Kandar

"I will never get done saving you."

John jolted his eyes open from his semi lucid partial unconscious state as Sora spoke. He looked over at her and smiled in acknowledgement, remembering the words she used when coming upon him in the enemy stronghold.

She found him as he was close to death, but was able to get him to a medical center and heal him. He stayed in the battle zone for a few days before a transport took them both to Kandar.

Now they were traveling above the planet in an air transport.

Being awoken from his semi slumber he looked out of the window in silence. Too preoccupied with his thoughts and what he was told in the base. Could Death really be alive? Even as a clone?

He frowned deeply.

"John what's wrong?" Sora asked him worried.

"Oh nothing, nothing much in any event," he responded trying to smile.

"Ok, if you say so," She replied skeptically. "I know there is something wrong, John."

He tried to meet her gaze, but failed, instead staring guiltily at the floor. "Yeah…."

They landed quickly and John got out, wincing as his wounds smarted slightly, he rubbed his side.

"Your wounds still bothering you?" Sora asked.

"Yeah," He responded working out the kinks in his body from sitting so long.

"Sorry…it was the best I could do with my limited-"

"Medical supplies," he smirked finishing her sentence while sharing the joke with her.

She glanced at the door. "May the Force be with you John."

He smiled cockily at her. "Why, all I am doing is facing three of the most powerful Jedi in existence what could go wrong?"

She smirked back at him amused.

At that he walked off into the hall way and was led on by a service droid who droned on about the facility, John chose not to listen.

He was let into a central meeting room with three Jedi standing in their robes, a sort of 'Master's Council' for the New Galaxy and the Republic's war effort.

Master Mikal Skywalker, a Master that John did not know, and… Master Gundar.

John's eyes widened in surprise at Master Gundar's presence but that was the only overt reaction he had to the elder Jedi's presence.

"Report Knight Zaun." The Master he did not know ordered.

"Yes, Master," John started squaring his feet. "The siege has been won by a combined Republic military and Jedi task force after nearly two months of fighting. This was the first major siege we have won to our satisfaction."

Gundar grunted annoyed at that but did not say anything.

John continued, "We held our own until we captured an enemy Juggernaut and then used it to infiltrate the enemy base. Despite taking heavy casualties we managed to disable their defenses for our main attack. We quickly secured the facility."

"A bold plan," Master Skywalker began, "anything else to report?"

John hesitated mulling it over, "Sir…actually the commander of the base, she was a Force Sensitive, and she claims that Death cloned himself."

"And?" Gundar asked.

"I request permission to launch a military expedition to try and find him." John supplied simply.

"If I remember correctly the first Death tried to kill you, killed your father, and fell to the Dark Side and threatened to take on the Jedi Order. Hardly sounds like someone we want to find. Besides-"

"Besides we do not have the manpower or the time to send you off on a random, wild chase through the stars on shaky evidence, the testimony of our enemy." The Master cut in, Gundar shot him an annoyed look.

"I know." John did not bat an eye but he hesitated. "Sir…if Death has been captured it means that he is trying to be used against us. Death's Force Talent if improperly focused could cause great pain for the Republic and our allies. Worse: they could be feeding off him to gain greater power for themselves. It is imperative that we find him, and then we can determine what to do with him."

Both Gundar and the other Master was going to speak but Skywalker cut them both off. "Thank you Lt., we will be taking this under advisement. You are relieved until we call for you."

An Alliance Cruiser.

Reevax stood with his arms clasped behind his back looking out at the star scape before him. He was on his bridge on the cruiser that was given to him by the Alliance Navy.

He was given command of this ship towards the beginning of the war with the Republic and had already seen 8 separate engagements with enemy forces.

A pretty quiet war so far, but he had lost people, and had suffered personally.

Despite this he did enjoy command and not simply being an aide to his master, he was now important and independent. No longer gathering in secret meetings on caves in unknown planets, no longer perched on uncomfortable rock outcroppings as elders attempted to debate their alliance.

But he did miss his master from time to time and missed serving him without any of the responsibility that he now had.

He was responsible for the life and death of over a hundred sentient life forms, and a lot of valuable equipment.

Meanwhile his master was off commanding the Special Operations division. Though Reevax was not supposed to know this, his master told him anyway.

He knew his duty to the Alliance that he served but he had no personal stakes in it. It was not he who lost power and their homes and their comfy lives when the Republic invaded. It was not he who had spent decades plotting revenge on the Republic to take back what they had lost.

He knew his duty, and could execute it, but was not sure he saw the wisdom in it, dangerous thoughts given the circumstances.

