Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm evening of Wednesday, August 2, 2023? I'm doing well, as I'm almost done with this story, and it's been a great labor of love and diligence. And to think I still have two more to go before I can conclude this epic saga. But before I can finish this story, I have one more character interlude to complete, this one being three chapters long and will be about Master K'Kruhk and how he came to be involved with Edaan Palpatine. It'll be a great piece and will be followed by the epilogue and allowing me to take a breather to reassess my strategy for the rest of the saga. In other news, I'm reading a great book on Tucker Carlson that came out yesterday, and it's a spectacular piece so far. I checked it out from my local library a few hours ago, and I plan to finish it in a few days before returning it and resuming the spiritual diaries of Pope Saint John Paul II. Well, with all the small talk out of the way, I'd best get started on this chapter. May the Lord be with us all in these mad times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!

Melona 26th, 56 ABY

Wild Space, Yanibar

Eastern Hemisphere, Zeila Plateaus

He felt the storm coming long before it reached the mountains. Being a well-seasoned traveler of countless worlds over his century-plus existence, the Whiphid knew time was running out to look for his contact. Having spent the last three days searching for the Zeison Sha acolyte across the desolate landscape, he would soon be forced to return to his ship and retreat to safer havens, unless he found her within the next two or three hours.

But the Whiphid couldn't give up, not with the information the acolyte promised him and the supposed danger it represented for the Wild Space world and the galaxy at large. If this Dark Side phenomenon slowly seeping across the entire planet grew too potent, darker minds would soon turn their attention to this world. Whether the Zeison Sha liked it or not, it was time to stop their isolationist ways, rejoin the galaxy as full-fledged equals, and end their ancient and pointless grudge with the Jedi Order.

Instinctively sensing that this storm was unnatural in origins, the Whiphid suddenly picked up the familiar scent of blood in the air and realized that someone was injured and close by. Hurrying as fast as his bulky and Force-enhanced legs could carry him, he climbed up a plateau to a nearby cave over the mountainside and saw the injured Rodian woman – his contact, he realized- sitting beside a glowpack and clutching her bleeding side.

From what the Whiphid could immediately discern, his friend suffered from multiple deep lacerations across her side and shoulders, with severe amounts of blood splattered all over the gritty floor. To make matters worse, her gaunt face and many empty rations packs implied how she had been here for at least a week. And from the woman's flickering presence in the Force and lack of awareness of her guest, she didn't have much time left before she died from her wounds and malnourishment.

Acting fast, the self-exiled Jedi Master pressed a button on his wrist gauntlet, and then hurried to the woman's side. Gently placing a hand on her forehead, he began pouring healing Force energies into her while pulling out a medkit out of his robes with his free hand. Injecting several stimulants and placing bacta patches on her wounds, he felt her start to stir, and he gently assured her, "Rest easy, Talia. You're going to be all right. I'm going to get you out of here and back to civilization right away."

Struggling to stay awake, Talia weakly murmured, "K'Kruhk… Need to… give you this." Struggling to reach into her bloodstained robes, she gently placed a data chip into the Whiphid Jedi's medkit.

Seeing the act, K'Kruhk earnestly promised, "I'll look over it once we get you safely aboard the Wandering Pilgrim. Just rest now."

Wearily nodding, Talia's head rolled to a side as she lost consciousness again, but K'Kruhk knew his friend would make it through this alive now. After about fifteen minutes of waiting and applying new bandages to the Rodian's side, he heard the familiar roar of his ship's engines, and gently carried his patient and medkit into the armed shuttle.

Once the medical droids hooked Talia up to the appropriate life-support equipment and ordering his crew to take the Wandering Pilgrim back towards civilization, K'Kruhk took the information packet to his ship's computer and set to work on decoding it.

After about an hour of efforts, the encryption was cracked, and what K'Kruhk discovered from Talia's investigation deeply disturbed him. With all the information on the origins of the storms and other Dark Side activities occurring across Yanibar, it was all the proof he needed to convince the rest of the stubborn Zeison Sha to cooperate with the Jedi in combating the direct threat to them.

