Chapter 18: The Plains of Dantooine

Zhar led Calak back into the training room.

"Soon your apprenticeship will end," he told his student. "And you will be granted the title of padawan, the lowest rank within the order. You have but three tests to take."

"I'm ready, Master," Calak said.

"Good, first you must prove you have understanding of the Jedi Code."

Calak nodded, he'd studied the code already.

"Complete each tenant as I speak it," Zhar instructed. "There is no emotion…"

"There is peace," Calak finished.

"There is no ignorance…"

"There is knowledge."

"There is no passion…"

"There is serenity."

"There is no chaos…"

"There is harmony."

"There is no death…"

"There is the force."

Calak finished reciting the lines of the Jedi code. A Jedi had to be at peace and not let emotions cloud their judgement lest they fall to the dark side. Anger and fear could lead to that, a Jedi needed knowledge, a clear mind, and to make peace with the truth that they and everyone else would eventually die. Though, Calak still felt that it was wrong to prohibit attachments. Without those, what was there to really fight for?

"You have learned your studies well, my apprentice," Zhar said. "Though I sense you have a small hesitation."

"Sorry master, I just… don't know about the part where we can't become attached with those around us," Calak said.

Zhar sighed. "It is a hard lesson to learn. I only hope you will understand in time. Attachment leads to jealousy, some Jedi of killed those whom became involved with people that they were attached to. A Jedi falls for a person, that person falls in love with someone else, and a Jedi grows angry and consumed with jealousy."

That was a terrible story. Calak couldn't imagine himself killing a man just for being involved with a woman he developed a crush on. Still, the story made sense.

"Next, you must create your lightsaber," Zhar said. "Speak with Master Dorak, he will help you determine a crystal color."

"I'm right here," came a voice.

Master Dorak entered the room.

"I'm happy to see you have made such good progress. The quickest record of passing the initial training perhaps. I will have to record this in our archives," the chronicler said. "Now, we must determine which of the three schools of Jedi you will belong to."

The Jedi had three different branches. Guardians, who focused on lightsaber combat above all else, they were the warriors and defenders of the order who typically wielded blue blades. Consular, who preferred to settle disputes through words or force-enhanced persuasion, they focused more on the mysteries of the force, only using their lightsabers (which were normally green) as a last resort. The last class was the Jedi Sentinel, who strived for a balance of the two branches as well as to acquire skills in galactic society such as treating injuries, making explosives, and using computers.

"I'm going to give you a series of scenarios," Dorak said. "Just go with your first instinct. A woman and her children are being attacked by a group of thugs. How do you deal with it?"

"Attack the thugs," Calak said quickly.

"Very well, scenario two. You are in combat with a Dark Jedi and there is a pause in the combat, what do you do?"

Calak thought for a moment. "Well if it's a Dark Jedi, that's all I really know about him… or her. Now maybe he could be redeemed, if I found out why he turned to the dark side in the first place. But I don't know if I'd care to find out. Its not always easy to stop a fight once it begins. I'd probably just keep attacking him. Maybe if I managed to defeat him without killing him I'd see then."

"Indeed, I suspected as much," Dorak said. "Though its good you understand not every Sith is as evil as Malak. There are many out there that have lost their way. Now, third scenario, you the head of an enclave and your planet comes under attack by a group of raiders, Sith or otherwise. What is your first course of action?"

Calak hadn't had much experience as a leader, which required him to take more steps then just simple direct assault. "I'd probably go out there and hunt them down myself, maybe also coordinate with the local authorities as well."

"Very good," Dorak said. "You seem to have a balance of clear thinking and decisiveness. Final question, you are on a mission and you come across a locked door that is between you and your objective. How do you get past it?"

Calak thought of the possibilities that could occur in. "As long as it not the entrance to an enemy stronghold I'd probably just knock. If it were though, I'd probably pick the lock to sneak in quietly. If that didn't work, which it probably wouldn't if it were a more advanced security door, I'd just break through."

"I see, I believe you could be well suited as any sort of Jedi," Dorak said. "Except perhaps sentinel. You don't seem the type to work with droids and explosives."

"I have some basic skill that but nothing special," Calak said. "You're probably right."

"Well, go with your instinct," Dorak said. "Do you prefer the force, or lightsaber as your first resort of defense?"

"Lightsaber," Calak said immediately. "I haven't got the ability to deflect blaster bolts with my bare hands… yet."

"Very well then, you will be a Jedi Guardian then. Here," Dorak reached into his pocket and produced a blue crystal. He must have had the three crystals with him for Calak.

