Interior: Foundry, hangar.
Interior: Rogue Shadow, cockpit.
Picking up an encrypted transmission, Juno ordered, "Identify yourself,"
"This is Fulcrum with an urgent message," answered a distorted voice, "I don't have much time, one of the Emperor's Dread Masters is enroute to-" before the transmission abruptly ended.
Via radio, she informed, "Eclipse to Starkiller, we've received a transmission from one of our Fulcrum agents.
The Emperor's sending a Dread Master somewhere, but Fulcrum's transmission was cut short before they could tell me where he's headed.
I think they're in trouble,"
"If we move to extract them, and it turns out they're fine, they'll be compromised because of us.
Be patient, and focus on the task at hand for now."
"Yes, Sir."
Exterior: Takodana, Maz's castle.
"How can I help you, Master Jedi? Or is it my Lord?" asked a young man with fair skin, rugged dark brown hair, hazel-green eyes, a brown jacket, and a Wookie by his side.
"I'm not a Jedi or Sith, I'm just a guy with a lightsaber," dismissed a young man with fair skin, short brown hair, and hazel eyes, "I need to get somewhere fast, and avoid any and all Sith and Imperial entanglements."
"We do," interjected Jedi Shadow Siri Tachi.
"I can take you where you need to go, for the right price."
"We'll tell you where we're going when we're off world."
"In some kind of trouble?"
"The less you know about what we do, the better, kid."
"Then I want 20,000 in advance, mystery man."
"I don't have it with me, but my associates will compensate you for the trip and any complications on the way."
The Wookie gave a low growl of approval.
"Okay, let's get underway."
"Got a name, kid?"
"Han Solo."
Later.
Exterior: Space.
Exterior: The Foundry.
Interior: Millennium Falcon, cockpit.
"What the hell is that?" questioned Solo.
"Our destination, there's a contact I need to meet." answered Fulcrum.
"If they shoot us down, you're paying for the repairs."
"Fair enough." agreed the spies before the ship was caught in a tractor beam.
"Hang on, they've got us."
Interior: Foundry, hangar.
As the YT-1300 landed, Fulcrum and Siri disembarked with lightsabers in hand.
Fulcrum sighed in relief as he saw Juno and a dozen Mandos, "Captain Eclipse, I assume?
The Empire's on its way, and I couldn't get the message through earlier."
"Fulcrum?" asked Juno, with her blaster raised.
"I guess it's time I properly introduced myself.
Name's Kyle… Kyle Katarn."
"And I'm Agent Siri Tachi of the Jedi Shadows." chimed in Tachi.
Disembarking, Chewbacca and Han were stopped by two Mandos.
"They're with me." informed Siri, "They gave us a ride here."
"They're civilians, and this is a military operation!" reprimanded Mace, "you should know better than this, Tachi!"
"What were you two thinking, by hiring smugglers?" questioned Iden, irritated.
"Well, sorry, sweetheart," chimed in Han, as he abruptly took Versio's hand, "but I'm sure yours truly can make it up to you."
Staring Solo dead in the eyes, Iden suddenly flipped him onto his back, "That might work on the streets of Corellia, but not with me.
Now get off your shebs."
"Yes, ma'am," muttered Han as he picked himself up.
"Smooth, kid," chuckled Kyle.
Turning to Katarn and Tachi, Iden ordered, "Mand'alor will want to see you, so head to the command centre.
That's an order, Agents."
"You can't give me orders." pointed out Siri.
"And I don't even know the layout of this place," protested Kyle.
As she stepped forward, Ursa interjected, "I will take you to him."
"Wait, Mandalore?" asked Han as he looked at Kyle, "What the hell have you dragged me into, Katarn?"
"Calm down, kid." chuckled Siri as Chewie gave a small growl.
Interior: Foundry, command centre.
Bringing the spy and smugglers with her, Ursa informed, "My Lord, you have visitors."
