Ok so I told y'all that I'd be taking a break on this, well I lied. I really wanted to dive a little deeper into Thomas' sister's backstory a bit on how she died as well as Thomas learning more about the Darksaber and how he reacts to it. Anyway, like, review, and share. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 14: The Secret of the blade

December 29th 2022, 22BBY

0900 hours

Sundari, Mandalore

Satine's Palace

Thomas POV

It's been some time since I fought Vizsla again, and I have been pondering about the Darksaber some more, about its secrets, history, creator. Knowing it has been apart of Mandalore history for centuries, I figured I could find more about this new weapon of mine. But first, I had to dive deeper into the Mandalorian warrior culture.

From my studies with the help of Satine, I was able to learn of another Mandalorian who, like my mentor Kal Skirata, was in charge of the training of the clone army. However, unlike Kal, Rau was in charge of pilot training and is the leader of Skull Squadron, a group of Mandalorian pilots who fight with the Republic against the seppies, thankfully. I learned unlike Vizsla, Rau hasn't forgotten his warrior culture's honor in battle, something I admire. Perhaps if I could meet up with this Fenn Rau, he could tell me more about the Darksaber.

I decided this was the best course of action. I looked to see where his current whereabouts were and I found out he's visiting his home world of Concord Dawn. I packed my things and went to Satine with my plan. I found her in the throne room and approached her.

"Oh, Thomas," said Satine, "What can I do for you?"

"I had been thinking about the Darksaber and its backstory," I explain, "and about Fenn Rau. With your permission, I would like to meet with this Fenn Rau in hopes to find more about this weapon."

Satine looked shocked that I was considering this. She could tell that I was itching to know more, which was the truth. It's not wise to be ignorant about the weapon you wield. My thirst of knowledge of the Darksaber needs to be quenched.

"Oh," she said, "Could you not learn from our archives?"

"To put it bluntly," I say, "all I found was squat."

"Very well," Satine said, "but before you go, I have a gift for you."

"For me?" I ask.

"Yes," she smiled, "For all that you've done for me, this is the least I could do for you."

One of the guards comes up to me with a crate. I open it up and I'm blown away by what is inside. There's some beskar armor, and enough beskar ingots to craft another full set of armor. I look up at Satine with pure shock in my face.

"I-I can't take this Satine," I stutter out.

"Sure, you can," She told me, "I had this made for you. It's only a bit from our armory."

"I don't know what to say," I tell her, "Th-Thank you."

"You are very welcome young Thomas," she tells me, "And know that you are welcome to Mandalore anytime."

"I will use this wisely Satine," I say, "this beskar will not be abused for any malicious actions."

"I wouldn't think so," she says.

I give her a hug and she escorted me to a ship outside the city limits. I board a shuttle with my newly acquired beskar and look back one more time to see her smiling at me, I give her a smile back and the shuttle door closes. The ship leaves Mandalore and heads for Concord Dawn, to visit Rau and find out more about the Darksaber.

-scene change-

Cherokee Lake Tennessee, August 2017

I'm on my grandfather's 2008 blue wave fishing boat with my Grammy, Poppy, and my little sis Cassie. We were having our first lake day in a good long while. We were just enjoying the peaceful waves, little did we know, a fuel line was leaking, being that it was an old boat. The smell of the lake masked the smell of gasoline.

We decided to take a break for lunch and troll around. It wasn't until it was too late that the boat caught on fire. I was the first to notice, I rapidly tap my pop.

"FIRE POP, FIRE!" I yell.

"GET THE FIRE EXSTINGUISHER," he yells.

I rush to grab it but the fire got bigger and nearly burned my arm.

"CRAP," I say.

We start waving help to other boats passing by, and a group in a pontoon boat passes by. We all get on, except Cassie.

"H-HELP, IM STUCK," I hear her say.

I turn around and see that she's tangled up in some rope. The fire is rushing towards her quickly. I rush over to her to try and free her and it's no use.

"I NEED A KNIFE," I practically scream.

I look back at my sister and she has a look that no 10 year old girl should have in her eyes: Fear. That was the last thing I remember before the boat exploding.

The next thing I knew, I was in a hospital bed with mild burns on my legs and backside. The doctors told me that they tried saving my sister, but she didn't make it due to being burned badly combined with the carbon monoxide fumes that she inhaled. I broke down, crying, and just mad as hell at myself, and the world. How could this happen to me? First my dad, then my mom, and now my sister? Why? Just why? My grandparents came in the room and we all cried together while hugging each other. For the rest of the day, I didn't say much. I didn't wanna eat nor did I wanna get up.

