Several months later.

Exterior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian stronghold.

Arriving with Jango and Boba, Galen met Aurra who was accompanied by a girl.

the girl wore a sleek black outfit, black coat with small orange highlights, and an orange and black helmet, and carried a blaster pistol.

"A new apprentice, Aurra?" asked Marek as he removed his helmet.

Removing her own helmet, Fennec Shand greeted, "Long time no see, Kane."

"Su'cuy, Fennec."

"I'm touched that you remember me."

"I could never forget you, Fennec. How've you been?"

"Busy training under Aurra. I'll bet it was a lot easier for you, Sorcerer's Apprentice."

Galen chuckled, "Oh, she didn't take it easier on me at all.

My first lesson in deflection was done blindfolded, against six training remotes, and my personal training droid, Proxy, whose original prime directive was to kill me."

Jango asked, "So, what's this I heard about you taking the Verd'goten a little early? What did you do for it?"

"Killed some Akul." proudly answered Galen, "and Krayt Dragons, by myself."

"Normally, a Mandalorian would take the rite of passage at age 13.

But then again, your training hasn't exactly been traditional."

"True story."

"C'mon, I'll take you for the celebratory drink, even though it's quite belated."

"Okay, Buir."

At the same time.

Interior: Coruscant, industrial district, abandoned building.

Darth Sidious activated a holo-com revealing a small circle of figures, "There is a potential danger to our plans."

"And what would that be, Sidious?" asked a tall figure in a dark robe, with a scarred bald head.

"There is a rather stubborn human, Jedi Padawan: Galen Marek.

He knows who I am, but he cannot prove it."

"Ha-ha-ha, indeed? And what makes him such a threat?"

"He is of the Qel-Droma bloodline.

And a Mandalorian, as if he wasn't vexing enough."

Another member of the circle asked, "And what of young Skywalker?"

"The Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn continues to keep me away from Skywalker. And Marek looks out for him, having interfered more than once in our affairs, unknowingly."

"Our Emperor will not tolerate excuses, Sidious," said a cloaked woman.

A cracked, shattered, splintered, decayed and broken corpse of a bald headed man chimed in, "Sidious, you only live because our Emperor wills it."

"Yes, I'm aware."

"Are you?"

"The question is how much of a threat the last Qel-Droma is."

"Our Emperor is an immortal God. Marek is just a child."

"That child wields great power… the strength and potential of his bloodline.

In fact: he may be the Chosen One, not Skywalker, like we believed."

Days later.

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, briefing room.

As he entered, after being dismissed from a class, to see the hologram of a figure holding Caleb hostage, Galen's eyes widened.

The fallen Jedi, Xanatos, said, "The Mando apprentice will face me, alone. On Malachor V, inside the Trayus academy.

He has two rotations to get here, or I'll kill the boy." and cut the transmission.

"Under no circumstances are you going alone," said Depa, Aayla and Obi-Wan.

Galen replied, "Then come with me. He didn't tell me to come alone, he told me to fight him alone."

"How are we going to get there? It's halfway across the galaxy.

We don't have any ships fast enough to get us there in time." asked Kenobi, "we don't even have its coordinates."

"Yes, we do." corrected Galen, "it's called the Ebon Hawk, and I'm flying."

Later.

Interior: Malachor V, Trayus academy.

As they landed, the four Jedi took in their surroundings made up of ravaged, rocky, scorched earth beneath their feet, yet the remains of archaic Sith architecture still stood untouched.

The world itself was dead in every way, neither flora nor fauna, nor any signs of life native to the broken world were to be heard, seen or sensed.

Its skies held no sun nor clouds, only mass shadows.

It rained as if the dead shed tears of sorrow, with whispered lightning, amongst absolute silence, as its only source of light.

The stale air was barely breathable, little more than ash and fumes.

The very sight broke the hearts of the Jedi and all who would bear witness to the cursed, shattered remains of Malachor.

Disturbed by the world around him as it triggered his psychometry sending him to the ground from the horrors it revealed, making him scream in agony, Galen, who'd nearly fainted, exhaled, "I have a very bad feeling about this."

"Star, I don't sense anything." replied Aayla as she helped him up.

"Exactly… that's the problem. This place is death."

Exploring then finding Xanatos with his back to them, facing towards his hostage, Galen approached and drew his lightsaber.

Sensing the familiar presence of his friend in the Force, warm as the sun, a sense of calm washed over Caleb whose fear left him.

On the other hand, Xanatos sensed a presence far beyond anything he'd ever felt, and trembled as he turned around.