Taking off his helmet as he looked at the Wookie, Galen asked, "Chewbacca? Is that you?" before the Wookie ran up and hugged him, "Good to see you too, Chewie."
Clearing his throat, Katarn greeted, "Su'cuy, Mand'alor."
"Su cuy'gar, Katarn," returned Galen, "jate to haa'taylir gar."
"I'm Han Solo, by the way," chimed in Solo.
"Statement: nobody asked, meatbag," interjected HK-47 before Katarn briefed them.
"Galen Marek? Wow, you're all grown up," observed Siri.
"Agent Siri Tachi. It's been a long time."
"You look so much like Kento, in a good way."
"Thanks," appreciated Marek, "So… Do you still have that crush on Obi-Wan?"
"Oh, shut up," muttered Tachi as her cheeks flushed, much to Ahsoka's amusement.
"Now, is that any way to talk to a Jetii Master?" teased Galen.
"You're a Master? Since when?" gasped a bewildered Siri, "I thought you were still a Padawan."
"I was made a Master after the battle of Florrum."
Looking over Marek's shoulder, Siri tensed at the sight of the red and grey mask, "Galen, is that who I think it is?"
As Revan approached, Galen gestured, "Siri, Revan.
Revan, Siri."
"What exactly is this place?" asked Han.
"The less you know, the better, Solo." dismissed Marek.
"At least give me something."
"This space station was built by an ancient race that once ruled the galaxy.
This place is powered by the dark side of the Force."
"Dark magic powered space station from a bygone era, got it." shrugged Han.
"That would be the abridged version." mused Plo Koon, "and you were offered payment, I assume?"
"Katarn said I'd get paid when this adventure's over.
Time required costs extra, even if it's just waiting around for the all clear to leave."
"The Republic will compensate you for your services."
"By the way, are you doing okay, Galen?" asked Tachi, concerned, "I heard about your brother being alive, and a Sith Lord, and all that."
"I can't let him get in the way of my mission, but I'd rather not have to kill him."
"Yes or no to being okay? Because your Force presence is all kinds of strange."
"I'll live, but what about you?
Are you doing okay?"
"I'll show you," sighed Siri who held Galen's hand, triggering his psychometry.
Stepping back from her, Marek stated, "You need to take a break from the war to recentre yourself, have a full medical assessment, and get some rest and recovery.
This is not just a friendly suggestion, Siri'ika.
It's an order, and you will follow it."
"After we leave this place, I'll take a break," assured Tachi.
"You'd better, or I'll drag you, by the ear, somewhere for a meditative retreat myself," playfully threatened Barriss, "even if you're kicking and screaming."
"Of course, Knight Offee." chuckled Siri, "hey, can Galen still fly like Peter Pan?"
"I can," confirmed Starkiller, "and I do."
"Then why do you wear a jetpack? Is it a fashion statement?"
"He can't, it's impossible," scoffed Solo.
Setting down his jetpack, Galen weightlessly ascended into the air, "You were saying, kid?"
"You might have small repulsor-lift generators in your boots."
"Believe what you want, Han." shrugged Galen as he gracefully landed on his feet.
Momentarily thereafter.
As she sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, Offee closed her eyes, and opened herself up to the Force.
After a few minutes, an overwhelming chill ran down her spine, and she screamed in terror as she fell backwards onto the floor, shivering.
"Barriss!" gasped Galen, rushing to her side.
"I feel so cold, and there's so much darkness here," quietly said Barriss, breathing heavily as tears trickled down her cheeks, "I'm scared, Star… help me, please?"
"C'mere, Barr," softly said Galen who removed his helmet before Offee launched herself into his arms, "it's going to be okay, Barr."
"Hold me," pleaded Barriss, "you make me feel safe, Star,"
As he embraced his petrified friend, Galen gently sent warm feelings to her through the Force, "You're safe, Barr'ika, and I will be here whenever you need me,"
"Thank you," gratefully replied Offee, "I love you, Galen."
"I love you too, Barriss," returned Starkiller, "and you're not alone, you'll never be alone."