A couple weeks after that, I went back to school, and I didn't wanna talk to anyone, I only did schoolwork, ate alone, and went home. That was my life for a while. The funeral was a week after the incident, and it was extremely hard for me and my family, me especially. This was my baby sister, and she was gone just like that.

My mental health took a nose dive as I started having nightmares and seeing my sister's burnt body, with her telling me it was my fault. I contemplated attempting suicide multiple times. I tried going to a therapist, that did me squat. I tried getting a hobby, nothing from that. I was urged by Poppy to go to church multiple times. I refused a lot of those times. I finally relented and went. And talking with the priest, Father Anthony, was the only thing that helped me. I started going to mass more, youth bible study and reading the bible.

After a couple months, my mental health was improving. I had let God back into my life and he gave me the strength to go on. I knew that my dad, mom, and sister were looking down upon me, wanting me to keep on going. So, I did so.

-End Flashback-

Normal POV

1300 hours

On the shuttle bound for Concord Dawn, Thomas was sleeping after the events yesterday. At first, he was sleeping peacefully, just calm and collected. But that didn't last long as he tossed and turned from a nightmare that was plaguing his rest. He was dreaming of that Grim Reaper again, the one that tormented him that one night. But the quote that sent Thomas awake was, "I'm coming for you Sullivan, you and the one you admire."

Thomas awoke breathing fast. This nightmare was almost as bad as the last one of the Reaper. However, instead of his sister, Thomas knew the Reaper was talking about the one person he had feelings for: Ahsoka. There's no way that a Grim Reaper from his nightmares could get its hands on Ahsoka right?

Thomas then put his hands in his face and sighed. He was getting concerned. What was happening to him? Who is this reaper? Why was it tormenting him? What did it want with him and Ahsoka? All these questions he wanted answers to, but didn't have at the moment.

"Hey, everything alright kid?" asked the pilot turning back to look at Thomas.

Thomas sighed and nodded, "Yeah, just a nightmare."

"Well, I hope you got enough rest, because we're here," said the pilot, "Concord Dawn."

Thomas looked out and saw it, Concord Dawn, the home planet of Fenn Rau, the leader of the protectors. He was amazed that anyone still lived on the planet despite it being fragged. The pilot took the shuttle down to the surface and landed in front of a building that was presumed to be Rau's.

When they landed, Rau approached the ship with two Mandalorian Protectors on both sides. Rau was dressed in his traditional Mandalorian armor, minus his helmet. The door to the shuttle opened and Thomas stepped out, in his current gear and everything.

The guards then had their weapons at the ready.

"State your business stranger," one of the guards ordered.

"Sargent Thomas Sullivan of the 501st," Thomas told him, "I'm here on a diplomatic visit to find more about this."

Thomas then pulls out the Darksaber and ignites it. This came as a shock to Rau and his fellow protectors. The two Protectors then kneel before Thomas which confused him.

"Uh, why are they kneeling like I'm the coming of God?" asked a very confused Thomas.

"You wield the Darksaber," Rau told him.

"And what does that mean?" asks Thomas.

"You really don't know?" Rau asked to which Thomas shook his head.

"That's what I came here for," Thomas answered, "I was wondering if you knew more about this. Also, you mind telling them to stand up because this feels weird having them kneel in front of me."

Rau then gestures to his escort and they both rise.

"Come inside, and we'll discus this matter privately," the protector leader tells him.

Thomas nods and the four of them walk inside the building. Rau and Sullivan then take a seat at a table with Thomas placing the Darksaber down on the table.

"How did you come in possession of this weapon?" Rau asked, "I thought Vizsla was the owner of this weapon."

"Well, I kicked his ass in lightsaber combat," Thomas explained, "I wreathed it out of his hand using two electro-batons, and snatched it up as soon as it hit the ground."

Rau nodded, impressed that someone so young could best a warrior like Vizsla in lightsaber combat. He wondered if the boy had some sort of Mandalorian heritage.

"Who trained you in lightsaber combat?" Rau asked.

"Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," Thomas answered, "I was also trained by Kal Skirata as part of my enlistment into the GAR."

So the boy wasn't Mandalorian by heritage, but instead was trained by both a Mandalorian and a Jedi Master, a well known one at that. It's obvious he's very skilled if he was trained by those warriors, thought Rau.