Taking a reverse-gripped form V stance, Marek ignited his bronze blade, "Get away from him."

"At last!" growled Xanatos, dressed like a Sith assassin from KOTOR II with a Sith hex charm medallion around his neck, who ignited a crimson blade and took a form IV stance, "after I've killed you, Kenobi's next, then your Master, Qui-Gon Jinn." and charged at Marek with a savage flurry of attacks, "Your fall will be my initiation into the ranks of the Sith, and I will take my rightful place by the side of my new Masters."

Every Jedi except Galen exchanged looks of shock.

Galen blocked each attack whilst scanning his opponent's technique for patterns, "Dream on, di'kut, and Qui-Gon's not my Master," then almost immediately overwhelmed the fallen Jedi.

Disarming Xanatos and cutting his saber in half, Galen swiftly cast electric judgement on him until he was incapacitated.

Putting Force binders on the incapacitated Xanatos, Obi-Wan sighed, "I suppose it's off to the Citadel for him."

"He's got a five million credit bounty on his head. He's going to the Guild, on Nevarro." replied Galen, "that way, he'll at least stand trial for his crimes."

Whilst Depa gently hugged Caleb to reassure him, she asked, "Are you ok, Caleb?"

"Yeah, I am now," replied Dume who smiled at his mother.

As he appeared with Cere Junda, Eno Cordova asked, "Aayla, may I please borrow Galen for an expedition?

Cere's had enough for one day, and has some notes to take back to the temple."

Secura turned to her young Padawan, "Sweetie, would you like to go exploring with the Professor?"

Galen smiled, "Yes, please, Buir. But I have a quick stop to make first."

Fading into visibility as her presence seemingly went unnoticed, the spirit of an old woman, with long white hair in two ponytails, black eyes, and pale white skin, garbed in dark hooded robes, watched them leave.

Later.

Exterior: Malachor Prime, Sith Temple.

While exploring the scorched surface with BD-1 and Cordova, Galen asked, "Are you sure we're meant to be here?"

"Of course, my young friend.

Now be sure to document all your findings, and collect the artefacts for analysis."

"Including all of these sabers?"

"Each one tells the story of its wielder," answered Eno.

"Quite literally in my case, since I'm psychometric." replied Galen, getting a helluva headache from all the visions and echoes he was getting, "And where are we?"

"We're on Malachor prime."

"Now you tell me," chuckled Galen who sarcastically said, "the Council's gonna be so happy about us coming here and Malachor V."

Interior: Malachor Prime, Sith temple.

Finding a Sith holocron, Eno examined it, "What secrets could this hold?"

The young Padawan looked to his left, right, then down at BD-1, then back to Cordova, "Are you asking me or BD?" before being handed the holocron, triggering his psychometry.

The boy staggered and clutched his forehead, "Ahhh!" whilst falling to his knees and dropping the holocron.

Cordova quickly knelt down by his side, "Galen, are you alright?"

"I've already got a psychometric hangover. And that's one nasty Sith holocron. I just saw its entire history, and absorbed its knowledge."

"I'm so sorry, Padawan, I didn't realise the extent of your psychometric abilities.

Let's take a break, shall we?"

Sensing something lurking in the shadows despite the dark side aura of the planet, Marek regained his composure, and got to his feet, "We're not alone."

As they emerged, a Dark Assassin, in grey robes and a black vest and a mask with large, red circular lenses, drew a crimson shoto blade.

Galen ignited his lightsaber and blocked several attacks from the nameless darksider who'd wrongly assumed the Padawan was the weaker of the two.

Later.

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, council chamber.

"The four of you went halfway across the galaxy, without Council approval, so Marek could fight a deranged fallen Jedi?" asked Ki-Adi as Marek, Billaba, Secura and Kenobi stepped into the middle of the room.

Galen nodded, "That's right."

"Why did you go to fight him?" inquired Mundi.

"He kidnapped ner vod'ika to get to ni, and was going to kill him if I didn't face him.

We Mandalore cabour cuun own."

"Grown attached to Initiate Caleb Dume, have you, Galen?" asked Yoda, "clouding your judgement, is it?"

"We have a connection. And I saved Caleb, brought Xanatos in alive, and didn't use the dark side," calmly answered Galen, "I could've struck Xanatos down in anger and hatred for abducting my little brother, but I didn't."

"A good point, you have. Closed, this matter is."

Mace protested, "I disagree, Marek used Sith lightning against Xanatos. He went to not one, but two Sith planets.

And handed a renegade Jedi to the Bounty Hunters Guild of all things.

Not to mention he's a Sith and Dark Jedi magnet."

