Interior: Dromund Kaas, Imperial Citadel, Dark Council chamber.
"First Sidious, then Plagueis, then Sion," snarled Darth Drakkon, "Mandalore was initially just another recurring annoyance, but now he's had the audacity to target members of this Council."
"They struck first, he was merely fighting back." dismissed a sexy, busty, slim Lethan woman with a seductive demeanor, whose attire left next to nothing to the imagination, "and so many assassins have failed to eliminate him. I'm impressed."
"If he's so impressive, how do we destroy him?"
"The Emperor himself has given the Wraith the order, and will not revive it if he falls."
"The Wraith? Maybe they'll both die then."
"Don't get your hopes up, it is vexingly easier said than done to kill the newly appointed Jedi Master, Galen Marek." dismissed Scourge, the Emperor's Wrath who noticed a slight flinch from Drakkon.
Exterior: Space, Dagobah system.
Exterior: Dagobah, cave.
Feeling a distinct absence of the Force, Galen turned on his holocom, he said, "Mandalore to Sage, I'm investigating a vision I had.
I regret to inform you I was right, Dagobah is dead."
"Dead, you say? Destroyed, how was it?"
"It wasn't. It's a planet sized husk devoid of all life.
And drained of the Force, like the reports on Katarr and Nathema in the archives."
"Disturbing, this is. Strong with the dark side, Dagobah was."
"You go ahead and meditate on it, I must return to my people."
"May the Force be with you, Master Starkiller."
"We're friends no matter what titles we carry, so you can just call me Galen." permitted Marek, "and may the Force be with you too, Yoda." before the hologram faded.
As Galen was about to turn away from the cave, a feral, menacing, hulking black furred Wookie with bright yellow-red eyes emerged wearing Sith armor. It drew a red saberstaff, and unsheathed his claws.
With a primal growl of an exhale, Marek demanded, in Shyriiwook, "Did you do this, Mad-claw? Did you kill this world?"
The Wookie shook its head without breaking eye contact, and roared, "No, but I'll kill you!" before lunging at him.
As the two clashed blades, it became apparent to Galen that he was at a physical disadvantage against the beast when it came to strength, so he'd need to fight smarter.
90 mins later.
Parrying a slash, he fired his repulsor, sending the beast crashing into a tree before firing his flamethrower to burn the beast.
Getting to its feet, the beast let out a Force scream as it tapped into a savage form of Force Fury and leapt at the Jedi who was momentarily disoriented, grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air before pulling off his helmet, punching him in the face with durasteel knuckles, and throwing him down into his knee with a loud gasp of pain.
There was a loud crack and snap as both combatants gasped loudly in pain from the impact of the brute's knee colliding with the beskar backplate which protected its wearer, the padding underneath cushioning the impact.
With a scowl as the beast stood over him, Galen spat at them, stubbornly got to his feet, and leaned against a tree for support, "Beasts like you are all brawn, no brains. And I will not fall, especially not to some mad-claw scum."
Unleashing a barrage of blaster bolts from his new pistols, he then cut off the beast's right arm with the starsaber, the bright blade of which nearly blinded the beast, cut him in half, and stabbed him through the chest.
Seeing the damn thing was still alive, he cleaved its head clean off, causing a small disturbance in the Force, before extinguishing his blade, "May the Shadowlands claim you, monster."
Momentarily thereafter.
Interior: Rogue Shadow, infirmary.
"Observation: Master, you have sustained damage.
Recommendation: get immediate medical attention." said HK-55.
"Yeah, let's do that." agreed Marek.
"Statement: if I am to analyse and properly treat your back injuries, you will need to remove your cuirass and lay on your stomach so I may get some x-rays to see the extent of said injuries."
Now naked from the waist up, Galen grunted as he lay flat on the medical bed, "I should've brought a proper medical droid, no offence."
"Statement: none taken, Master." replied HK-55, "Statement of the obvious: combat droids are not medical droids."
"At least you have some medical droid functions in your programming," chuckled Galen.
HK-55 looked at his master's bruises, "Question: what animal tried to maul you?"
"A Wookie mad-claw that was also a Sith berserker, and I could tell it had several internal physical and cybernetic enhancements."
"Speculation: it followed you here, it was not the cause of the planet's becoming devoid of life."