And it was at last time for the Clone War veteran and survivor of the Great Jedi Purge to reveal himself to the reborn Jedi Order and meet with its rising stars. It would be quite interesting for K'Kruhk to see first-hand just what Edaan Palpatine and the rest of the Jedi's prodigies were capable of, and to see if this Jedi Order had learnt from the failings of its past iteration and its own failings in recent years. First, he would get Talia to safety and convince the Zeison Sha's High Council to finally accept outsider help, then he would do some more scouting and fully verify his contact's information.

Melona 30th, 56 ABY

Shedu Maad, Jedi Temple

Council Chambers

"You've fully verified the signal's validity and coordinates, right?" Corran Horn asked the Jedi Master standing before the Council. After receiving a Jedi distress signal from the distant world of Yanibar last night, deep in Wild Space known for its protectors in the Jedi offshoot organization of the Zeison Sha, the Grand Master had the Temple's best analytics decode it to ensure the message it held was the genuine article.

"Everything checks out. It's an old code used by Jedi from the final days of the Clone War, but the message was easy enough to decipher, and its contents were quite disturbing." Tam Azur-Jamin nodded. "If the transmission was genuine, then the Zeison Sha, much as they would hate to admit it, will need our help in expunging this influx of Dark Side energy from Yanibar."

"But that still leaves us with several questions." Kam Solusar cautiously pointed out. "How did the Zeison Sha come across this supposed Dark Side nexus, and who is their contact who knows old Jedi distress signals? And if we send representatives to Yanibar, we might be sending them to their doom, should this be a trap."

"Are you suggesting we do nothing, Master Solusar?" Barratk'l, Yuuzem Jedi Master and an advocate of proactive measures of the Council, challenged Kam. "If we ignore this growing danger to the people of Yanibar, then we risk letting an entire world succumb to the Dark Side and betray our very creed."

"Yes, but there is still the matter of how this mysterious contact knew how to reach us, and our members that they requested journey to Yanibar." Cilghal reminded everyone. "Asking specifically for Apprentices Palpatine and Djo Solo among the representatives is a most unusual request. I believe we'd be better off sending seasoned Knights and a Master instead. If we hope to establish better relations with the Zeison Sha, we'd ought to send a proper delegation."

Jaina Solo Fel, noting Kyle's grim demeanor, asked her longtime friend and her predecessor to the prestigious title of Jedi Battlemaster, "You've been quieter than usual, Grand Master. I take it you have your own thoughts to give on the matter?"

Nodding, Kyle spoke up, "There is merit to all you are saying. If we send a team to the bastion of the Zeison Sha, an order that normally wishes nothing to do with us, it could send repercussions across the galaxy that risk everything we've sought to build."

"However, if we do nothing in response to this growing danger, it is only a matter of time before the Lost Tribe or the One Sith take notice and send their own to take advantage of the crisis." Kyle pointed out. "Therefore, I agree that we should send a team to Yanibar and attempt to open dialogue with the Zeison Sha."

"But what of their request to have our apprentices take the lead in this mission?" Tionne Solusar patiently reminded the Grand Master. "Should we not send Jedi Knights to take charge, given the hostility our team will undoubtably face when they reach Yanibar?"

"I think we should do this one on the Zeison Sha's terms." Kyp suddenly spoke up, surprising everyone with his sudden remark and its atypical conceding to outside influence. "Call it a hunch, but I believe there's more to this request than meets the eye. And our best Apprentices are more than ready to lead a diplomatic mission after all their training and experience representing our Order on the front lines."

Before anyone could try to contradict Kyp, he continued, "That does not mean we shouldn't send a few Knights, and perhaps a couple Masters to assist them, but we can consider this mission a test for them to see how close they are towards undertaking the Jedi Trials. And by sending our young to represent us, we'll give the Zeison Sha a firsthand look at how we've differed from the Jedi Order they were on such terrible terms with. Hopefully by the time we finish our mission there, they'll be ready to reevaluate their hardliner stance on us and move towards better relations with us and the rest of the galaxy."