The apprentice took the crystal. Dorak bowed and headed back to the council chamber.

"Now you must make your own lightsaber," Zhar said gesturing to a nearby workbench in the training room.

The parts had already been gathered for Calak with a variety of possible hilts. It took around ten minutes as Zhar instructed him on the proper alignment of the parts. But soon he put them together and covered them in the hilt. He then pressed the button, a blue blade emerged from the hilt with a snap-hiss.

"You have done extremely well in crafting your lightsaber," Zhar praised. "It does not usually come out right on the first try. Now, your last test, you must face another lightsaber user."

"A Jedi?" Calak asked.

"Not quite. A dark force user," Zhar said.

Calak shivered, remembering his encounter with the Sith Governor that had left him critically wounded. He possibly would have died if not for Bastila healing him. But…

"There is a dark force user here?" he exclaimed.

"Even on one of core worlds, the dark side is strong in certain areas," Zhar said. "A few miles from our enclave, there is a grove. It contains a strong dark side aura. But lately, it has grown even stronger and begun to affect the wildlife of the planet. The Kath Hounds have become more aggressive lately and attacks on settlers are at an all time high. If the dark side user is not stopped, many more will be injured or hurt."

Calak nodded. If this was to be his final test, so be it.

"I'll go immediately. But do I have to face this threat alone?" he asked.

"You will," Zhar confirmed. "However, the road to find the source of this increased dark nexus will be treacherous. If you wish to bring aid, the council will have no objections. But Bastila must not be among them. This is your trial as a Jedi, she cannot take it for you. Anyone other then a Jedi is fine though."

Calak nodded. "I'll head to my ship and then go out immediately."

He went to the Ebon Hawk, entering it he found Canderous in the main hold of the ship.

"How is your training going?" Canderous asked before noticing the new weapon at Calak's hip. "Got a lightsaber I see."

Calak nodded. "Its going well. In fact, I'm heading out onto the plains of Dantooine to face my final test. Apparently, there is a dark force user out there causing Kath Hounds to attack settlers. You care to head out and help me find it?"

"Going out across plain, fighting through packs of bloodthirsty beasts?" Canderous asked. "Count me in!"

Calak smiled. Mandalorians had been an enemy of the Republic quite recently, but hopefully Calak could trust Canderous to watch his back. He was a good fighter at least, maybe not a good man, but dependable in a fight. He also could have betrayed them somehow on Taris but he didn't, so he seemed honorable, to an extent.

Calak looked around the ship. "Where is everyone else?"

"Bastila's still in the enclave somewhere. Carth, the droid, and wookie all headed out as well. They got tired of being couped on the ship with nothing to do. So they spend some time in the gardens around here. Mission's in her room."

They headed to the east wing of the ship that Mission had taken with Bastila as sleeping quarters. She looked somber and didn't notice as they approached.

"Mission?" Calak asked.

"Huh, oh sorry," the young Twi'lek said. "I was thinking about Taris."

Even after a few weeks, the wound of losing her home planet was still fresh. Calak had let her be until now, but apparently that might not have been the best course of action.

"I just can't believe its gone. My entire childhood, turned to rubble and fire."

Calak frowned as he too remembered the laser fire and bombs descending from the sky to destroy those hundreds of thousands of buildings.

"Malak will pay for what he did Mission," he vowed.

"Yeah, the Jedi got rid of Revan in the end," Mission agreed. "So I guess Malak's days are numbered too. Don't worry, I'm gonna stick by you and help you however I can."

"Well, I could use your help now," Calak said. "We're going out onto the plains to hunt a dark side user corrupting Kath Hounds. Wanna come?"

She nodded. "You bet!"

They began to walk out of the ship. Then Calak recalled what had happened last time they faced a dark user.

"When we find the dark force user, I want you both to stay back. This is supposed to be a test I face alone according to my master."

"Okay, if you say so," Mission said.

"That's a custom of my people when its two equal warriors. They have to fight one on one," Canderous agreed.

They exited the ship and made their way to the door leading out of the enclave where a protocol droid stood watch. None of the crew of the Ebon Hawk had been allowed to leave in the weeks they'd been here. But now that was not the case.

"Calak Star, the council has decreed you and your friend may come and go as you please," the droid said.

It pressed a button and the door leading outside opened. Calak, Canderous, and Mission all emerged, seeing the outside of the enclave and the plains beyond. Several Jedi and visiting settlers looking for aid were here. Calak looked at them, it occurred to him he didn't know where this grove was. Seeing a Jedi just standing there admiring the gardens around the enclave, Calak approached him. It was old Jedi with graying hair and a tan robe.