"Yeah, I figured that much."
A day later.
Exterior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian Knights enclave, meditation garden.
Sitting cross-legged, a fully recovered Galen, joined by Ahsoka, Visas, a handful of Mandos, and Maris used colour association to focus.
A small variety of crystals and the darksaber and starsaber blades reminded Marek and his students of various environments and memories.
As they finished their meditations and stood up, the three Jedi heard Shaak Ti and Omega enter.
Galen greeted, "Su'cuy, Shaak Ti," then jokingly added, "You're late."
Shaak Ti replied, "A Jedi is never late. Nor is she early.
She arrives precisely when she means to."
Galen smiled while hugging his little girl, "Hey, lil 'un, are you ok?"
Omega smiled, "I am now, and I love you, Buir."
"Love you too, ad'ika."
"Ti'Buir's been tutoring me in the Force."
"She's a great teacher."
Ti grimly began, "I've had a vision of-"
"My old Master!" gasped Visas, "he awaits Galen at Umbara."
"Yes, the Jedi High Council believes only Galen can stop him, as Meetra Surik did so long ago."
"I believe this also, Mistress Shaak Ti."
Shortly thereafter.
Exterior: deep space.
Interior: Starhawk, Galen's private meditation chamber.
As Visas entered in her veil, blindfold, and a matching robe, she said, "If you face him, he will wound you… as he has wounded me."
"He must be stopped either way." sighed Marek, "if he isn't, everything and everyone touched by the Force is in danger."
Taking a moment to gather her words, she softly said, "From the moment I heard your voice across the galaxy, I have longed for you."
He opened his eyes as she continued, "When I heard it, I loved you more than my own life." then nonchalantly disrobed, revealing herself to him in all her glory, "And I wanted you to be here with me… for as long as you will let me love you."
He could sense this moment was a shatter point that could affect the outcome of the imminent confrontation, and he knew what choice to make, "I will stay while we can, and make the most of this time."
"I am yours, my beloved." she told him, "my life for yours, please take me… make me whole."
Interior: Starhawk, corridor.
Standing outside Galen's door, Ahsoka overheard the whole conversation, and quietly shed a tear, but not of sadness, jealousy or anger, of sympathy.
A day or so later.
Exterior: Umbara, jungle, base, night-time as always.
After a skirmish against a platoon of Sith troopers led to capturing a fortified command post which they turned into their base, Starkiller, Visas, Ahsoka, Maris, Silas, HK-55, HK-47, and a division of troops reprogrammed the defences and cracked the launch codes of starfighters residing in the base's hangar.
As a chill ran down her spine, Maris shivered, "Do you feel that?"
"The cold… I've been sensing this planet's dark side aura since we came out of hyperspace." exhaled Galen/Starkiller.
"It's my former Master," exhaled Visas, "and I am terrified of him.
I was alone for so long… in the dark.
I don't want to lose you, Master Galen."
"You are not alone, Visas, not anymore.
Even in the darkest times, there will always be light," soothingly said Galen who embraced her.
"What light is there in such darkness?" sobbed Visas.
"Mine, I may be called a Starkiller but I wield in my heart the persevering flame of the Starbird.
You see it clearer than most, now reach out… feel it.
Let it give you strength."
Opening herself up to the Force, Visas felt warm as if the sun had risen for the first time, "I feel it, Master."
"Star, you should know I heard you two earlier," mentioned Ahsoka, "I came to check on you when I overheard you and Visas, and her love confession."
"Ahsoka, I-" began Galen.
"Starguy, I'm not mad at either of you, and I could tell you two needed to have that conversation." stated Tano who asked, "but I need to know if you were going to keep that from me."
"No, I would never keep something like that from you." assured Galen.
"I know, Starguy," Ahsoka replied, "I just wanted to hear you say it out loud." and met his gaze with a cute grin, "And I know you can see shatter points. Was her love confession one of them?"
"I believe so."
Visas asked, "Ahsoka Tano, I know I am not the love of his life, but do you know how much you mean to him?
You are everything to him… he loves you more than life itself."
"I know… now c'mere, Vis. You need a hug." answered Snips who gently hugged the young Miraluka.
"I thank you for the gesture of affection and comfort, Ahsoka Tano." appreciated Visas who returned the embrace.
Shortly thereafter.