Slowly nodding an approval of Kyp's assessment, Kyle decided, "Then you'd best figure out which of our Apprentices will undertake this mission, and who will work with them while they're on Yanibar. You have two days before you all set out."

"Just like that?" Kam skeptically questioned. "Are you sure this is the best course of action?"

"Honestly, I think it's the only path we can take that doesn't result in disaster." Kyle forebodingly answered, sending small shivers up virtually everyone's spines at the ominous warning.

Yelona 5th, 56 ABY

Yanibar Stratosphere

Aboard the YT-2400 Light Freighter Liberator

"Can you all feel it?" Kyp warily asked his fellow Jedi while they waited for clearance to land in Yanibar's sole spaceport. "I've never seen or sensed anything like this before. This expansion of darkness… it's unnatural how fast it spread."

While hovering above the planet for the last two hours, waiting as the planet's customs officers searched through ship after ship to ensure that no illegal imports or fugitives made their way onto their world, the covert team took advantage of the delay by investigating the growing miasma of Dark Side energy spreading throughout the planet. Barely able to withstand the fog of power's backlash from the probe, Jaden and Kyp, leading the eight Jedi's efforts to learn all they could of this new phenomenon, were able to determine that the center of this force was deep within Yanibar's eastern mountains.

Soon reeling from how virulent and entrenched it was across over half the planet's surface, the Jedi immediately realized how desperate the situation truly was, and how they would need far more of their number if they hoped to save this distant world.

Jaden, breaking the brief layer of tension filling the ship, noted, "I think everyone can sense the danger coming from below. The best question to ask is how can we hope to combat it?"

"I doubt we can." Allana worriedly answered. "Not without help, and that would be a vital and unlikely luxury this far from mainstream civilization and our allies." Unless the Zeison Sha had suddenly reversed their longstanding anti-Jedi stance, the Jedi would have to either make do with the numbers they sent or call upon its friendship with other Force groups to bolster their small team of eight Jedi. And with the group forced to operate in disguise as traders looking to ply their technological goods across Wild Space to avoid arousing suspicion from the world's wary inhabitants, they were short on options until they could meet with their supposed contacts within the isolationist Force sect.

Interrupting the tense conversation, Edaan, having put down his headset, concernedly stated, "We've gotten approval to land, but there might be a complication. Customs officers implied, rather strongly, that were to head directly for the Temple of Sha Kalan and meet with the Zeison Sha."

"Did you tell them who we are?" Octa warily asked Edaan, knowing his idealistic and honest nature often led him into difficult and otherwise avoidable scenarios and dangers.

"No." Edaan truthfully answered. "They just told us to move with all due haste and prepare to meet with our 'elder member' once we make it to the Zeison Sha's main abode, and they wouldn't say anything else about the matter."

Gulping, Edaan anxiously added, "They also knew about the Apprentices on this mission and referenced me and Allana by name."

The three other Jedi Apprentices grew apprehensive at the disclosure, with the sole Quarren among them, Nrin Tassel, suspiciously guessing, "Someone gave us out."

"That can't be." Shiel Taan, a Togruta male and the last Apprentice among the group, ardently dismissed. "Only a few within and outside the Jedi Order knew of this mission, and all were trusted friends of us."

Turning to the eldest Jedi among them, Octa asked Kyp, "What's the plan here? Do we turn back for now or wait until we can get reinforcements out here?"

Running a hand through his grey hair, the elder Council member considered his options without voice, and quickly decided, "If we don't figure out what's going on now, if we don't take the opportunity to forge lasting ties with the Zeison Sha, we may lose this one chance and doom this world to eternal darkness. We have to take the risk."

Delegating orders to his fellow Jedi, Kyp told everyone, "I'm going to send a transmission to Shedu Maad. If they don't hear from us in the next six days, then they're to send immediate reinforcements and finish our task."