An aide came and gave him a report which he took with a smile and a nod.

He read the message and frowned deeply.

The Republic had beaten one of their assault forces and had routed them.

He looked out at the stars intelligently, wondering what the future had in store for him and his alliance.

Kandar.

John was sitting on a stone bench just outside the main hall of the Master's Council chatting idly with Sora.

He looked furtively at her every now and then which made conversation…difficult. But they were talking about mundane matters so it did not matter much, just vague issues on the economy or how their respective sports teams were doing.

Not that they were supposed to enjoy such things as Jedi…at least in theory.

But… he was enjoying himself.

The past few weeks especially, even though he was in combat and most of combat was waiting for a move or counter move, he was always under stress. The stress was always there, even at the mess hall or on break, the constant fear of being attacked.

Besides, if he were honest with himself, he would admit that he would not trade the company that he was enjoying with all the jewels in the Two Galaxies.

He looked at her and she at him, their eyes met and she smiled brightly at him. He smirked.

"Lt. Zaun." A droid suddenly spoke causing John to jump about three feet out of his chair.

"Uhh…yes?" John queried the droid.

"The Council has finished their deliberations and has decided, they request your presence." The droid twiddled mechanically.

"I see." John sighed. "Well I have my duty Sora, sorry about this." He got up with a frown.

"Bye." She waved, looking at him sadly.

He followed the speeding droid as it hovered ahead of him towards the council chambers, they opened, and he entered.

"Ah, Knight Zaun, welcome back." Mikal greeted pleasantly.

"We have decided to act on your intelligence. Death is indeed a grave threat." The Unknown Master explained.

"Indeed." John replied arching a sarcastic eyebrow.

"We have been in consultation with the military for the last two hours explaining the situation. They have agreed to provide us with one Indefatigable class gunboat along with a Republic Marine weapon specialist for the mission." Mikal explained.

Gundar grunted.

"Is that all they can provide?" John asked narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Yes," Mikal waved his hand in explanation, "for the moment the Republic is gathering a massive military force in order to retake our planets and land a severe blow to our enemies. The details are classified."

John sighed. "If that is the case then it is all I can ask for."

"Indeed Knight Zaun." The Unknown Master nodded.

"But, this comes with a promotion. Congratulations…Commander Zaun. And as a side effect you get to pick your command crew." Mikal explained.

"In that case, I request Sora to be on my staff, she is-"

"Why?" Master Gundar asked suspiciously.

"As I was saying," John shot the master a look, "she is someone I trust implicitly, one of the only people left who I can trust in that way. And she is an expert healer, and we might need her on this mission."

"She is not a Master though, she is inexperienced for such an important mission I will not allow your personal interests to get in the way again John-" Gundar began to snap.

"But, I bet that you cannot afford to send a Master Healer right now given all that is happening because of the war and general upkeep. Also, as Master Skywalker said, my mission, my ship, my crew. She comes." John shot decisively, surprising even himself.

"Very well," Gundar relented, but his tone indicated that this was not the end.

"May I go inspect my ship?" John asked the three masters.

"You may Knight Zaun." Mikal nodded.

Landing Pad 6

John ran his fingers over the smooth skin of the gunboat admiringly. He smiled in wonder. This was his, it really was. At least for the moment, and the responsibility to do with it as he would was his as well.

He felt a presence behind him and turned, and he saw Sora coming towards him staring at him worried, biting her lip.

"John." She greeted.

"Sora what's wrong?" He came to her.

"Nothing…well it's just the responsibility…why would you need me on this mission? This mission is important and if we fail because of me….I could never live with myself." Sora hunched her shoulders sadly.

"Sora…" he came over to her and held her lightly by the shoulders. "You are the best, the kindest, and the most dependable healers I have known. You endured extreme circumstances, little supplies, tremendous casualties, and you saved a lot of people."

"And I lost a lot of people." She whispered trying to stifle a sob.

"Yes…but your greatest commodity. I trust you Sora, implicitly. I would not have a single other person on this crew with me because I know what you can do and I trust your abilities, more importantly then that, however, I trust your soul." John whispered to her.

She sighed and looked at him with a slight smile. "Thank you John."

He was about to respond but was interrupted, "Commander...Commander Second Class Zaun?"

"Yes?" John asked turning around.

"I am here to join your crew sir." The Marine came forward with his weapon and equipment sack.

"Ah yes, come on and stow your gear…sergeant?"

"Just sergeant, I find it better if we do not know each other's names."

John arched a surprised eyebrow at him, "Very well."

The small group boarded the gunboat as they made their preparations.