As Tano scouted the camp's perimeter, she was approached by a shadowy spectral figure, in black robes and a white skeletal mask.
It made a shrieking sound reminiscent of the Nazgul, ignited a crimson blade, then attacked Ahsoka who quickly blocked a strike before was lifted off the ground by the Force, and sent flying into a tree by red lightning whilst screaming in agony, landing on her stomach.
In what one could mistake for the black speech of Mordor, Darth Nihilus hissed as Ahsoka, who'd jumped to her feet, struggled against him, as any Jedi would, but managed to stay alive despite being outmatched.
5 mins later.
The Lord of Hunger outstretched its hand and began draining her life force and energy whilst pinning her to the ground with the Force before a powerful blast of electric judgment sent him crashing onto the ground.
Not even needing to look at him to know he was there, Ahsoka sighed in relief as Galen appeared, his bright white blade in hand.
Gazing upon the Mandalorian, Nihilus let out a Nazgul-like shriek, then advanced like the shadows born of clouds and slashed at Galen who swiftly blocked and countered several strikes using both Mando Juyo and Vaapad in seamless unison.
As his friend slowly staggered to her feet, the Mandalorian leapt between them and Nihilus, "I'll handle this, get back to base,"
With a grunt of pain, Ahsoka protested, "I won't leave you!"
"Soka you've done well," praised Galen who authoritatively said, "but leave him to me, this ends now." before Ahsoka reluctantly retreated to the base.
After blocking an attack from Nihilus who'd turned invisible, Galen sensed where the shadow lingered even in the darkness of Umbara and saw him with Force sight, "Your illusions will no longer work on me, Wraith!" and cast a wave of electricity, revealing the Dark Lord's form as it became visible and hissed in pain.
"For Mandalore!" called the young Mando before his adversary cast red lightning at him, but he sent it back through his blade.
The Wraith of death shrieked, "I am the darkness in which all light dies." and caught Marek by the throat, trying to drain Galen's life force, only to feel searing pain and burn at the touch, then twin purple shoto blades slashed across its back, making it gasp in further agony and drop Galen.
Turning, Nihilus impaled the suddenly arrived Visas who gasped in shock, dropping her sabers which extinguished as she fell to the ground.
"Noooo!" screamed Galen whose tremendous Force signature was completely unveiled, no longer masked, hidden or suppressed.
Fuelled by his determination to bring this abomination to justice, he glowed starlight white with his eyes burning fiery blue.
Pure Force energy surged through him as he rose to his feet with the ground itself trembling beneath him.
One with the Force as his ally, Marek unleashed a mighty wave of pure light side energy causing an explosion of white light, vanquishing Nihilus, disintegrating his mask, and cleansing Umbara of the poison of the dark side through its shatter points.
Force sensitives throughout the galaxy felt the immense shockwaves in the Force which followed.
Guided by the Force, an exhausted Marek knelt beside the lifeless Visas, cradled her in his arms, gently cupped her cheek as a tear dripped onto her wound which began to heal itself, and gently kissed her ice cold lips, restoring life to her.
"I… love… you." exhaled Visas before the pair of them passed out.
Elsewhere in the galaxy.
Interior: Dromund Kaas, Imperial Citadel, throne room.
Sensing the disturbances, The Emperor's eyes shot open.
Later.
Interior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian Knights enclave, infirmary.
Luminara assessed Visas and Marek's conditions, "Now I better understand why Aayla calls him a starbird.
And his willpower's as strong as he is with the Force."
"So he's too stubborn to die?"
"That's one way to put it. His life force has significantly strengthened, as has his power in the Force.
But I sense a whisper within him… an echo, the nature of which I am uncertain of."
Shocked, Maris and Ahsoka's jaws dropped, "Wait, what?"
Rushing in, Anakin's eyes widened in horror as he fell to his knees, and Ahsoka brought him into a gentle hug.
Obi-Wan entered, covered his mouth in shock, and shed a tear.
Jango was visibly horrified, "Be strong, ad'ika, please don't leave us, we need you. I need you, son."
Boba looked at his big brother, "Wake up, Ori'Vod, don't you dare die on me."
As she knelt by Galen's bedside, Aayla gently held his hand, softly said, "Come home to us, please." and kissed his temple, "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, ner precious Star'ika.
