Several weeks later.
Exterior: Devaron, Jedi outpost.
Finding a trail of dead bodies, Master Koon grimly stated, "Something or someone has eluded us amidst the chaos of the war."
Opening his eyes after a split-second meditation, Marek informed, "I sense a trace of Nightsister magick.
And these saber cut angles are just sad.
Someone's swinging around their first Jetii'kad with no idea how to use it."
"There are many factions within the Sith and the followers of their teachings." said Visas, "The Emperor rules above them all, whether they know it or not, and allows some autonomy from the Imperial banner."
Master Tiin asked, "Who could've done this?"
"A reckless, impulsive animal." answered Obi-Wan.
"It wasn't Anakin," quipped Galen, making some of the present company chuckle, and Ahsoka burst into laughter.
"Hey!" whined Ani.
Later.
Interior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian Knights enclave, briefing room.
Galen and the holograms of the full Council, Anakin and Ahsoka were shown a hologram of a muscular, yellow male Zabrak with black tattoos before they sensed a disturbance in the Force.
As his hologram appeared, a Delta Commando, Boss, said, "Pardon the interruption, but I have important news.
The Zabrak from the Devaron massacre has been spotted with an accomplice," and projected an image of Maul with cybernetic legs.
Galen looked at the Council with an unamused expression, "I told you so."
"Blind, we have been. See through the shroud of the dark side, we could not. But Marek could." sighed Yoda, "the youngest of our Sentinels, he is.
Confronted many agents of evil and defeated them, he has."
"Yet he still hasn't been knighted," reminded Depa, "and he's more than earned it."
Galen firmly stated, "I have more important responsibilities than anything this Council wants."
"Which responsibilities are you referring to?" asked Master Gallia, "your own students, your people, or your little girl?"
"All of the above, and I know some of the Order consider me a Jetii in title only."
"And how do you respond to that?"
"If being a Jetii hinders my ability to do my duty to my people or to the Force, I will leave the Order for them."
"That's very responsible of you."
"Is there anything else, or are we done here?"
"To Ilum, help escort some younglings, we would like you to," informed Grandmaster Yoda, "if time, you have."
"Very well, I'll meet you there.
And I'll wanna take some of my own students there at some point.
If I got a sword during the Gathering, other Mandalorians might, so I wanna test that theory."
"Discuss this with the Council, we shall."
"No, you will give me an answer right now."
"Then agree to this, I do."
As the holograms turned off, Galen turned to Bardan, "Just in case there's trouble, make sure there's a fleet ready."
"Will do."
A day later.
Exterior: Ilum, kyber crystal cave.
While waiting for Petro, Ganodi, Gungi, Byph, Zatt and Katooni, Galen asked Yoda, "Remember when I found my crystals?"
"An amusing memory that was.
Choose you, many crystals did."
"Maybe it knew a Mandalorian would build a collection of lightsabers.
And I did get in trouble for trying to bring blasters into the temple on Coruscant… the first time."
"Smuggled them in, you did? How?"
"It wasn't smuggling… exactly."
"Oh?"
"I disassembled them and walked in.
The rule was you can't take one inside without proper clearance.
Didn't say anything about building it yourself after bringing the parts in.
And we should add a midichlorian counter to the security.
So we don't have any changelings or secret Sith sneaking in."
"Re-evaluate our security measures, we must.
Ensure no-one else does this, we must.
Know how to disassemble and reassemble your blasters, you do?"
"It makes them easier to clean.
And knowing how to repair your own equipment is essential when you're on a tight budget."
"Where did you get the funds for my armor?" asked Ahsoka.
"I was a mercenary, and I took Beskar as payment."
As the last youngling, Petro, made it out, the class returned to the ship.
Interior: Jedi transport ship, the Crucible, lightsaber workshop.
As the ancient droid appeared, Huyang asked, "These are them? I swear they get younger every expedition.
All have passed the Gathering?"
"Yes, Sir." confirmed Ahsoka.
"You expect us to learn from a droid?" asked Ganodi.