Plo corrected, "Actually, he used electric judgement, and Malachor V is a moon."

Shaak Ti pointed out, "Galen didn't use the dark side against a single one of the darksiders he's encountered."

"But he used it to help you?" hissed Mace, "didn't you say his eyes turned Sith yellow?"

"That was one time, and he wasn't in the best state of mind."

Master Piell asked, "Padawan, what were you doing on Malachor prime?"

Galen revealed the shattered remains of a Sith holocron, "Just another boring day saving the galaxy."

"Dare I ask what happened?"

"I got a headache from using my psychometry too much, I faced some crafty assassin, and destroyed an ancient Sith temple, which turned out to be a battle station, along with this holocron which activated it."

Luminara cautioned, "You'll need to be extra careful since you may experience some distortion from overusing your psychometry.

The number of memories you see through the Force could be mistaken for your own if you're not careful."

"Will you please help me sort them out?" requested Galen.

"Of course, young one." replied Luminara.

After gesturing for everyone else to leave the room, Yoda turned towards Galen, "Regarding the Chosen One prophecy, something to tell you, I have."

"Okay."

"The prophecy has changed. Now it speaks not only of the Chosen One, but of also his protector.

Descended from light returned from the dark.

One who himself is watched over by the Jedi who lost the Force only to find it again."

It dawned on Galen, "So, I'm meant to protect the Chosen One?"

"So it would seem."

Marek asked, "Didn't the Sith have their own Chosen One? The Sith'ari?

Who says our Chosen One and their Sith'ari aren't the same person?"

"A good point, you have.

Be vigilant, we must."

"Can I tell him about being his guardian? It might ease the burden on him."

"Do so, you should."

A few hours later.

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, dojo.

Whilst having a sparring match with Anakin, supervised by Aayla, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, Galen smiled, "You're doing great, Ani,"

"You too." returned Skywalker whilst their blades clashed, "Also, thanks for having my back on Yavin IV,"

"That's what friends are for, and I learnt that's my purpose in the prophecy: to look out for you."

"Good to know, but where did that dragon come from?"

"It was a Force illusion of something I saw at a game shop."

"That's weird."

"Weird is a Jetii's normal."

"Good point."

A few days later.

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, archives, library, afternoon.

Quietly exploring, Galen reached for a thick brown book when a hand stopped him.

"What are you doing, young one?" asked Jocasta.

"I was just getting a new book to read." replied Marek.

"You're in the restricted section," sternly said Jocasta, "It's off-limits to younglings."

With a straight face, Galen casually replied, "I'm terribly sorry, I didn't know. If I see one, I shall inform you immediately." and nonchalantly levitated the book towards him using the Force.

The amused librarian caught the book, "Nice try," and looked at the cover, "Lightsabers, variants, designs, schematics, mechanics and modifications?"

"I'm a Mandalorian, weapons are part of my religion."

"You're also a Jedi peacekeeper."

"It's ironic how the rite of passage for an Order of peacekeepers is creating a weapon."

"That confused me too, when I first took the Gathering."

A few hours later.

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, lightsaber workshop.

Finishing meditatively constructing a new saber with an orange crystal, Galen smiled, "This is gonna be fun."

Shortly thereafter.

Interior, Coruscant, Jedi temple, dojo.

Finding Aayla practicing her jar'kai, Galen asked, "Buir, can we spar? I have a new saber I wanna test."

"Of course, Star." answered Aayla.

Igniting an orange blade in addition to his bronze blade, he used Sith Shien to counter her whilst they rhythmically dueled and exchanged well-timed strikes, slashes, lunges, and parries.

An hour or so later.

Both of them dashed back from each other as the form of Darth Malak aggressively slashed at him using Ataru and Juyo before Galen engaged in a fierce duel with the metal-jawed menace.

Parrying a series of slashes, Galen seamlessly transitioned to Ataru and put his opponent on the defensive before striking him down.

"Master, I'm sorry I interrupted your practice. And that I failed in killing you, again," apologised Proxy as his holo-projectors turned off.

Aayla chuckled, "Proxy, we're going to have to do something about that prime directive."

"I wasn't actually going to kill him, that was a joke." insisted Proxy.

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Proxy.

I know he still hasn't erased that directive, even though I've asked him to, on several occasions."

"Of course, Mistress Secura."

As Jedi Battle master Cin Drallig walked in, Galen requested, "Cin, will you please duel me?"

Drallig obliged, "Of course, Padawan, and is that a new lightsaber?"

"Yes, Sir." confirmed Marek before using Sith Shien against Ataru.

