A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
Star Wars
Episode IX
Rise of the Order
The Republic is locked in a brutal war. The Coalition, led by Dark Master Ultor and his lieutenants, continues to spread its ideology across star systems, turning many systems against the Republic.
The Jedi must reckon with two fronts, earning the animosity of both the crime syndicates of the Coalition and the central authority of the Republic.
As Luke Skywalker tries to restore peace and stability in the galaxy, both Ultor and the renegade Kira Solo seek out a legendary master, someone who may hold the ultimate key to victory...
TRANDOSHA
The spiraling clouds of the Trandoshan homeworld blurred the thick, towering mosses of its forests and jungles.
Despite the white glow of the clouds, a prominent shadow formed over them with the three Republic cruisers that circled the orbit of the jungle planet.
Gunships were pouring from the cruisers, creating heavy traffic to and from the surface of Trandosha. On the vine-covered surface, near the brick-and stone cities, officers shouted orders as the men and women under their command marched into the villages.
Aboard the Black Ring, General Hoff Praxium spoke to the holographic figure of Supreme Commander Omas, Grand Vizier to the Chief of State as well as the head of the New Republic's military.
"Is the capital secured?" Omas asked his most trusted general.
"Affirmative, Vizier," Praxium replied, "Drussk will soon be forced to answer to our terms."
Commander McCallum led the 31st Brigade into the streets of Hsskhor, the Trandoshan capital.
The Wookiees of McCallum's ranks broke from their procedure and proceeded to grab unarmed Trandoshan civilians whenever they spotted them during the march.
Acting on an age-old hatred between the two species, the Wookiee Brigadiers slammed the conquered Trandoshans against the walls, which were nearly as covered in vine and moss as the forests nearby, and pounding their furry fists into the Trandoshans' scaly bellies.
"That's enough," McCallum said as he continued to lead the march, though he didn't sound very severe.
The Wookiees rejoined the ranks of the Brigade and continued the march through Hsskhor, leaving the bruised Trandoshans to lie on the vine-covered street.
Flanked by armored Republican Guards, Praxium now spoke to the hologram of the furious Senator Drussk.
"This is an outrage, General!" the Trandoshan leader bellowed, shaking his scaly fist, "You cannot just storm our planet and begin taking everything by force!"
Praxium clasped his hands behind him authoritatively as he replied to Drussk.
"Our occupation is for the good of all, Senator," he replied, "We cannot take any chances as long as you continue to support the Coalition."
"The values of Trandosha are no business of yours, Praxium!" Drussk growled, his teeth flashing from his thick jaw, "You are doing the work of the Coalition for them, turning the people against the Republic!"
"I think today's events have proven whose might is superior, Drussk," Praxium replied without hiding any trace of his smugness over the Coalition sympathizing scum that he thought the Trandoshan was, "I will be expecting unconditional surrender from all of your military garrisons."
Inside the large, tent-shaped structure where Trandosha's governmental business occurred, Drussk turned angrily to his armed, assembled aides.
"Contact Krassik, and tell him to rally the Coalition militia."
"I don't think you'll need to wait that long," said a voice from outside.
Drussk did a double take as Darth Judicar slipped into the window from above.
"You are one of the Dark Master's lieutenants!" Drussk exclaimed.
"Yes, and the Coalition is here to liberate your people from the tyranny of the Republic," Judicar replied.
He moved his robe to reveal the lightsaber clipped to his side, while pointing upwards at the Niktos, Weequays, and Rodians hidden within the balconies nearby.
The Republic Brigade had arrived at the front steps of the Trandossk, with McCallum pointing his blaster rifle at the guards in front.
"Get out of the way," he ordered evenly, "Nobody has to get hurt here."
Behind the long procession of Brigadiers, an All-Terrain-Ground-Tank wheeled in, causing the lingering Trandoshan civilians to scatter.
Finally, the main entrance doorway slid open to reveal Drussk, accompanied by four armored and armed Trandoshan guards.
"This is the part where I surrender?" Drussk asked.
"You got it," McCallum replied, "Trandosha is now under the occupation of the Republic. Your army will be..."
"Take cover!" Sergeant Corvax yelled as detonators came raining from above.
Small bursts of explosive gas hit the streets as McCallum and his fellow Republicans scattered, blindly firing their weapons in a state of panic.
Trandoshan reinforcements landed on the moss below, along with the Coalition backup.
"For the Coalition, and for freedom!" yelled Weequay pirate captain Skragg, who led the charge as the Coalition guerrillas opened fire.
"That'll teach you to bring your cannons where they don't belong!" Drussk rasped.
"Fire!" McCallum yelled at the AT-GT pilot whose head was peering from the cockpit above.
McCallum had to relay his order while diving through the smoke to avoid a trail of laserfire from a Rodian thug.
