A/N: In the last update, Sherman, now seven and a half is an assassin and a worth asset to Darth Vader and the Emperor whom both he serves. He has constructed a new light-saber, and has passed his final test, dueling a training program of General Grievous. Now he is to be dubbed a 'Darth'. Enjoy!
Sherman walked down the hall where several Storm-Troopers surrounded the walkway and Darth Vader stood at the very end in front of a metallic throne.
"Kneel, my apprentice" Vader ordered. Sherman did as asked and got down on one knee and had one arm resting on the knee that stood up.
"You were no more than a babe when I found you. But now your hatred and anger have become your strength" Vader said and took his light-saber off his belt and activated the blade, using it as a dubbing sabre.
"At last, the Dark Side of the Force is your greatest weapon, your ally, your ultimate resort" Vader said almost tapping Sherman's shoulder with the red blade.
"You have completed the most challenging tests that even most Sith apprentices have managed to fail but succeed many tries later at such a young age. And have killed much more Jedi than I had during Order 66" Vader said. Sherman felt proud knowing he had pleased his master and fulfilled everything he expected of him.
"Rise, my apprentice. Rise... Darth Shermanus" Vader said deactivating his light-saber and clipping it back onto the belt.
"I am honored" Sherman said standing back up.
"Now, Lord Shermanus, I have a mission for you" Vader said sitting on his throne.
"What is it?" Sherman asked.
"A Jedi has been spotted, hiding on the Dathomir system. Master Hector Peabody. He was merely a youngling, a Padawan when the Jedi purge was commenced. He was able to sneak away from our troopers and take refuge on Dathomir along with other Jedi, training them to fight back against the Empire" Vader explained.
"So there are other Jedi with him?" Sherman asked.
"Yes, there are. Penny Peterson, Barriss Offee, and Wookie Jedi Hayden McClaine. Destroy them, and bring me their light-sabers" Vader commanded.
"And if they just surrender?" Sherman asked.
"Take them hostage and put them on the prisoner-containment unit on the ship" Vader ordered.
"I shall leave at once, master" Sherman said.
"Good, I know you won't disappoint. You never have" Vader said as Sherman walked out of the room.
(On Dathomir)
Hector Peabody had made it refuge on an abandoned Sith temple on the Dathomir system and watched as purple lightning strikes filled the sky. He wore brown robes with tan garments underneath them as well as brown leather combat boots, light-saber tightly gripped in his paw.
(Imagine Peabody's light-saber to look like Master Yoda's light-saber only the metal is bronze)
"Master Peabody, there's a great disturbance in the force" Penny Peterson said. She wore the traditional tan robes of the Jedi as well and had her light-saber attached to her belt hook.
(Penny's light-saber looks like Obi-Wan Kenobi's in 'Revenge of the Sith' except there are some bronze chips surrounding it)
"I have felt it too. The so-called 'Assassin' the Empire endorses more than anything. He managed to take the lives of even the most powerful Jedi. One of them being master Plo Koon, my master before the fall of the old Republic" Peabody said.
"You believe he's coming?" Penny asked. Peabody just nodded.
"I had better inform Barriss and Hayden about this Peabody said reattaching his light-saber to his belt and went back inside the temple with Penny.
(Outside the Dathomir system)
Sherman's Sith Shuttle came out of hyperspace and was prepared to land on Dathomir.
"Are all the landing coordinates locked into the computer?" Sherman asked his robotic pilot.
"Yes sir. In three minutes we will arrive five parsecs away from where the Jedi are hiding" the pilot said.
"Good. Prepare some binding rings in case I take any of them hostage" Sherman ordered.
"Understood my lord" the pilot said before landing the shuttle in the dead woods. Sherman looked all around him.
"Hmm. I sense something, The presence of younglings, only two of them. Perhaps we may be able to recruit them for the Emperor and Vader will let me keep one of them as an apprentice" Sherman thought to himself before getting out of his seat and prepared to leave the ship.
(Inside the Temple)
Peabody had Barriss Offee and Hayden McClaine stand next to one another while Penny stood behind him.
Hayden was a young Wookie of seven years old like Penny. He wore the dark brown leather robes of the Jedi over his coffee brown fur and had his light-saber attached to his black leather belt.
(Hayden's light-saber looks like Palpatine's light-saber in 'Revenge of the Sith' only it's not made of metal, it's made from oak wood)
"Barriss, Hayden, Penny. As you know we are expected to be fighting the Sith Assassin that the Empire considers their greatest agent" Peabody explained.
"You mean he's far more stronger than Vader?" asked Barriss.
"I believe so. He's killed many Jedi, even my former master who went into hiding on Rodia after the Clone Wars ended" Peabody told Barriss.
"I see. So what is it you want us to do?" Barriss asked.
"I want you all to leave the temple and find somewhere else to hide. I will stay here and fight off the Sith" Peabody said, Hayden's eyes widened.
"Rrraarrrhhh, ruff, rargh ruff rufffff!" (Translation: What? No! I won't leave you here, Master) Hayden said with tears welling up in his eyes.
"Hayden I know this is harder for you than it has been for the others but try to understand..." Peabody tried to continue but Hayden cut him off while getting on one knee.
"Ruff! Rarrrrrrr, rargh rurrrr, ruff!" (Translation: Please, don't leave us. I can't be a Jedi without you) Hayden said with tears now falling down freely from his eyes and down his face.
"Hayden, please. Listen to me" Peabody said placing a paw on Hayden's shoulder.
"You are my brightest Padawan. I know you'll do great things for the Jedi. But you can't do that with me as your master" Peabody said.
"Ruff! Rarrggh! Rerarrgh, Rufff! Rurrrrr!" (Translation: Don't leave me, please. I'm not ready) Hayden said as Peabody wiped Hayden's tears away.
"Listen. Go with the others, they will take care of you and help you complete your training. It has been an honor training you all" Peabody said. Hayden just sniffles and wiped his nose with his arm.
"May the Force be with you all" Peabody said. While Barriss and Penny bowed, Hayden wrapped Peabody in a large hug.
"Ruaar, ruff ruff, rarrrrr" (Translation: May the Force be with you too master. I love you) Hayden said. He had considered Peabody a father after he found the abandoned Wookie baby on Kashyyyk hidden underneath a tree stump. Peabody took him in and trained him in the ways of the Force and showed him love and affection like a parent.
"I love you too Hayden" Peabody said before breaking apart the hug and walking off to the temple entrance. Hayden, Penny, and Barriss went to the special part of the temple where their shuttle was kept. Once they got there, Hayden stopped and looked back at the door.
"Hayden, what are you waiting for? we have to go" Penny said. Hayden growled and took his light-saber off his belt.
"Raarrh, ruff, rarrgh, rarrrrlllll" (Translation: I'm not leaving my father) Hayden said before walking back inside the temple.
"It feels wrong leaving him. Peabody could be killed if we don't help" Penny said as well.
"He may be a Jedi master, but no one should face a Sith alone. I'm going back too" Barriss said as they both took their light-sabers off their belts and followed Hayden back into the temple.
Meanwhile, outside the temple. Sherman walked up the steps to see Peabody standing there.
"Jedi" Sherman snarled.
"Sith" Peabody growled back.
A/N: Wow, talk about emotional in the middle am I right? Hayden is a Wookie in the story and he's considered the kid of the group since he has a good heart and was raised by Peabody like a father. And Penny is a Padawan in this universe. Coming up, the battle between Peabody and Darth Shermanus.
More to come in the next update. Please review, thanks!