Huyang replied, "In my memory banks, I have records of every lightsaber ever made, and the Jedi who fashioned them."
Later.
Interior: Crucible, lightsaber workshop.
While the younglings were working on their lightsabers, Galen and Ahsoka were supervising.
Rushing to build his saber, Petro declared, "With this lightsaber, I'll challenge Obi-Wan Kenobi to a duel, and kill Grievous."
Galen scolded, "Don't be so quick and eager to be judge, jury and executioner," then mentioned, "and your emitter matrix is inverted." before Huyang examined the saber.
Later.
The ship was rocked by a laser blast.
Looking out of the viewport of the cockpit, Ahsoka said, "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."
Galen ordered, "R2, T7 and T3, ship's yours.
HKs, prepare for battle. Proxy, prepare emergency protocols."
"Statement: This is going to be fun, Master." said HK-47.
As the two Jedi met back up with the younglings and Huyang, Katooni asked, "What's going on? Who's attacking the ship?"
"Pirates."
"Pirates? They'll kill us all."
"No, these ones won't, they're not that di'kutla." said Marek, "Ganodi and Zatt go to the cockpit and find Proxy, R2, T7 and T3.
The rest of you get to the main hold and wait for our signal."
Ahsoka added, "Galen and I'll reroute enough power to the engines so we can break off.
It'll create a vacuum sucking the pirates already onboard out of the airlock.
You'll close it on my mark."
Galen added, "Stay out of sight. You don't engage the pirates.
That's what the HKs are for."
Interior: Crucible, passageway.
As the pirates boarded and looked around, one of them said, "We've secured the ship, but she seems deserted."
Rolling his eyes behind his goggles, Hondo replied, "That is the oldest trick in the book.
They're probably hiding in the ventilation system."
"I didn't think of that."
"Why does that not surprise me?" sighed Ohnaka, "Find the younglings, bring them to me unharmed, but more importantly bring me their crystals.
And in case you lack motivation: on the black market, those crystals are priceless.
But I do not want any of those children harmed, savvy?
Set your weapons for stun only."
"Right away, Captain."
10 mins later.
The younglings found themselves surrounded.
As they emerged with Ahsoka, HK-55 and HK-47 aimed modified blasters at the pirates, "Only warning: step away from the younglings, and get the hell off of our ship, meatbags."
When the pirates went to aim their guns, the HKs fired several precise blasts, disarming them."
15 mins later.
Meeting on the bridge after the ship jumped to hyperspace, Galen asked, "Where's Ahsoka?"
"The pirates have her, and our ship's damaged. What do we do?" wondered Katooni.
HK-47 looked at the kids, "Suggestion: we storm the pirate stronghold, disintegrate the meatbags, and take back the Togrutan treasure, by lethal force."
With a warning finger, Galen replied, "No disintegrations,"
"Dejection: killjoy."
Exterior: space, Florrum system.
As the Crucible came out of hyperspace, a Republic fleet, the Rogue Shadow, Slave 1, some Jedi starfighters, and several Mando ships emerged from hyperspace.
Turning to Galen, Huyang asked, "I say, is that?"
"The fleet I had on standby."
"Your what?"
"We're at war with an ancient Sith Empire.
Did you think I'd let an unarmed transport full of Force sensitive kids travel this far from Coruscant without help available in an emergency?"
"Fair point, but you're not the Jedi Council, the safety of the younglings wasn't your responsibility."
"Don't say that to me again." warned Marek, "and I made it my responsibility when I agreed to tag along."
Shortly thereafter.
Exterior: Florrum, pirate's den, entrance.
A pirate informed, "Oy, Hondo, a Mandalorian sent you a message."
"Play it, play it," replied Hondo.
As his hologram loomed over the pirates, Galen said, "Hondo Ohnaka. You have something I want.
You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of.
But you do not.
Soon, she will be back with me. She means more to me than you will ever know." then the hologram faded.
"Oh, dear… I think we're in trouble." exhaled Hondo.