"A Sith style? Where did you learn this?"

"You don't want to know… and please don't hold back. It's gonna be a mistake."

"As you wish."

3 straight hours later.

"Impressive, most impressive." praised Cin whilst initiating a bladelock, "Yet I sense there's something you're hiding from me.

Don't be shy, show me what else makes your new saber unique."

Holding aloft his standard sized hilt, Galen ignited a second blade, to the shock of everyone in the room, and changed the lengths of his blades whilst using Niman but remaining patternless in timing and using unorthodox moves.

Taken aback by the the young Padawan's skills, Drallig smiled, "Very interesting style, and quite unorthodox,"

"I figured I'd take what I learnt from my encounter with Exar Kun, and make it my own."

"I can see that. You're quickly adapting well to the saberstaff style, young Padawan.

Yet you still have much to learn."

"Will you help me to master the saber styles, forms, and their variants?"

"I'm willing to teach as long as you're willing to learn, but you must be patient.

It will take years of study and practice."

"Thank you."

"You have a question regarding your friend, Skywalker?"

"Why isn't he allowed to study vaapad?"

"Master Windu deems him to lack enough control over his emotions, specifically his anger."

"He's one to talk, and isn't learning to control anger the point of vaapad?"

"It is, and I asked him that myself. Though vaapad has an unfortunate habit of drawing practitioners towards the dark side,"

"Why not make a variant that channels the light side?" suggested Marek, "Compassion, one of the most sacred virtues of a Jetii, is unconditional love, and we're encouraged to love all things. To connect with the living Force."

Cin nodded in agreement, "That's a fascinating concept." before transitioning to Makashi.

"Isn't Shaak Ti a master of Form VII? You say the form draws its practitioners to the dark side, yet she's one of the most serene and peaceful people I know." asked Marek who described, "Her presence is a lake by a waterfall surrounded by beautiful, flourishing flora on a sunny day with clear skies.

Windu's a cold, rainy day with dark cloudy skies."

"Very interesting descriptions." said Cin as they finished the duel.

"And how would you describe my presence?" asked Luminara who walked over.

"Yours is a beautiful tropical island of tranquillity and peace amidst a cobalt blue ocean, with clear skies.

And a sun as bright as your smile and as warm as a parent's love for their child." sweetly answered Galen.

"Thank you, Galen," appreciated Luminara, "your kind words flatter me greatly."

"Anytime."

"If you'll please follow me, we have some healing lessons and practices to study.

And I need to help you separate what you see in your visions from your own memories."

"As you wish… maybe I should get a bit of therapy while we're at it."

"I'll be glad to help you with that."

A few hours later.

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, halls of healing, therapy room.

As Galen lay on a recliner after taking off his boots and armour plating, Luminara asked, "Are you ready, young one?"

"I think so."

"Where would you like to start? Is there something recent you'd like to talk about?

Or an old wound that still needs healing?"

"I had a vision during meditation, recently."

"Tell me about it."

"I was somewhere familiar… Kashyyyk, in the Shadowlands.

I saw a figure in a dark cloak and a predominantly red and dark grey Mandalorian mask, accompanied by a bald man in a red outfit, with blue tattoos on his head." began Galen.

"Do you recognise them?" asked Luminara.

"Yes, it was Revan and Malak."

"Did you see what they were doing there?"

"They were there for an ancient star map… and they found it."

"Did you see what was on the map?"

"I saw five planets: Dantooine, Kashyyyk, Tatooine, Manaan and Korriban."

"And what do you make of this vision?"

"I'm honestly not sure… and I think I want to show you the memory of the day my kin were killed."

"As long as you're comfortable with that."

"It still haunts me, so I think I need to do this." admitted Galen.

"Alright, walk me through what you see," said Luminara, "show me."

Opening his mind to her, lowering his guard, and allowing her access, Galen began, "I'm in the forests of Kashyyyk, my planet of birth.

I see my mother and baby sister."

"You had a sister?"

"She was a new-born, didn't even have a name yet. But there's something not right."

"Define 'not right,'."

"I feel… cold. Mother feels it too.

She draws her lightsaber, and tells me to hide.

Then there's loud noises… blaster fire and explosions from outside our hut.

Out of a small peephole from ner hiding place, I see battle droids.

Despite still being weak from giving birth, she defeats them with ease.

She's amazing… She's so graceful and precise."

Unduli listened carefully.

"There's thousands more of them, and she's outnumbered.

But the timely arrival of Wookie reinforcements and a man in light brown robes and a hood, wielding a blue blade turns the tide.