"Hello," an old Jedi greeted him.

"Hi," Calak said. What are you doing if I may ask?"

"It is good sometimes to reflect on the beauty of nature," the Jedi said. "And the force."

Calak looked at him in confusion.

"I'm sorry, I tend to get carried away," the old Jedi said. "Is there something I can do for you apprentice? I don't believe we've met, my name is Nemo."

"Hello Nemo," Calak said. "I'm Calak Star."

Nemo's eyes seemed to flicker in recognition. "Of course, Vrook mentioned you to me. Is there something I can help you with, Calak?"

"I've been sent on a mission, to the grove. What do you know about it?"

"The council has not told you?" Nemo asked.

"No."

"Then it is not my place to tell you," Nemo said. "However I can say this, as the light can be embodied, so can the dark. The grove can be found to the south and east in the plains. But be wary of Kath Hounds."

"Thanks," Calak said. "I'll be on my way then."

"May the force be with you," Nemo said.

Calak continued forward along the edge of the enclave. A pair of settlers, a husband and wife, looked up at him.

"Greetings friend, do you know if the council is ready to see us?" the man said.

"No, I'm sorry," Calak said. "I've only been sent out to deal with a problem in the plain."

"Oh, well we certainly need a lot of help," the woman said. "The Kath hounds have been much more aggressive lately."

"That's what I'm going to deal with," Calak said.

"Good, there have been a lot of bites and even some deaths," the farmer said. "Good luck."

Calak let out a small sigh. So many people needed help. And not all of them would be as friendly.

As if on que with that thought, another one man, a dark haired settler looked at him in anger as he approached. "Are you a Jedi? How long can you people stay here and claim to protect us?"

Calak frowned at him and was about to reply when the man scoffed.

"Protectors? Ha! You stay safe in your enclave from the Mandalorians while we settlers suffer!"

"Mandalorians? Here?" Calak repeated. "I thought they were all beaten in the war."

"Most of us, but some turned to lives as thug and raiders," Canderous said.

"You brute!" the settler said. "Your kind killed my daughter and took my farm!"

"You should have protected her better!" Canderous countered. "And you call yourself her father."

"And what am I supposed to do against a dozen Mandalorians and their Duros allies?" the settler asked angrily. "There was nothing I could do! They came to our land demanding our livelihood, my daughter objected and they killed her!"

Calak sighed, feeling sympathy for the man and anger at the loss of his daughter. "I have a mission out on the plain, if I come across these raiders, I will stop them to protect you and your fellow settlers."

"Oh thank you young master!" the settler said. "My name is Jon by the way, I'm sorry. I seem to have forgotten my manners."

"No problem, you've obviously been through a lot," Calak said.

Mission smiled, though thanks to his recent training Calak could sense her emotions. There was eagerness, mixed with fear. From Canderous, however, he felt… intrigue.

"You okay, Mission?" he asked.

"Yeah, just a little nervous about going up against armored Mandalorians," the young Twi'lek said.

"Ha! I don't mind testing myself against other warriors. Not much honor in raiding simple villages," Canderous said. "They're opportunists. I wouldn't mind exterminating this clan from my people's culture. They should be going after world not scraps. This kind of work is beneath my kind."

They headed south as per Nemo's instruction. When they got a ways away from the Enclave however, Calak heard a loud howl from the hill above. He looked up and saw a Kath Hound. It was calling to its pack. Calak and the other two managed to draw their weapons just in time. The pack of feral hounds came running at them. They had orange heads and tails, as well as gray fur after their front section, the front legs had a mixture of gray and orange. Horns grew from their heads and nose.

Calak ignited his lightsaber, assuming the ready position of Shii-Cho.

Adapt your form to match the situation. Zhar's words echoed in his head. Each lightsaber form is better for a different situation, knowing which to use at hand is what makes a good swordsman of Jedi.

The first form was the best at taking on multiple opponents, striking wide with the lightsaber to hit as many at once. But Calak thought, his mind working faster then the Kath Hounds could run. He'd be more confident if he could take fewer of them at a time, even with Canderous and Mission watching his back. At that moment, they both began to shot from their blasters, Mission from her pistol and Canderous from his heavy repeater rifle. The hide of the Kath Hounds was strong enough to be able to resist some of the bolts, but shoot a number of them and it would kill them. Both blasters let out a large number of blasts, and two of the Kath Hound in the pack of five fell. The other three were almost them, each seemed focused on Calak as he was the closest. The Jedi in training reached out with his hand, using the power he'd recently begun to call upon. An invisible wave of energy flew from his hand, and knocked the right Kath Hound back. Then the other two lunged at him, Calak, with reflexes higher than ever before, swung his lightsaber wide, cleaving both Kath Hound in two along the sides of their heads and through their brains. Mission and Canderous shot at the last Kath Hound in the pack, and quickly took it down.