With an amused grin, Ahsoka, who'd slipped out of a pair of Force dampening binders, placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, "You definitely are."
"Yes…" sighed Hondo who noticed she'd escaped, "wait a moment, how did you get out of those cuffs?"
"I'm not saying, and you've pissed off Starkiller.
That is usually a fatal mistake."
"I've been a poor host, did you need anything?
Food? Something to drink?"
"My lightsabers and gear back."
"Of course, my dear." obliged Hondo.
Exterior: Florrum, the pirate's den.
Approaching the stronghold with a platoon, to see dozens of pirates, Galen drew one of his Darksabers before Ohnaka emerged with his hands raised.
"Hold your fire! There is no need for violence, I know better than to fight you," assured Ohnaka who turned to Ahsoka, "I'm sorry for the trouble, my dear friend."
"If you wanted to hang out, you could've just called."
"Very true, but I didn't even know you were aboard."
Fenn Rau asked, "What're your orders, Mandalore?
Do we take him and his pirates into custody?"
"No, we have what we came for." answered Galen whose wrist-com beeped a certain code, "and I've just received word from the Nite-Owls."
"Good or bad news?"
"Grievous, Darth Maul and Savage are enroute with an army of clankers and Sith forces.
Also, Obi-Wan, Luminara, Anakin, Depa, Caleb and Adi are inbound."
"So now we have to fight alongside these brigands?
They'll turn against us for some coin."
Jango chimed in, "They won't because they know the Sith or Grievous will kill them either way. Besides, we'll want the extra numbers.
And deep down, Hondo truly cares about his crew.
They're his family."
Hondo nodded, "My friend, you know me so well.
And so together we stand."
Ahsoka mentioned to Hondo, "If you want crystals so badly, you can take them from the Sith.
They don't hold crystals sacred like Jedi do."
"Noted, although they also don't show mercy or hold back like Jedi do."
The soldiers, Mandos, pirates, Jedi, and their droids prepared for battle against Maul, Savage, Grievous, and a legion of clankers, dark acolytes, Nightbrothers, and Sith troopers.
The pilots scrambled their fighters.
Barricades, shields, turrets, cannons, tanks and artillery were set up.
Snipers took vantage points.
Charges were set. Weapons were loaded.
The younglings made sure their lightsabers were properly finished.
And the soldiers took strategic positions.
As he approached the stronghold, Maul ignited his lightsaber, "Kill them all!"
In the midst of the all-out warzone, the younglings saw the real Grievous advancing towards them, "Ha-ha-ha, come to me, children.
Bring me your lightsabers to add to my c-" but was cut off by a Force push which knocked him and multiple Sith troopers down.
As the cyborg started getting up, Ahsoka said, "Tinnie, back off."
Getting up, Grievous growled, "You again!"
Tano readied her reverse-gripped jar'kai Shien stance.
Engaging in battle against the cyborg whilst Bardan and Etain helped the younglings, Tano blocked high, low, middle, low and middle, high and middle, high, middle and low, then cast electric judgment sending Grievous back.
As Grievous began spinning his cybernetic hands whilst lunging at her, Snips suddenly cut two of the cyborg's arms off.
Shrieking in agony, Grievous stepped back and took a stance before exchanging strikes, slashes, counters and parries with Tano who overwhelmed him, much to his horror and humiliation, before she finished him off.
Meanwhile, Maul stood over Obi-Wan, with a cybernetic leg pinning him by the throat, keeping him trapped beneath it, "Kenobi! Your Master, I gutted him while you stood, helpless, and watched.
How does that make you feel, Obi-Wan?" and raised his blade, preparing to strike the killing blow.
Without a microsecond's thought, Galen raced over so fast he could've been moving at lightspeed, blocked Maul's blade with the starsaber, and punched him in the face which sent him flying into a nearby rock formation with a jolt of kinetic lightning.
Luminara rushed to the wounded Obi-Wan's side to protect him from further attack.
"Leave him be," warned Galen, "you're fighting me now."
