relief.

The raven looked around for a landing pad that wasn't occupied by burning ships. Once found, he landed immediately.

"38, watch over the ship."

The droid beeped in response.

The raven got up and dashed out of the cockpit. He stopped by the closet and pulled out a black coat with tan fur-trimming around the hood, cuffs, and hem of the bottom. He then rushed to the door of his ship, opened it, and stepped out.

His bare foot touched the chilly metal of the landing pad. Wind buffeted him and made him shiver. He hugged himself a little tighter to keep warm. He paused once completely out of the shadow of his ship.

He looked up at the destroyed Jedi temple, broken pieces of marble scattered every which way. Taking only a few steps, he was able to see bodies lying on the ground already. And he could see clear as day that they had on brown cloaks. As he traveled closer to the temple doors, more and more destruction was visible. There were downed interceptors and other types of ships—most being Republic cruisers. More bodies littered the metals, lightsabers scattered everywhere. He could see a good amount of black cloaked corpses, but they were nowhere near the same amount in comparison to the Jedi's that lied close by.

The raven finally entered the temple. And the tragedy was even worse. Seeing dead Jedi's was one thing, but seeing the corpses of padawans and younglings were another. The little ones lied as sprawled out as the Jedi, lightsabers that weren't theirs clutched in their hands.

The raven paused at a certain youngling body in particular. A boy with black locks was staring up at the ceiling. His golden eyes were once bright with determination and stubbornness but now they were dull, his expression one of terror as if his opponent was obviously better than him—most-likely it was too. The Jedi had had high hopes for this youngling and would have wanted to ask the Master's if he could mentor him.

Now, that desire was null-and-void.

'Poor Hibiya. You had such promise.'

The raven knelt down and brushed his hand over the boy's face, closing his eyes so he could rest properly.

He sighed before standing back up and looking around. He spotted another Jedi who sat knelt over a body. Thin with gray streaked hair and fair skin, the woman was kneeling over the corpse of a master the raven knew. The master he had tried to warn.

The raven approached but said nothing to give her time to control her emotions.

"Welcome back, Orihara Izaya." The woman said yet she didn't look up at him.

The raven known as Izaya said nothing.

She closed the master's eyes before taking a deep breath. She then stood and turned to face Izaya.

"What's your report?"

Izaya hesitated only for a moment so he could collect his thoughts. "Master, Lord Malgus has a weakness. He can be defeated. It's a tailhead, a female named Eleena Daru. I researched her on my way here. She's a rutian twi'lek from Nel Huta. She was in the slave pen in Geonosis when she met Lord Malgus. From what I can understand, he bought her but didn't keep her as a slave. Several video feed and surveillance shots from droids have placed her by his side as a freed slave. Rumors have been going around the Sith that they were lovers. She's not a force sensitive, however, so she should be easy to get ahold of."

"...You did well. However, it seems your information is a bit late."

Izaya cocked a brow as she reached into her satchel. She pulled out a holocam and tapped the button on the side. A holo projection of a twi'lek appeared before Izaya. She was laying on—supposedly—the ground face first. Her limbs were at an angle that would be uncomfortable for a living person so it was reasonable to assume she was dead.

"She was found at the spaceport where the Sith were reported to have escaped from. It appears Malgus killed her."

"...Not to argue, Master, but are you sure it's her? I mean, all twi'lek's look the same."

"We have already ran a blood analysis of the body and a holovid in the area shows her hugging Malgus before he ran her through with his saber. Its her."

"...Malgus killed her, huh?" Izaya said before turning away with a scowl and muttering to himself. "This may be a problem."

"Indeed, is there anything else you have discovered that may be of use?"

He looked back over at her. "There's is something. Another Sith that apparently is quite the terror. His name's Shizuo, family name unknown, age unknown. In fact, there's a lot of things that are unknown about him. I couldn't even find any battles he fought in. It's as if he just appeared out of nowhere. But from what the rumors said, he's very formidable and unpredictable. He once attempted to attack a new recruit and took down four of his own comrades that tried to stop him. He's a loose cannon, which is probably why he hasn't been on many noteworthy missions before."

"Hmmm…. So Malgus took on an apprentice… That's… unnerving."

"There's no evidence to indicate he's an apprentice but considering how dangerous he is, I wouldn't be surprised."

"In any case, I think it's time I find out what his next move is. I'm going to go meditate on this. You stand by for my summons, I will most-likely have a mission for you soon."

"Of course, Satele-sama." Izaya bowed as the woman turned away.

A week passed after the sacking of Coruscant. Heiwajima Shizuo hadn't seen his master since then. The blond and his brother had safely made it to the extraction point and one of the first on the ship. Lord Malgus was the last.

Now, Shizuo stood in front of his master's command room on his ship. Lord Malgus had called him from his room in the Sith temple, telling him to report to his spaceship that was waiting in orbit of Korriban. Shizuo—who never learned how to fly a ship—had to wait for one of the other Sith's in the temple to take him up. The one who agreed to take him was extremely reluctant because—if Shizuo remembered correctly—he had punched this man into next Tuesday. But, of course, once he mentioned they were keeping lord Malgus waiting, he quickly jumped to and prepared the ship.

