Exterior: Maridun, Republic cruiser crash site.
Seeing a dozen squadrons of Gauntlet-class starfighters through his binoculars, Rex informed, "Commander Bly, we've got company."
"Friendlies?" asked Bly.
"No, sir. It's the kriffing Death Watch coming straight our way."
"Acknowledged. Get back here, Vod." ordered the 327th's Marshal Commander.
Interior: Maridun, Lurmen village, hut.
Entering a hut, Bly asked, "Aayla?"
"Yes, Bly? Is something wrong?" asked Secura.
"We've got Death Watch ships inbound.
A lot of them,"
"That's not good."
"This is neutral space," said Wag-Too, unaware who the Death Watch were, whilst tending to Anakin's injuries.
"These aren't Separatists, Sith or pirates.
It's the Death Watch, a Mandalorian splinter group." informed Silas.
"They're not part of the war. They're just bad news," added Versio.
Anakin grunted, "Help me up."
"Don't struggle! I'm sorry, but you're still too injured to move," warned Wag-Too.
Walking in, an annoyed Tee-Watt Kaa inquired, "What menace have you brought to our village now, Jedi? Or are they your fault, Mandalorians?"
"Father, you can't blame them," objected Wag-Too.
Silas chimed in, "He's right, they couldn't possibly know we're here."
"And they can't know." said Aayla, "We've got to hide."
"Or at least have no signs of being Jedi or Republic," telepathically said Galen, whose Astral form returned to his comatose body, "and having soldiers in the village contradicts their pacifist stance."
"Your presence here endangers us. You must leave before your enemies find you," demanded Tee-Watt
"But you'll need our help. You can't fight them alone." protested Ahsoka.
"We will not fight them at all.
We would rather die than to kill others."
"With all due respect, you don't need to kill someone to fight them," telepathically said Galen, "even if they're hell-bent on killing you, anyway, like Death Watch will be."
"You're going to surrender?" asked a bewildered Ahsoka, "But how can you…"
"Ahsoka, stop. If the Lurmen don't want to fight, and want to remain neutral, we can't force them into a battle," said Anakin.
"I think I understand. They're pacifists, aren't they?"
"Exactly, and we have to respect that," said Secura.
"They can be as peaceful as they like, that's their way, not mine," interjected Silas, "Death Watch are a Mandalorian splinter group, that makes them our problem to deal with."
"Be careful how you go about doing that."
Sensing how many life forms were approaching, Galen telepathically said, "We can't afford a skirmish, there's too many of them.
The infantry numbers that have just landed are 50,000 strong.
They've also blockaded the planet.
And I won't let the Lurmen be caught in the crossfire.
I will not let what happened to the Cathar happen to the Lurmen."
"See to it that they leave." ordered Tee-Watt, to Wag-Too, "I must see what our new visitors want."
"They're not here to make friends, they raid, burn and pillage worlds like yours." said Iden, "They would've killed me and everyone I cared about, but the Mandalorians stopped them."
Giving her sabers to Bly, Aayla implored Tee-Watt, "Please allow me to come with you.
I will respect your beliefs, and not provoke conflict,"
"How will you explain your presence if they ask?
You'll stand out as much as a Wookie in a Jawa tribe."
"Since my son's in too poor shape to be moved, perhaps a simple slave tending to her Master," answered Secura, "It's believable to a ridiculous degree since I'm a female Twi'lek,"
"You'd best stay by his side, but the others must go.
Assuming the Togruta doesn't insist on playing a similar role."
Slipping off her beads and handing it to Anakin along with her lightsaber, Ahsoka said, "I'll be Star's betrothed, and don't worry. I'll be a good girl so minimal feistiness,"
"I'd better not regret this, young one," sighed a weary Tee-Watt.
Anakin and the troops quickly got a safe distance, out of sight.
Aayla kissed her son's temple, "Please wake up, my Starbird… we need you."
Exterior: Lurmen village.
Approaching the village from a distance, Tor Vizsla self-introduced, "I am Tor Vizsla of the Death Watch."
"I am Tee-Watt Kaa, leader of this colony.
To what do we owe the-"
"I come here seeking a fight. Bring me your warriors," ordered Vizsla.
"We are a peaceful people." cautiously said Tee-Watt, "we have no warriors or soldiers."
"Peaceful?" sneered Vizsla, "you mean defenceless," and ordered, "Search the village! Ransack it!"