Getting up with a grunt, Maul felt something familiar, "Who are you?"
Galen vaguely replied, "You really wanna know? You killed my parents."
With a low growl, Maul asked, "Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down?"
With the starsaber in hand, Galen challenged, "I invoke the Mandalorian code to seek justice through single combat!
And I call you out, Darth Maul."
The Mandalorians exchanged looks.
"Oh, how exciting! A trial by combat like the days of old." chuckled an amused Maul, "And one more person to rip away from Kenobi."
Getting to his feet only to limp a grunt of pain, Obi-Wan interjected, "No! Let me do it!"
Bo-Katan stepped in Kenobi's way, "By Mandalorian custom and law, no-one can interfere.
It's out of our hands, now."
The HKs chimed in, "Encouragement: you've got this, Master."
Using a sceptre, gauntlets, ring, circlet and talisman to augment his own powers and dark side energy, Maul readied an ancient Sith crossguard saberstaff with a dark red aura surrounding him.
The present Force sensitives felt Maul's increase in power, terrifying the younglings who felt even colder than they had on Ilum.
As he removed and set down his helmet in a good spot, which was recording, Galen's eyes turned fiery blue whilst glowing golden as an aura of electricity surged around him.
Everyone who hadn't seen Galen in such a form froze in shock.
"Ahh! What the?!" asked a bewildered Maul, aghast, as he found himself fearful of the young Jedi.
"Ooh! Oh! He's in trouble now!" exclaimed Caleb, excitedly, from the sidelines.
"That's Galen? Wow," gasped the amazed younglings.
"Oh, it's on now." chuckled Anakin.
Boba's eyes widened, "That's ner ori'vod?"
Marek vowed, "At the end of this day: one shall stand, one shall fall."
As Galen and Maul's duel began, everyone on both sides, except Asajj, Visas and Savage, had stopped to watch whilst getting some medical attention.
Immersed in their own duel, Ventress and Visas, as a tag-team, fiercely confronted the hulking menace that was Savage Opress who underestimated them at his own peril.
10 mins later.
Blocking high, middle, low, middle, high, low, middle, high, middle, overhead, high, middle, middle and high in multiple varying patterns whilst nonchalantly transitioning through the forms and variants, Galen cut Maul's saberstaff into two cross-guard sabers, forcing the bastard to switch to jar'kai.
Seeing his brute of a brother slain, Maul taunted Galen, "If you don't embrace your anger and strike me down with it, I will slaughter everyone you love."
Disarming the Demon of Dathomir, Galen knocked him back and held his blade towards him, "You are beaten."
"Ah, yes, good… I can feel your anger." said Maul who encouraged, "Strike me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete," but Marek stepped back.
As the Dathomir devil grabbed his weapon and charged at him, Galen hit him with the palm of his hand, expelling a vast amount of green mist from his body whilst knocking him back with a flash of light which also destroyed his augments.
The present Force adepts sensed Maul had completely lost his powers.
In a last attempt to kill the young Mando Jedi, Maul furiously slashed at him repeatedly, to no avail as his flurry of attacks were effortlessly parried by Galen who cut Maul's sabers to pieces, and forced his cybernetic legs into a kneeling position.
Then Marek impaled him through both hearts with the starsaber and one darksaber, "Fatality," withdrew his blades in a scissor manoeuvre, then decapitated Maul.
As Maul dropped dead, Galen returned to his natural state and sheathed his blades whilst his Force signature lightened.
Obi-Wan felt a sigh of relief knowing Maul was finally dead, for good.
"Incredible," collectively thought everyone.
As a dreadnought fell from the sky, Galen raised one hand, slowed it down, altered its trajectory, and cooled it down whilst gently setting it down nearby.
Almost everyone was shocked.
Breaking the silence, Hondo asked, "Shall we see if any riches have come down with that ship? And see if there's anyone in need of a rescue?"
Ahsoka replied, "You can keep that dreadnought, Maul's cargo's ship, and their inventories as your fee.
Except for prisoners, and any artefacts of Mando, Jedi and Sith origin."