"Why six days?" Juul, Weequay Jedi Knight and prodigy healer of the Order, concernedly asked. "By the time it takes for the Order to reach deploy another team and arrive, and at the rate this dark infection is spreading across the planet, it might not be possible to get here in time to make a difference."

"That's why I'm adding to the message to have the Council redeploy what teams they can spare to be on watch just outside the system." Kyp nodded. "It won't be easy, but Grand Master said he could spare at least twenty more Jedi Knights and a few Masters before the six days conclude."

The added affirmation assured the rest of the Jedi, knowing that help would soon be close by if they needed, just as the ship lurched from Octa piloting the vessel down beneath the planet's storms. And from the way the ship shook from the turbulence, everyone quickly returned to their stations preparing for a fight, only to be buffeted by a typhoon of Dark Side energy represented from the amassing storms across the region.

"Hang on, everyone!" Octa called out. "We're all in for some rough flying until we reach the temple."

Something was unusual about these storms, Edaan realized. How could such a heavy concentration of dark energy have been accumulated and released so quickly? The only Force presence out here was supposed to be the Zeison Sha, and for all their hatred of Jedi, they were primarily a Light Side order.

There were many questions the Jedi force had to ask their hosts on whatever information they held about this disturbing phenomenon. Of course, provided they would be given enough grace and the benefit of the doubt to speak their piece to the Zeison Sha in time to make a difference.

Deep Space, Esstran Sector

In the Nebulae of the Stygian Caldera

Aboard the CEC Consular-class Cruiser Dark Beauty

Within the ancient and natural first line of defense for the Sith worlds of old, the avowed Jedi Hunter awaited orders from her patrons on their next mission for her. Having been promised a hefty pay for simply meeting with the One Sith for this job, the onetime Jedi Youngling-turned-mercenary would have been a fool for passing up the opportunity, no matter how much the Sith unsettled her. Besides, the chance to kill more of her most hated enemies and cash in on the bounties on the Jedi Order was always a boon for Aurra Sing, and she always had a need for money in her constantly dangerous line of work.

At last, after two days of waiting, Aurra's heavily modified ship had picked up a new signal coming out of hyperspace. And from her adequate Force Senses and well-honed instincts, she knew it was her contacts. But when her holonet transceiver came to life, she was surprised and disappointed to see a droid contacting her, a humanoid and faceless droid with four arms and having undergone extensive modifications for combat and medical purposes. She would have made a snide remark before recognizing the mechanical intelligence as a veteran of two Sith Orders and restrained herself from insulting 11-4D.

"I see your time as a fugitive yet again from the Jedi and their puppet governments has reeducated you in the art of patience, having waited this long already." 11-4D approvingly appraised the bounty hunter. "The others should be arriving in the next few minutes. Then we can discuss the parameters and fees for each of your fellow mercenaries for undertaking this mission."

"Anything you care to share that my late competitors don't already know? Aurra testily asked. "If I'm going to be working with others of lesser caliber than myself, then I need to know how we're going to be deployed against the Jedi and whoever they're working with."

"You'll be sent to Yanibar," 11-4D began, a hologram of the barren world appearing in the droid's place. "to among other matters, investigate a sudden surge of Dark Side energy spreading across the planet and blunting the Jedi's efforts. You'll be accompanied by thirty Sith, and under the command of Lord Takaris Yur for the mission's duration."

Takaris Yur. Aurra knew that name from the wanted posters across the galaxy for one of the few surviving High Lords of the Lost Tribe of the Sith, and one of the earliest defectors to Darth Krayt's faction after his order's decimation on Coruscant twelve years earlier. A cautious and highly competent Sith, well versed in the lore of the Dark Side and instructing the next generation of leaders for both orders, the human was well respected by all under the One Sith's command and under their employ.

A good choice, as far as Aura was concerned for leading this expedition. But that was not the most immediate concern she held about this mysterious mission. Yanibar was a distant world, inhabited by only the most desperate or mad to inhabit Wild Space and an isolationist Force Order that wanted nothing to do with the rest of the galaxy, especially the Jedi, having been abandoned by them over two millennia ago and nursing a hatred that could easily rival and even surpass her own.