Shizuo took in a deep breath and entered the command room. The first thing Shizuo noticed was his master sitting on his thrown hunched over, holding his head in one hand with his eyes closed. The second thing he noticed was the tailhead that was always by his side was gone.

'Why does he look so tired? We won before, didn't we?' Shizuo wondered before he approached Malgus.

Lord Malgus knew Shizuo was there. If the loud metal doors opening hadn't told him that then Shizuo's heavy footfalls on the metal echoing around the room should have been enough. However, the pale man didn't open his eyes until Shizuo was standing in front of his thrown and waiting.

"It has been a while, my young apprentice." He said as he looked up at the blond. "I have a mission for you."

"...I am here to serve, my lord."

Lord Malgus chuckled. "The troops on Alderaan are succeeding at driving the Republic back. However, they have exhausted their weapons, medicine, and food rations. That's why I'm sending a supply ship along with more men so we can finally take the planet. That's where you come in. You will be stationed on the ship to guarantee it reaches our troops on Alderaan."

"Of course, my lord." Shizuo bowed.

"The ship leaves in two days. You have until then to get ready. I'm also allowing you to choose a team of four for further security."

Malgus paused as if gathering his thoughts.

"Keep in mind, Shizuo, if you succeed in delivering the ship you will finally earn the title…of Sith Lord."

Shizuo paused. "I am honored, my lord."

Shizuo didn't want a title. He didn't see what was so important about a title, honestly. It wasn't like it would do much for him. His comrades are still going to be scared of him and if anything, it was just going to make his comrades even more scared of him.

But he understood it was an honor so he wouldn't question his master's decisions.

"Don't disappoint me." Malgus stated. He then waved his hand toward the door.

Shizuo bowed then turned to the door.

As he was ready to open the door, however, he paused.

"...Um, my lord." Shizuo turned and looked over his shoulder. "I...I don't mean to pry but...that's um, tailhead, that's always with you. Is she sick? I haven't seen her in a while."

Malgus stiffened, then clenched his fists in rage. With words that seemed to be almost too calm he said, "I killed her."

Shizuo automatically stiffened, his eyes widening. "Kill...why…" Shizuo stopped himself from asking a little too late.

"She was...a weakness. One I couldn't afford to have…"

"...I see. I'm...sorry for prying, my lord."

"Don't be, for now she serves as my strength…"

"I see." Shizuo paused awkwardly. "W-well, I'll be taking my leave now…"

"Good…. Bring us victory, Shizuo."

Shizuo nodded before opening the door and leaving.

Once the hall, he went from walking to jogging away from the command room. Shizuo was unnerved at this shocking news and was eager to get as far away from his master as possible at that moment.

Satele was sitting on her council chair when Izaya walked in. It had been a good weak since they had last talked. The raven hadn't thought it would have taken her this long to decide how to retaliate. But he wouldn't question it since she was most-likely grieving more than strategizing.

"Good, you're here." The asian said, staring at the raven with a stern expression. "I have a mission for you."

'Finally.' Izaya thought, cynically. However, he only smiled that usual smile of his with his hands behind his back. "Yes, Master?"

"One of our spies on Korriban has informed me that Malgus is sending a shipment of supplies to troops on Alderaan. In two days, they will leave Korriban. If that ship isn't stopped, we will lose Alderaan."

"So you wish for me to go and stop it before that happens?"

"Yes."

Izaya's smile turned slightly annoyed. "With all due respect, Satele-sama, with the way the fight is going on Alderaan, it may be best to let them take it. We're losing, the only difference is that the shipment will make us lose faster."

"From the report I have received, the enemy has exhausted all their resources. If we stop that shipment and then send in a counterstrike, we can take Alderaan."

"I know they've exhausted their resources. I also know that we have exhausted ours, as well. We'll also need to send a shipment if you wish to counterstrike."

Satele narrowed her eyes at him. "You seemed to be more informed than I thought…But you are correct, that's why I'm going to be sending my own shipment while you go to take down their's."

"I see." 'I still think it's a lost cause.' "What's the ship look like?"

"It's a Harrower class. A Deadnought."

"Understood." Izaya bowed. "I shall go prepare."

Izaya then turned and headed to the door.

"Wait."

Izaya obeyed, turning back to her.

"I know you're not one to take orders but I do have a plan."

"Yes?" Izaya smiled at her near innocently.

"You are to wait until the ship has left Korriban and then disable the shields. There will be a fleet waiting at Alderaan. Once the shields are gone, activate your homing beacon on your communicator to alert the fleet and they'll come for you."

"...Understood. I'll follow your example this time, Satele-sama."

Satele's eyes widened to the quick complacency the usually-defiant raven displayed. "...That would be most appreciated."

Izaya smiled and nodded.

In all honesty, Izaya would rather have an escape route that didn't rely on anyone else. However, he knows that as soon as the shields are disabled on the ship, the jedi fleet is going to blast it to shreds—and any ships that aren't recognized as friendly with it. And if he's going to die, it'll be in a blaze of glory by a worthy opponent. Not by friendly fire.

The raven bowed. "I'll take my leave now."

With that, he turned and left.