"You have a deal, my friend!" excitedly said Hondo, "This makes me so happy!"
Interior: Sith dreadnought, cargo hold.
After finding a fortune of money, supplies, drinks, treasure, weapons and spices aboard Maul's dreadnought, they found a massive kyber crystal securely held in the cargo hold, as well as a crate of small kyber crystals.
Everyone gasped in shock and awe.
Ahsoka chuckled, "Looks like you get crystals after all,"
Qui-Gon advised, "Be careful with them.
There's no telling what might happen if the big one becomes unstable. And you best not sell them."
"Agreed. People won't pay for the big one, they'll try taking it by force.
Unless we find out how to safely turn it into many smaller crystals."
"I'd advise returning the large one to the Guardians of the Whills."
"Yes, so wise, unprofitable, but wise."
Interior: Sith dreadnought, cell block.
Searching the brig, Galen and Ani freed several prisoners, among which were Bail, Captain Antilles, Maris and Shaak Ti.
Galen sighed at Bail, "We really need to stop meeting like this."
"Agreed, my friend,"
""Ditto for you and Maris, Shaak Ti," chuckled Galen, "how many did you take down before being subdued?"
"40 NKs, 50 MagnaGuards, 60 Sith warriors, two Sith Lords, and a battalion of Sith troopers."
"Impressive, most impressive."
"When you face enough of the same model of combat droid, they become predictable, and easier to defeat even when they're programmed to be adaptable."
"True story, and they always underestimate your agility."
"Yes, it's something about them thinking lekku are heavy, when they're really not."
Exterior: Florrum, Pirate's den.
With the older Jedi in agreement after a private chat, Obi-Wan said, "Galen, Ahsoka, step forward and kneel."
As Galen and Ahsoka knelt, Aayla and Anakin ignited their lightsabers as their fellow Jedi encircled them and held up their sabers.
Everyone else watched in respectful silence.
Raising her blade, Aayla decreed, "Galen Marek, my Starbird," held it above his right shoulder, "By the right of the Council,"
Above his left, "by the will of the Force," above his head, and cut off his padawan braid, "I henceforth bestow upon you the mantle of Jedi… Master," then held up her blade, "rise, my son," and gestured for him to rise as he stood tall.
With a proud smile, Anakin held his blade over Ahsoka's left shoulder, "By the right of the Council," over her right, "By the will of the Force," cut off her braid, and held his blade above her head, "Ahsoka Tano," then aloft, "Rise, Jedi Knight," and extinguished his blade as she stood up.
As the lightsabers turned off, the two newly promoted Jedi smiled proudly and kissed whilst they received proud smiles and applause.
Anakin hugged Ahsoka and looked into her eyes, "I'm so proud of you, Snips. You've more than earned it.
And I love you so much."
"Thank you so much, Skyguy. Love you lots too." returned Snips as she tightly hugged her Skyguy.
Rex praised, "Congratulations. You've earned it, General Ahsoka."
Tano grinned as she hugged her Captain, "Thanks, Rexy."
Obi-Wan congratulated, "Well done, Ahsoka, well done, Galen."
"You've earned it, you two," said Bardan and Etain before Marek and Tano smiled at their friends.
Present Council members decided now was the time.
Obi-Wan informed, "Anakin, now that you've trained your Padawan to Knighthood, we bestow upon you the rank of Jedi Master."
Speechless, Anakin's eyes widened as he smiled.
Ahsoka noticed, "Hey, how did Starguy get the rank of Master and skip being a Knight?"
"Well, he's already teaching students, and he's more experienced, and his resume has a longer list of feats and accomplishments than Anakin's or myself." answered Obi-Wan, "and he's been a Knight in everything but title for quite some time."
"Makes sense. I was just surprised."
"We should get a holo-recorder ready for when Mace finds out, little Soka," giggled Shaak Ti, "his reaction is going to be priceless."
Mando'a translations.
Jetii - Jedi.
Di'kutla - stupid.
Ori'vod - big brother.