What were the Jedi thinking, traveling to a world that all but had a death warrant on their order? Even if these Dark Side storms threatened the fools who called this planet home, the Zeison Sha would rather die than accept their help. There had to be an ulterior motive for this mission, and Aurra needed to know what it was before she committed to anything.

Before Aurra could ask any more questions, 11-4D approvingly noted, "Ah. It seems the rest of our party have just arrived. Now, you can get all the answers you wish, Lady Sing."

Analyzing the Dark Beauty's sensor readings to see what the droid was talking about, Aurra recognized six of the ships from her many years as a freelancer and realized that this mission was of utmost importance to the One Sith to call upon all these bounty hunters of such notorious repute. And if the Jedi undertaking this mad quest met a disastrous end, then that would be all the payment she wished, even if she would still take the credits Krayt would offer her.

Yelona 6th, 56 ABY

Yanibar, Northern Hemisphere

Within Temple of Sha Kalan

Out of all the diverse array of locations Edaan had traveled to on the Jedi's behalf, this one had to be the most hostile he had been to so far. Combined with the Dark Side storms increasingly wreaking havoc across the entire planet and the fear and resentment that could be felt from all the inhabitants of the Zeison Sha's primary temple, one could find more cheer in a graveyard if they so desired.

And after fifteen hours of waiting for the Zeison Sha's High Council to meet with them, the antagonism arrayed against the Jedi was threatening to boil over into a frenzy of paranoia and aggression. The few members of the isolationist Force school that tried being friendly and curious with their distant elder order were quickly brought in line by their more orthodox peers, while everyone else gave their guests a healthy distance between them. That is, aside from those who challenged the Jedi to a bout to try and show them how inferior their ways were to the family-oriented methods of the frontier Force order.

If this was a test or an act of spite by their hosts, it was not going to end well for anyone if matters continued to deteriorate at this rapid pace. Already, all the Apprentices were bristling at the hateful accusations the Zeison Sha hurled at them, yearning to show them just how wrong they were about their guests and demonstrate the value of Jedi instruction. It was only by drawing on their calming techniques and remembering that there were more important matters to deal with that they stayed their hand. Besides, there would be other opportunities to show up these arrogant fools without risking a diplomatic incident.

Finally, an elder Zeison Sha, a Duros woman garbed in the armor of an instructor, stiffly greeted the Jedi, "The High Council will see you in their main chambers now. Please follow me and make sure not to fall behind or wander."

Nodding at their guide, Kyp, Octa, and Jaden led the way, with everyone else following behind while taking a keen and analytical eye of their surroundings, noting the humble architecture marking this temple, but noting the stark differences between the Jedi and Zeison Sha's main headquarters.

Unlike either the Coruscant or Shedu Maad temples the Jedi utilized, the temple of Sha Kalan was much larger and had many more amenities to accommodate the families who also called this structure home. In all honesty, this bastion of stability and life on an otherwise desolate world was almost more of a private academy than the headquarters of a religious order, and it was a curious difference for Edaan and Allana, who momentarily fantasized what life would be like if they could have had a semblance or normal life with their families while avoiding the tragedies that shaped their lives.

So enraptured in their thoughts and old regrets, both Edaan and Allana lost their way from the group, taking a wrong turn somewhere between the archives and high council's chambers, and eventually wound up in a rather large medical bay. Seeing the many suspicious stares aimed at them by patients and doctors alike, the two longtime friends were prepared to exit when a wise and calming voice called out to them, "No, don't leave, please. I could use a few extra hands over here."

Seeing the origins of the voice, a Whiphid male, near the midlife point of his life cycle to the two Jedi's keen eyes, Allana quickly saw the patient he was tending to, and gently pulled Edaan along to offer their help. Coming up to the man, the Hapan princess offered, "We can help for a little while. Just tell us what to do."