As the bastards searched the village, turning everything upside down and breaking down doors, the psychopath held up a pistol as he entered the hut harboring Galen, Ahsoka and Aayla.
Interior: Lurmen village, hut.
Galen was only wearing his undersuit and pendant.
His armour and helmet lay next to him.
"Whom have we here? And who are you, wenches?"
Fearful, Aayla held her hands together, and in her native accent, said, "Please, sir, don't hurt us.
I am merely a humble servant tending to the Master's wounds,"
Holding Galen's hand, Ahsoka worryingly added, "I'm his betrothed… Please don't hurt us."
"Is he a warrior?" asked Vizsla, "My warriors and I seek to fight the best,"
"When he's awakened, he will give you a fight," assured Aayla, "He is like no other.
This is one of the most lethal men in the galaxy.
This is Kane Fett."
"Kane Fett? Well, shall we see if your screams wake him up any sooner?" taunted Vizsla.
Ahsoka gasped, "What? You're going to torture us?"
"Not only that, little skug.
If he doesn't wake up soon, I'll kill him in his sleep, and keep both of you as slaves.
Burn this pathetic village to the ground, and take its people as slaves if I don't kill them all."
Tano rolled her eyes, unimpressed by his intentions.
Entering, Tee-Watt protested, "I cannot condone such a course of action.
We have done nothing to provoke your wrath.
And these ladies are innocent. Please do not harm them,"
"You have no say in the matter, weakling," growled Vizsla as he lifted Tee-Watt up by the throat and threw him to the ground outside the hut.
As he rushed to his father's side, Wag-Too asked, "Father, are you alright?"
As Tor reached for Aayla's breast, a firm hand grabbed his wrist and bent it back before throwing him outside, crashing into a handful of his thugs, causing Death Watch to stop and turn their attention to the commotion.
Exterior: Lurmen village.
Emerging from the hut wearing his armour and helmet, Galen, with his voice projecting, shouted, "Enough! You will not do to this world what you did to mine!" drawing the attention of every present member of the Death Watch.
"Kane Fett!" gasped one of the Death Watchmen, "ah, karabast!"
"Dank farrik!" exclaimed another one.
"Not that kid again." groaned a Death Watchmen, "I barely survived him, last time."
As Tor aimed a heavy repeating blaster that fired projectiles instead of blaster bolts, Galen didn't flinch as he caught them in his hand and dropped them when the last one had been fired, then Vizsla attacked with his flame-thrower, to no effect.
"You're dar'manda, Vizsla," said Galen, "a zealous murderer with no ijaat.
And I'll bring you to justice, aruetiise hut'uun," before evading several strikes, knocking Vizsla back, and drawing his darksaber.
Anakin, Rex, Hunter, Silas, Iden, Bly and the troops appeared next to Ahsoka and Aayla.
The murderous bastard snarled, "Finally a challenge!
Warriors, to battle!" before his forces readied their weapons.
"Hold!" commanded Marek who challenged, "I, Kane Fett, of both the True Mandalorians and The Protectors, invoke the code to seek justice through single combat.
And I call you out, Tor Vizsla!
I challenge you, one warrior to another, for leadership of all your forces."
"So be it."
Tee-Watt raised an eyebrow, "I didn't ask you to defend us,"
"Those who need help the most don't always want it." replied Ahsoka, "Anakin can vouch for that."
"I have a bad feeling about this. What if he fails?"
"He won't." assured Silas, "he's faced deadlier enemies.
Vizsla won't even be a warm-up."
Taking the fight away from the village, they found a good spot for the duel.
Galen swiftly blocked a strike from Tor Vizsla while using only his darksaber and a Form 7 variant he called Mando Juyo.
"Now you will die." snarled Tor who wielded the other darksaber.
"No… you will face justice," replied Galen as he almost immediately disarmed Vizsla, caught the hilt of the other darksaber in his left hand, and struck him down without hesitation or mercy before Death Watch's troops knelt before him.
"Ok, why're you all kneeling?" asked Marek as he extinguished his blades.
Taking off her helmet, Bo-Katan replied, "You've honourably beaten our leader in single combat.
By ancient laws of Mandalore, we're now honour bound to follow you."
"Death Watch is dead," declared Galen who ordered, "You will return to your clans.
Restore and gather their strength.
Our true enemy, the Sith Empire, has returned, and we must be ready to face them.
Ready to fulfill the oath our ancestors' swore to Mand'alor the Preserver and Revan the Butcher.
I'll be in touch."