As if the enemy morale no longer exists whilst the morale of the Wookies soars."

Concerned, the healer asked, "A man? Who?"

"It's my father, Kento Marek who tells mother he couldn't find ner twin vod."

"You had a brother as well?"

"Yes, I remember his name was Cay. Mother named him after Ulic's brother, when we were born.

The similarity in name might be one of the reasons I get so protective of Caleb."

Luminara was fascinated that he could remember so far back in his memory, though suspected his psychometry was partially responsible.

"You're doing well… please continue." encouraged Luminara who assured, "it's ok, I'm here with you every step…"

"It's getting colder… something's coming.

I see a figure shrouded in a dark cloak approaching… everything's on fire.

Several Wookies are befallen by crimson red blades.

Father instructs the Wookies to handle the droids, for the shadow is his and mother's fight. I feel scared.

Father tells him he won't find whatever he wants here, and to turn back. The figure is that Sith scum, Darth Maul."

"What does he do?"

"He fights my parents, but they're able to hold him off.

Finding an opening, he kills my mother first, but her body disappears.

I want to scream, but I can't…"

Shedding a tear, Lu asked, "Do you need to take a break?"

"I'll keep going…" shakily exhaled Galen.

"As long as you're sure you can handle it.

It's okay if you finish there for today."

After a short pause, Galen continued, "Maul fights my father. He's looking for someone.

He wants to know where they are. And he says a name…"

"What name?"

"Skywalker. " utters Galen.

Luminara's eyes widened.

"Maul gives a menacing grin as he lifts ner sister into the air with the Force… and… no… no… no!"

Concerned, the Mirialan asked, "What do you see?"

"My sister isn't even a day old, and Maul kills her.

I feel my sadness and anger rising.

Maul gains the upper hand, then he senses me.

He says I'm far more powerful than both of my parents combined.

He demands to know where I am. He thinks I'm dad's old master."

From the bed, Galen shed a tear as he showed her the rest of the memory without a word.

As Galen finished the memory and returned to the present, a tearful Unduli brought him into a warm hug, providing some comfort.

Galen appreciated, "That was a lot heavier than I thought it would be. Thank you for listening."

"You're welcome."

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, meditation chamber.

Whilst meditating with Yoda, Galen looked at various crystals and focused on colour association.

"Through the Force, things you will see, other places. The future, the past… old friends long gone." said Yoda.

(begin vision.)

Interior: unknown location.

Sitting upon a throne, an imposing, grey skinned man with red markings, wearing black robes and armour outlined in blood red, looked down with his black eyes and bright red pupils.

A scarred man with long brown hair, a gold ring on his left hand, and a metal right arm, in dark robes, ignited a bright blue blade after closing the eyes of Padme Amidala who lay motionless on the ground, a familiar necklace around her neck, and a ring on her finger.

The form of a Togrutan woman in white robes and a hood shed her cloak, ignited twin white blades, and took a Jar'kai Djem So stance.

A masked man, whose attire bore a striking resemblance to that of Revan, ignited twin black blades.

(End vision.)

Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, meditation chamber.

As everything in the room abruptly dropped to the floor, Galen sighed, "What the? Who was that? Oh, don't tell me that monster's back."

Yoda looked at the Padawan in concern, "Back? See who, did you?"

"I think I saw the future… a long way into the future.

I saw Emperor Vitiate, maybe. I'm not entirely sure if it was him.

He kills a much older Padme, in front of Anakin, then Ahsoka and I arrive to confront the Emperor."

"Anything else, did you see?"

"This Future Anakin has a metal arm and a scarred face.

He and Padme are wearing gold rings in the vision, so they're married or engaged by that point in time."

"Surprised, I am not."

Out of nowhere, Galen asked, "Did Revan ever really fall to the dark side?

Or did he sacrifice himself for the greater good, to prevent a greater evil?"

"If you meet him, ask him, you should."

"Nobody knows what happened to him after the Jedi Civil War. And since I just had a vision of the Emperor, I have a bad feeling Sidious isn't the only Sith Lord we need to worry about."

"Then most vigilant, we must remain."

"By the way, you know the Orsis academy?"

Yoda rhetorically asked, "Trained there, you did?"

"Yes… and graduated. It was Aurra's idea."

"Keep this a secret, you wish me to?"

"Well, if I can't trust you to keep a secret, who can I trust?"

Mando'a translations.

Su'cuy - hello.

Verd'goten - Mandalorian rite of passage.

Buir - parent.

di'kut - idiot.

ner - my.

vod'ika - little brother.

cabour - protect.

cuun - our.

Jetii - Jedi.