Everyone watched them in adoration of their bond.
As he turned to Plo, Caleb asked, "Why aren't I being so overwhelmed by the darkness here?"
"Knight Barriss is far more experienced and attuned to the Force than you are thus far, young Caleb.
The more attuned you are, the worse disturbances in the Force can affect you.
And as you know, Barriss is quite a gifted Knight, and very powerful in her own right."
"Oh!" gasped Dume who rushed over and hugged Offee, much to her gratitude.
"Thank you, Caleb," appreciated Barriss who returned the embrace, and kissed the Padawan's cheek, "did you ever decide if Galen's your older brother or your father?"
"He's the father I never had, even though we initially considered each other brothers," mused Caleb, "so he's both."
"It's really sweet of him."
"Barriss, do you love Galen romantically?" innocently asked Dume.
"Yes, I deeply love him, and I might've taken a more personal interpretation of what Lumi'Buir tells me."
"Oh?"
"She tells me, in the night, to find the light.
And Galen's Force signature is brighter than a star.
So I sometimes interpret that as 'find Galen'."
"Fair enough."
As he stood by his heir, Revan inquired, "Still planning to cleanse the Foundry of the Dark side?"
"It should still be operational without the taint of the dark side, so I should test that theory before the Empire arrives."
"That's a wise decision, Galen," agreed Meetra's spirit, "but you must be swift."
As Ahsoka, Plo, Revan, Cordova, Visas, Shaak Ti, Siri, Kyle, Caleb, Meetra, Atton, and Barriss meditated in sync with him, Galen serenely recited, "Ni 'cuy solus ti te Force, bal te Force cuyir ti Ni.
I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me."
Radiating a bright golden aura, Galen delved deeper into the Force as a whole.
"You will have gone from being both a Sith Lord and Jedi Master to the saviour of our galaxy, Galen," said the disembodied voice of Mallie Marek, "and I am so very proud of you."
"The darkness and the light wage unending war, yet they remain at peace within you.
Saviour, conquer, hero, villain.
You are all things, Galen, yet you belong to neither the light nor the darkness." said the disembodied voice of Malak.
"You are far rarer than you could possibly know, and what you have taught yourself must not be allowed to die." whispered the disembodied voice of Kreia.
"The Force will be with you, always." assured the disembodied voice of Kento.
30 mins later.
As Galen and his companions finished and rose to their feet, the present Force sensitives felt a rush of warmth and light wash over them as if the Sun had risen for the first time.
As the voices ceased, Galen opened his eyes to see the shocked and relieved looks of his peers.
"It worked." confirmed Shaak, "you did it."
"We did, Ti." corrected Galen, "it was a team effort."
"I'm very proud of you, Star, and Aayla will be too."
"Thank you, Shaak."
"For those of us who don't feel the Force, mind telling us what it's like?" asked Bo-Katan, "you all look like you're glowing."
"Imagine waking, and hearing the heartbeat of the galaxy for the first time." answered Shaak Ti.
"Finding the light within your soul where it was once shrouded in darkness," added Offee.
"A current that passes through you, and carries you with it to all the places it touches." added Galen.
"Like that split-second feeling on the swings before you come back down." added Caleb.
"Feeling whole in ways you never knew were possible." chimed in Jaq.
Visas softly said, "To feel the Force is to hear a song with the sweetest melody, and see where no-one else can see."
"The warmth of the sun without glare, you can feel its light and heat, but there is no harshness to it." finished Revan.
Mando'a translations.
Mand'alor - sole ruler of the Mandalorians.
Su'cuy - hello.
Su cuy'gar - so you're still alive.
Vod - brother.
Jate to haa'taylir gar - good to see you.
Jetii - Jedi.
Lumi'Buir - Momma Luminara.
Barr'ika - little Barriss.
Siri'ika - little Siri.
Shebs - ass.
Ni 'cuy solus ti te Force, bal te Force cuyir ti ni - I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me.