The Trandoshan reinforcements noticeably singled out the Wookiee soldiers among the Republic invaders, leading to several rounds of brutal melee fighting between the Wookiees and Trandoshans.
The AT-GT aimed its main cannon directly at Drussk's building, blasting a hole in the second story and sending many occupants flying out, immediately dead or wounded.
All of the sudden, a red lightsaber hissed to life on top of the AT-GT as Judicar jumped onto the cockpit.
"Help!" the Republic driver yelled as Judicar cut open the cockpit with his lightsaber and stabbed him through the scalp into his entire body.
Judicar pulled his lightsaber out and somersaulted onto the ground, circling around the ranks of Republic and Coalition warriors.
"Fall back!" McCallum yelled, "Fall back!"
McCallum stopped in frozen horror as Judicar leapt in front of him to intercept the fleeing Republic Brigadiers.
He raised his blaster to fire, but his insides were lit on fire by the blade that cut through his heart.
Commander McCallum was dead before he hit the smoldering ground and disappeared into the layers of moss.
CHANDRILIA
Three cloaked Jedi were grouped in a secret bunker in Chandrilia's small city of Blakis, a medium distance from the Republic Core World's capital.
The bunker had been designated by Senator Mon Mothma to keep her Jedi allies hidden from militant Republic forces who sought to capture and punish them for their alleged desertion of the Republic upon the Order's refusal to serve as generals in the Coalition Wars.
The figure on the holotable was one Admiral Lando Calrissian, who spoke with bad news to the three Jedi, two women and a man.
"I'm afraid things aren't going well on Trandosha," Lando said, "We've lost the entire 31st, and Praxium is running out of reinforcements."
One of the Jedi, a young woman named Tahiri Veila, turned her cloaked head to the man in between herself and the other female Jedi.
"Are you going to send any Jedi to help on Trandosha, Master Skywalker?" she asked.
Luke Skywalker shook his head grimly, his face even more wrinkled and lined from the stress wearing on him over the years.
"I can't," he replied, "There are no civilians in danger from either side, and so it is not the Jedi's place to fight there."
Tahiri nodded in understanding, but still looked doubtful under her hood.
"And you're certain this communication secure, Admiral Calrissian?" the older woman, Tionne, asked, "We don't want Omas to intercept this call and find out where we are?"
"Senator Mothma has a private, unslicable line to me," Lando promised, "Luke, I promise we're keeping you safe over there."
"I know," Luke replied, "We'll be ready to keep the people of Chandrilia from getting hurt."
"You've always had a keen sense of moral good, Luke." Lando said, "Good luck to all of you."
Lando's hologram faded out, leaving Luke, Tionne, and Tahiri.
"I'm going to confer with Senator Mothma," Luke said, "Tionne, Tahiri, wait for me outside."
Tionne and Tahiri exited the small, dimly lit conference chamber and went into the reception hall where their only company was a host of Noghri guards.
"You look troubled, Tahiri," Tionne said to her former Padawan..
"I haven't heard from Sam in two weeks," Tahiri replied, "I know his father keeps a close eye on him, but I can't help but worry. What if he got caught trying to communicate with me?"
"That is the trouble with Jedi attachments," Tionne remarked, "You should stay focused on the mission, and worry about Sam later."
Despite her words, Tionne spoke with a soft, familiar tone, giving Tahiri and understanding pat on the shoulder.
"It does no good to worry about what we can't control," she said more reassuringly.
"I know," Tahiri replied. "But it's not just Sam. I'm worried about Kira. I know she's still out there, but it's been two years."
"I know of your deep bond with Kira, and I know such a thing can't be broken," Tionne replied, "As long as she stays in your heart, you have nothing to worry about."
Tahiri nodded in acceptance, but mixed with her worry for Kira, a shadow of guilt was creeping over her as well.
About a hundred miles away, over the peaceful meadows and the beautiful Lake Andrasha, a female Twi'lek walked the streets of Chandrilia's capital city of Hanna, which was built around the western portion of the lake that fed into the river.
The River Andrasha led away from the capital and allowed boars to freely move through nautical traffic to the next town, which was divided from Hanna City by the body of water and the rich population of flora on the mountain ranges.
Darth Talon, dressed incognito to avoid recognition from Hannan civilians, entered a screenery that allowed her to conference with the Dark Master's personal cruiser, Phantom Revenge, currently en route to the Chandrilia system.
"Are your units in position, Nihl?" Talon asked.
"All ready for attack," Nihl replied from his quarters aboard the Phantom Revenge, which was flanked by an array several hundred Syck and Viper fighters, as well as two Hutt Cartel Dor'bullas, "I assume the Dark Master is with you?"
"He has a far greater mission," Talon replied, "I will be leading this attack."