As everyone rose to their feet, Bo-Katan asked Galen, "So, now you have both darksabers, are you claiming the mantle of the Mand'alor too?"
"Yes, but you're welcome to challenge me for it."
"What's gonna be your honorific?"
"I already call myself Starkiller, so Mandalore the Starkiller will do until the time is right."
Aayla interjected, "Son, I think "Mand'alor the Starbird," would suit you, because you're my Starbird."
"Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum too, Buir."
Placing a hand on Galen's shoulder, Silas smiled, "Jaster would be proud of you."
A few days later.
Interior: Coruscant, Jedi temple, council chambers, afternoon.
"Tor Vizsla, cowardly he is. Timely was your intervention.
Most chivalrous, you were, Galen," praised Yoda.
"Thank you," appreciated Galen.
Depa noted, "Galen, you now have your own Mandalorian militia as a result of defeating Vizsla after a formal challenge."
"That was part of the point.
They were misguided Mando'ade.
I hope to show them a better path by leading them towards it."
Kit praised, "Well done, Galen."
"Thanks, K.F," replied Galen who smiled.
Turning to his friend, Anakin inquired, "By the way, who was that hottie you were talking to? The red-headed babe with green eyes?"
"Lady Bo-Katan of clan Kryze, and sister of Duchess Satine Kryze." answered Marek, "she's an heiress to the Throne of Mandalore by birthright."
"And you know Bo-Katan, how?" asked Kenobi.
Galen explained, "As you already know: after ner aliit were murdered by Jetii, on Galidraan," and glared at Windu, Tiin and Mundi, "Kyr'tsad abducted and tried enslaving me.
Bo-Katan was my handler.
Vizsla wanted to kill me, but she convinced him not to.
Claiming I'd be a great asset to their cause."
Ahsoka noticed, "Starguy, why'd you give an 'I'll kill you,' look to three council members?"
With a heavy sigh, Mace admitted, "Because Seasee, Ki-Adi and I were there."
"No wonder you don't get along," scoffed an unimpressed Ahsoka, "you murdered his second family."
"How did it make you feel to lose your second family?" asked Adi, concerned and curious.
Galen sighed, "I remember feeling so angry… so full of rage.
I didn't do anything wrong, yet I kept losing everything and everyone I loved.
The Dar'jetii and Jetii both took a family from me, and that pissed me off so much."
"How would you describe your state of mind at the time?"
"I could tell I was in pain… despair.
I was an emotionally vulnerable, naïve child with powers I couldn't understand or properly control." answered Marek, "Perfect prey for Freedon Nadd to manipulate.
As most of you already know, he was portraying himself as a Jetii when he met and briefly mentored me."
Jumping to his feet, Mace drew his saber, "You've just confessed to being a Sith! You need to be put down!"
Unimpressed, unintimidated and unsurprised, Marek didn't blink, "Don't try it!"
As Mace leapt towards Marek with his blade ignited, Ahsoka shouted, "No!" and cast a bolt of electric judgement which sent the Korun Master into a wall, surprising a few members of the Council.
Fuming with anger, Windu rose to his feet, "So, Marek's a new Sith Master with Tano as his Apprentice? Is that it?
How else would Tano know how to use Sith lightning?"
"We're not Sith, you arrogant shabuir!" shouted Marek.
Rising to his feet with around half the Council, Plo interjected, "It was electric judgement, which I taught her. Now stand down!"
Entering the room, HK-47 pointed twin blasters at Mace, "Warning: any attack on Masters Galen and Ahsoka will end badly for you, meatbag."
Protectively standing next to Galen, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Aayla and Caleb ignited their sabers.
Anakin clenched his fist, "Mace, don't you dare accuse my Padawan of being a Sith!
She can cast lightning! So what? Galen and Master Plo can too!
And you hate Galen, your word is worth nothing when you accuse him of anything."
Yoda tapped his cane, "Your lightsabers, away, put them.
A Sith, are all who use lightning? Hmmm?
Electric judgement, Ahsoka has cast, in defence of her partner.
Master Windu, to attack Galen, wrong, you were."
As everyone extinguished their blades, the Council were once again fully seated.
Mando'a translations.
Dar'Manda - one without heritage, identity or soul.
Ijaat - Honour.
Mand'alor - Sole ruler of the Mandalorians.
Buir - Parent.
Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum - I love you.
Mando'ade - Children of Mandalore.
Jetii - Jedi.
Dar'Jetii - Sith.
ner - my.
Aliit - Family, clan.