Come home to us, son. Cuyanir… survive, my precious Starbird."
Three days later.
As his eyes suddenly shot open, Galen sat up and took in his surroundings, then Ahsoka, Visas and Maris rushed over and gently hugged him.
Returning the embrace, he softly said, "Love you,"
In unison, his companions replied, "Love you too."
"How long was I out?"
Maris answered, "Three standard days."
He opened his hand revealing a white crystal from which he sensed a deep connection to the light side of the Force, "What's all this?" and noticed a ton of cards and confectionery.
Maris answered, "Tokens and get well cards."
The first card he opened read, "My dear Galen, I hope you recover soon, so I can kill you myself for worrying me so much.
Sike… I absolutely love and adore you, and I always will, Honey.
Get well soon, and don't hesitate to call if you need me.
Lots of love, yours sincerely, Aurra'Buir."
Galen chuckled, "Love you too," as he finished reading Sing's card.
Another read, "Dear Galen or Kane, either way's fine, I hope you get well soon.
If you take too long to recover, I'm stealing your next quarries.
You'll always be in my sights, but never my crosshairs, handsome.
Lots of love, Fennec, xoxo."
"How did she even know?" chuckled Galen.
"Dear General Galen, I hope your recovery is faster than a YT-1300 using rhydonium. Love from Iden."
"Dear Galen, I hope your recovery goes well and that we see you again soon. Love from Juno."
Yet another card read, "Dear Galen, I wish you all the best in your hopefully swift and speedy recovery.
And I hope to see you again soon, old friend.
Lots of love, kisses, and warm hugs from yours sincerely, Senator Riyo Chuchi, xoxoxo."
"She's always been really sweet and adorable." said Marek who smiled at the Pantoran's card.
Maris grinned, "Someone's popular with all the ladies."
"Dear Galen, wishing you all the best in your recovery.
Kindest regards and lots of love, Padme." read another card.
Another read, "Dear Galen, I wish you a swift recovery, and hope you're well.
Kindest regards and lots of love, Senator Mon Mothma."
"Dear Galen/Mandalore, we sincerely hope you recover quickly.
Best wishes and kindest regards, Senator Bail Organa and Queen Breha Organa of Alderaan." read another card.
"Thank you, House Organa," said Galen.
"Dear Mand'alor, I wish you a swift recovery, sincerely King Dendup of Onderon." read another card.
"For someone who keeps his distance from the politicians, they seem to like you a lot," noted Tano.
"Some more than others.
My instincts and the Force tell me which ones I can trust."
A card written in Huttese read, "Salutations, Lord Mandalore, his high exaltedness, the great Jabba the Hutt hopes you will soon recover."
"Who knew Jabba could write?" asked Maris.
"He can't, that's Bib Fortuna's hand-writing." replied Marek.
Via holo-recording, Dooku said, "Dear Galen, I wish you all the best in your recovery, and hope you emerge stronger than ever.
You're an exceptional young man whom I hope has a long and fulfilling life with all the happiness, peace and prosperity you deserve.
Best wishes and kindest regards, most sincerely Count Dooku of Serenno.
May the Force be with you, always."
Another card read, "Young Galen, sincerely, a swift recovery, I wish you. My best wishes, send you, I do."
"Speech to text, failed Yoda, you have." giggled Ahsoka.
Later.
Exterior: Concord Dawn, Mandalorian Knights enclave, park.
Galen sat with Anakin, Aayla, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Shaak Ti, Ahsoka, Visas and Maris.
Secura asked, "How do you feel, Star?"
"Different, fully energized, stronger than before, and far more powerful."
Visas tightly hugged Galen, "I am most relieved that you're alive, my love." not surprising anyone.
"Thank you, Vis, and I'm honored to be loved by you," replied Marek, kindly, making Visas smile, before Ahsoka fiercely kissed him as if marking her territory.
"It seems Ahsoka's reminding you all that we Togruta are predatory hunters." mused Ti, making the others chuckle.
Mando'a translations.
Su'cuy - Hello.
Buir - Father/Mother.
Ad'ika - Son/Daughter.
Ti'Buir - Momma Ti.
Ori'vod - big brother.
Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum - I love you.
Ner - my.
Star'ika - little star.
Cuyanir - survive.
Aurra'Buir - Momma Aurra.