"You, in command of us?" Nihl scoffed, rolling his eyes through the screen at Talon.
"Careful, Nihl," Talon replied from her private booth, "by challenging my authority, you question the leadership of the Dark Master. Now, will you cooperate, or will you be a hindrance to the Coalition."
"Very well," Nihl growled.
"Perfect," Talon smiled smugly, "Now remember the plan. Once the Republic navy has entered Chandrilian space, your ships will blockade them in while you bring the other Sith into the capital."
"Yes, of course," Nihl replied, promptly shutting off the screen that displayed Talon's red face.
The slick-haired Nagal turned bitterly to his fellow Sith apprentices, Wyyrlok and Paxis.
"We won't stand for this much longer," he promised them, "The Dark Master has been too distracted to concentrate on the war, and Talon is still under his thumb."
"When will we strike?" asked Wyyrlok eagerly.
"As soon as we get her alone," Nihl replied, "And then, we will overthrow Ultor and continue the grand tradition of the Sith."
"What could Ultor be obsessing over that stops him from being here?" Paxis wondered aloud.
MORABAND
A Herald-class assault shuttle was docked within the one of the many valleys of Moraband, a foggy world full of mist. As the ramp to the shuttle slowly opened, the fumes emitting from the ship concealed the two exiting figures until they were standing on the red sand dunes.
The cloaked man threw back his robe to reveal Darth Ultor, Dark Master of the Coalition and the reigning Sith Lord.
Despite his relative youth, Ultor's face had grown pale and his eyes were sunken.
To the PROXY droid next to him, Ultor said, "This will bring my long search to a close. Soon I will find this mysterious Master and learn his secrets."
The PROXY droid nodded its metallic, wired head, whirring and buzzing with activity.
"What is it, droid?" Ultor asked.
Then, the droid's visage began to flash between its default appearance, and that of another being.
Vaguely, Ultor could make out the simulation of a tall, wide-headed Bith wearing a breathing apparatus strapped to his chest.
"What are you?" Ultor asked, using the Force to pull his lightsaber from his belt and turn on its red blade of energy.
"I..." the Bith began, before turning back to the droid.
"Useless machine!" Ultor snarled, plunging his lightsaber into the droid.
As the droid continued to flash between its own image and that of the impaired Bith, Ultor used the Force to grab onto the PROXY droid and push it, sending it flying into the mist, over the side of the nearby ledge.
Ultor switched off his lightsaber and clipped it, proceeding towards the path that led downhill.
He could see the Sith Temple for which he had come to visit, a stone structure not unlike Luke Skywalker's Academy on Ossus.
"I know you're here, somewhere," he said, quickening his pace towards the ancient Temple, "and you will reveal your secrets."
SOJOURN
The many resort facilities on the Hunter's Moon of Sojourn looked like a nice place for a romantic getaway, coupled with the planet's gorgeous scenery and towering trees alongside thebeach.
Once, the planet had been filled with vacationers enjoying the safari cruises through the rainforests and the walks along the beaches, but only one resident lived in the last remaining dwelling.
A light spice freighter, purchased from the outback world of Tosste, approached the terrestrial Sojourn, passing by the giant watery planet that the moon revolved around, as well as its crystalline rings.
Inside the freighter's cockpit, Kira Solo listened to the message that she had received on the small holoprojector built into the freighter.
An advanced protocol droid spoke into the hologram, addressing Kira.
"Greetings, Kira Solo. I am 11-4D and I bear a message from my master, the retired Magister Hego Damask. Magister Damask is aware of the conflict between the Republic and the Coalition, not to mention the age-old struggle between the light and dark sides of the Force, and he kindly wishes to invite you to his resort on the moon of Sojourn. The Magister hopes to be of help in your struggle, and he thinks you can benefit greatly from by from him.
"If you'll hear him out, Miss Solo, he can teach you special abilities far beyond the dreams of either the Jedi or Sith. The Magister is well trained in the ways of the Force himself, and he has kept up his practice for many decades. With the knowledge that Magister Damask carries, I dare say he can turn you into an unstoppable force of nature. If you are interested, Madam Solo, Magister Damask has asked me to transmit his coordinates to you."
Kira shut off the recording after hearing it again, by now having crossed into the atmosphere of the resort moon.
She flew over the lush, fantasy rainforests, whose avian species had become more prominent with the absence of hunters.
From where she was flying, Kira could see large fruit hanging off of the trees.
As she flew to the coordinates that 11-4D had transmitted to her purchased ship, Kira reflected on her journey over the last two years.
She had stayed away from both her Jedi comrades and the war that the Republic was fighting against the Coalition.
Kira had gotten used to living alone, without friendship or the comforts that came with it, but she deeply missed her parents, as well as her best friend Tahiri.