"My turn to ask questions," Thomas said, "What's so special about this one lightsaber that made your men kneel before me like I'm some sort of king?"

Rau looked at Thomas like he was stupid. "Dank Farrik," he muttered, "I would have thought Skirata would have told you about our culture and the importance of the Darksaber but apparently not."

"The Darksaber is a symbol of leadership," Rau explained, "Leadership over Mandalore. Whoever wields that blade rules Mandalore and her system."

Thomas' jaw dropped as he stared at the Darksaber. Ruler? Of Mandalore? No. Fucking. Way. Thomas thought.

"I thought Satine was the rightful ruler of Mandalore," Thomas said.

"She is, but whoever wields the Darksaber is the true ruler of Mandalore by creed," Rau said.

"Oh. My. God." Thomas said, "Esto no puede estar sucediendo." (Yes this is Spanish for 'this can't be happening, Thomas does know some Spanish unlike me lol.)

"Is this not what you expected?" Rau asked.

"Like a turkey expecting to be thanksgiving dinner," Thomas said confusing Rau.

"Thanksgiving? Turkey?" asked Rau.

"Never mind that," Thomas said, "I was not expecting this at all."

"Well, it is true," Rau said, "By creed you are the Ruler."

"But I don't want to be a Ruler of a planet, much less a system," Thomas said.

"Nothing I can do about it," Rau told him, "You wield the Darksaber. Unless you lose it through combat, you are hereby its owner and hold the title of the true ruler of Mandalore."

This was overwhelming Thomas. All of this coming at him way too fast. He's already got a lot on his mind and now being ruler of a people is thrown into the mix.

"I can't deal with this," Thomas said, "I'm a Sargent, not a ruler. I shoot droids, not deal with politicians. Also, I already got a home that I'm trying to find."

Rau sighed. The kid was taking it pretty hard. It seems he's already got a lot on his plate.

"Look, Thomas, was it?" Rau asked to which the Sargent nodded, "Seems like you got a lot on your mind."

"That's putting it lightly," Thomas grumbled.

"Maybe it would be best if we kept this between the two of us," he said. "But incase you change your mind," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a comm link, "This is a one-way comm link, contact me on this and let me know."

Thomas nodded and stood up. Rau did the same and they both shook hands.

"Thank you for meeting me today, Rau," Thomas said.

"Of course, Sargent," Rau said, "I hope you find your way home one day."

Thomas nodded, picked up the Darksaber, and was led out of the building by Rau and back to the shuttle. The pilot was there waiting for him.

"Come here for what you needed?" Asked the pilot.

"More than what I needed," Thomas sighed, "Just take me back to Coruscant please."

"Sure thing, I'll contact the Duchess and tell her," The Pilot said.

"No, let me do it," Thomas said, "It's better if it's coming from me."

The pilot nodded and Thomas contacted Satine while the shuttle left the planet. Saint answered and a hologram of her appeared in the cockpit.

"Thomas, this is unexpected," Satine said, "Did a situation come up?"

Thomas shook his head, "No, no it didn't. I just need to head to back to Coruscant to clear my head, and process the information I just received."

Satine nodded, "I understand Thomas, though I wish you could have stayed longer."

"As did I Satine," Thomas said, "But if I did, Obi-Wan would have had my ass."

Satine chuckled at that, "Oh I would've set him straight believe me."

They both laughed after that. Then Thomas sighed and looked at Satine.

"Thank you again Satine, I can't thank you enough," Thomas said.

"Well know this Thomas," Satine said, "Know that there is always a home for you here in Mandalore."

Thomas nodded. "Until next time, Duchess."

"I'll look forward to it, Sargent," Satine said before the call ended.

The pilot looked at Thomas. "The hell was that all about?"

Thomas grinned, "A joke between me, the Duchess, and a Jedi General."

The pilot shrugged as the shuttle jumped to hyperspace en route to Coruscant. With the new knowledge on his mind, Thomas had one more worry in his life on top of the already 5 things going through his mind. How he was going to deal with it, only time would tell.

So not as long of a chapter as some of the others, but don't worry, I'll get back to the longer chapters soon enough. Just gotta plan the whole Boba Fett Arc out as I'm going to expand on that particular one more after I write the chapter for the Zillo beast. Anyway, I gotta turn in for the night. I hope you people enjoyed this. As always, have a wonderful day/night and God Bless!