Faintly smiling at his old friend's gentle and caring heart, Edaan followed Allana's lead, working alongside the Whiphid in helping change the Rodian woman's bandages and applying a fresh set of gauze and an IV pack when instructed while the heiress kept a watchful eye on the patient's vitals.

And throughout this assistance, somewhere in Edaan's memory, he felt he knew the doctor from a distant point in the history books. Not many Whiphids were known to take to the art of healing, nor did they wear a straw hat like the one their new friend wore. And the Force could gently be felt emanating off the unnamed medic, helping him to suspect exactly who this man might truly be.

Before he could ask any questions to verify his hunch, the Whiphid smiled and gratefully noted, "It's been a long time since I've seen even one Jedi. About a lifetime ago if my memory still serves me well, and I'm glad the Order has survived and flourished after the terrible purge the Empire wrought."

Allana, her task done of sedating the Rodian Zeison Sha, curiously asked the doctor, "Not many people out here hold a positive view of the Jedi, sir. I take it you're a bit of an experienced traveler to make such a claim."

"One might easily make such a guess, Allana Djo Solo." The unnamed healer nodded before adding, "But I didn't expect you nor Edaan Palpatine to be meeting with me so soon. I recall that your meeting with the High Council should be starting any minute now, so what are you both doing here at this moment?"

"We could ask you the same question, Master K'Kruhk." Edaan stoically asked, seeing if the name would cause a reaction from the suspected Jedi-in-hiding, getting a knowing and approving nod and small smile from the medic before adding, "I wouldn't expect one of the final unaccounted survivors of my ancestor's 'Great Jedi Purge' to be hiding out here, of all places. How did you come to be on Yanibar?"

"It's a rather long and tragic tale, Jedi Palpatine." K'Kruhk eluded. "But we'll have time to talk about my last few decades of exile after we meet up with the Grand Counselor and her other guests. I imagine they are growing rather worried about you all by this point."

"Then while we're walking over there, can you at least tell us what you know of these dark storms spreading across the planet?" Allana requested. "Since you're probably the one that sent the distress signal to Shedu Maad, you must know what's going on here."

"Nothing good." K'Kruhk agreed, washing his hands clean and calling two healers over to watch over his charge. "It seems that another lasting mark from Darth Sidious's legacy has emerged, and we need to act quickly if the Jedi and Zeison Sha hope to work together in banishing this infernal darkness."

"Tell me, what do you know of an Observatory?" K'Kruhk asked both Apprentices as he led them out of the hospital.

"Nothing good." Edaan grimly answered. "They were Sith repositories of forbidden artifacts and nexuses of Dark Side energy that threatened to corrupt any who try to breach their chambers. Virtually every Sith Empire throughout history used them, and only a handful of them have been uncovered to this day."

"Then you should be pleased to know that the Zeison Sha uncovered a Sidious-era one in the eastern mountains six months ago, and that's when the storms began gathering in strength." K'Kruhk answered. "The woman you helped me tend to, she pinpointed its exact location about three weeks ago and barely escaped with her life before I found her and brought her back here. From there, the Grand Counselor and I agreed to contact the Jedi Order and get her people the help they need in saving this world."

"Well, given what we've seen and felt so far, I think it's safe to assume that your assessment was spot on." Allana anxiously agreed, hearing a distant rumble from thunder, and knew that time was running out for this world. Either old wounds were put aside for the greater good, or all was lost for this distant planet.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! What did you think? I hope it was believable enough and set the stage for a good small misadventure for Edaan and the Jedi alongside the Zeison Sha. I hope to get this mini saga done within a week or two, and then get started on the epilogue for this story. So, how are you all doing on this warm night of Saturday, August 5, 2023? I'm all right, aside from being a bit worn out from volunteering this morning in the sweltering heat. But in other news, I read a good chunk of the Tucker Carlson book over the last few days, and I should be done with it by tomorrow or Monday at the latest. And I'm learning a lot of good stuff from it. Well, I guess that's it for tonight. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!