This was not to mention her brother Ben, struck dead in battle by Darth Ultor, formerly Ben's best friend and fellow Jedi Padawan, Skyler.
The war had become far more personal for Kira after this, despite Luke's insistence that the Jedi were to refrain from engaging the Coalition in battle unless innocent lives were directly in harm's way. Kira was determined to destroy the Sith at all cost, and end Ultor's life personally.
She could still see him standing on the bridge above her as she knelt by her dying brother.
"Let's see if this Magister has anything worth my time," Kira said aloud as she began to land her craft near the beach.
As her freighter landed in the sand, Kira slipped out of the cockpit and pressed the button to open the ramp to the ship.
Climbing out into the sunlight, Kira gazed up past the grass and over the hill, where she saw the beach home sitting over the horizon. She sensed an aura strong in the Force, seeping with deep knowledge and mysterious power waiting for her.
As Kira began the trek up to the resort, she suddenly felt a presence behind her, that of a shimmering, transparent Jedi spirit.
Anakin Skywalker went straight to the point as soon as Kira turned around to face him.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Kira?" he asked his granddaughter, "Are you sure this man has the answers you're looking for?"
"I've been looking for the answers for two years, Anakin," Kira replied, betraying more than a small hint of annoyance, "This is the only lead I've gotten that might be at all useful!"
"This man, Damask, he might not be as trustworthy as you think," Anakin cautioned, "I know you sense the same disturbance that I do."
"I only sense an opportunity to stop wasting my time, flying from planet to planet, hoping to get some kind of edge," Kira replied, "Now, if you don't have anything else to say, I'm going to see Damask now."
Kira hurried through the sand towards the path leading to Damask's resort home.
Anakin watched her run away and looked down sadly.
Inside the mansion atop the cliff overlooking the coastline, the lone resident strode through the hallway that led into his dimly lit sitting room.
On his way, he passed by a metal doorway with a round handle to twist open, that led down into a dark basement below.
Silently, the man, a long-headed Muun with sunken black eyes and a hunched posture, continued on to his sitting room, choosing the armchair next to the empty fireplace.
"Anything for you, master?" the droid 11-4D asked.
"Not now," the Muun replied.
11-4D continued towards the garage while the Muun sat idly, until a shimmering blue ghost appeared on the carpet in front of him.
The ghost was a young man, wearing Jedi robes and donning a scar next to his right eye.
"I know who you are," the Muun said, "Anakin Skywalker."
Anakin nodded and said, "Then you must know why I'm here, Lord Plagueis."
"I don't use that name anymore, Master Jedi," Hego Damask replied, "Hego Damask is my birth name, the name I called myself before falling prey to the Sith. But you would know something about that, wouldn't you?"
Anakin nodded, not expressing any emotion at the Muun's words.
"I know better than anyone that it is possible to turn away from the dark side," Anakin replied, "But I also know what you keep in your basement, and I know that you've contacted my granddaughter to train her."
"Rest assured, Master Skywalker, I have no intention of corrupting Miss Solo with Sith teachings," Damask replied, "Why do you think I have remained here idly, staying out of every galactic conflict that has transpired? Do you think I still seek power for myself?"
"Maybe not," Anakin replied, "But I will be watching you as you teach Kira. I know that the pull of the dark side is ever alluring, not only for her, but for you as well. I know what to do if I get any indication that you are teaching her the wrong things."
Damask remained calm and collected in the face of the ghostly warning.
"Very well, Master Jedi," he said, "If I promise not to send your granddaughter down path to the dark side, will you allow her to undergo my teachings in peace?"
"I told Kira that it is up to her to find the path that her heart tells her to follow," Anakin replied, "and as long as she does not put herself in danger, I will stick with my previous word."
Damask took this as tacit acceptance.
"Very well, Master Skywalker. I promise not to pull her down the path that I once fell prey to."
"We both did," Anakin reminded the Muun, before fading out of the living room floor, "I understand why you felt its pull once. But that doesn't mean I won't be watching you."
Damask smiled gently as he sensed the new presence approaching.
He meant everything he had told Anakin Skywalker. Damask had once been a Sith Lord, having fallen been raised by his Master to embrace the dark side and live for the conquest of galactic domination.
But Damask had refused to kill his Master when the time had come, only doing so in self-defense when his master grew impatient. When Damask sought his own Sith apprentice, nearly a century ago now, he had vowed to rule with the young Darth Sidious as an equal.
Now, however, Damask truly saw the evils of the dark side and the Sith. He had allowed Sidious to achieve his ultimate conquest before his own downfall, having decided that neither side was worth joining, until now. Now, Damask had decided that Kira Solo was the key to the defeat of Sidious's bloodline. And he would teach her the secrets he had obtained from years of studying the Force, including the forbidden knowledge that her grandfather, Anakin, had once sought.