"Whew, that was intense," Mission said.

"I'll say," Canderous said with a laugh. "Good to have some danger after being couped up for so long.

They continued forward, running into a few other Kath Hounds, either lone ones or packs. But thanks to Calak's new training and the Mandalorian and Twi'lek's blasters they managed to get past them. They headed along the path, unfamiliar with the land. But Nemo had said the grove could be accessed by going east and south. They headed east first, and Calak had a feeling they would run into more trouble along the way.

He was right, once they got to another section of land to the south of the enclave they stumbled across a group of four, a Mandalorian with three Duros in front of a speeder with an older man facing them, a look of fear on his face.

"You've been holding out on us again!" the Mandalorian addressing the farmer said. "Since you haven't given us enough money, I guess we'll have to take it out of you piece by piece!"

The famer looked desperate as the raider aimed his rifle. "No! Take my wife and children instead anything!"

The only answer from the raider at first was a blaster shot to the chest, killing the farmer instantly. The raider then laughed at the corpse and said, "Wife and children. Sounds like a good idea!"

"You barbarians!" Calak shouted as he lit his lightsaber which he'd already drawn, if only he'd been quicker he might have saved the farmer.

"Jedi!" the Mandalorian exclaimed. "Ah, I've been wanting to face one of you for a while now! Sherruck has a collection of lightsabers so now I can start my own!"

Sherruck must be the leader of the entire raider group here. Then this guy was just a person leading this squad.

Two of the Duros drew their blasters at the sight of Calak and his companions, the third didn't appear to be armed. Calak scoffed as the unarmed one charged in recklessly. He lit his lightsaber and jumped right into the fray, using the acrobatic move of force leap that allowed him to jump to an enemy quickly and close the gap, a move strongly associated with Form IV Ataru. He slashed the Mandalorian squad leader on the shoulder, but the special Mandalorian iron was able to resist the worst of the damage. Still, Calak managed to inflict a small wound on the Mandalorian. He tried to bash Calak with his rifle, which Calak recognized as a carbine type. Calak stepped back and slashed at the weapon, cutting it in half. Mission and Canderous had already activated their energy shields and began shooting. The Duros who'd charged at them was brought down instantly, leaving the other two by themselves. They didn't have armor or shields of any kind, so it shouldn't be too hard to bring them down.

Calak continued with the Mandalorian who had drawn his vibrosword. Calak unleashed a flurry of strikes in the Ataru style at high speed meant to overwhelm a single opponent. It worked, the lightsaber was to quick for the heavier sword and Calak caught him in the gap of his armor.

He looked and saw Mission and Canderous had finished off their Duros opponents. Calak let out a sigh, no injuries thanks to their energy shields.

They continued on the plains south for a while and then turned east, crossing a short bridge over a river. As they got closer and closer, Calak could feel something, cold. Just like how he'd felt before he confronted the Sith Governor on Taris, but this was even stronger. They must be getting close to the source.

Suddenly a growl sounded, and Calak and the others saw more Kath Hounds. Orange and gray one's like before, but also bigger ones that were brown and had a pair of tusks on either side of their head. The horned Kath Hounds were tougher then the more common ones. They appeared to be guardian the grove, like guard dogs.

Calak would have to get through them to get to the source of the corruption in the grove. He lit his lightsaber again and swung at the first Kath Hound, another managed to get behind him and flank him before biting on the arm, but Calak felt no pain, he was still wearing Brejik's belt and armband, as well as the Republic Mod armor he'd gotten on Taris. Brejik's equipment did wonders to lessen the force of the bites which might have been able to get through his armor. But many more of them and he'd be feeling it soon. Fortunately he had back up with Canderous and Mission. Their blasters shot at the Kath Hounds, one of which charged at them as they shot. Some of their bolts missed though, and the horned Kath Hound bit into Canderous's arm. The Mandalorian screamed.

Calak kicked the Kath hound he was battling and then stabbed it through the brain. He then turned around and threw his lightsaber at the horned beast that had gotten Canderous, it neatly sliced the hide of the beat and ended its life. Calak then approached the wounded Mandalorian.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, my healing mod is kicking in," Canderous said.

Calak looked at the shoulder and saw the bleeding had already stopped.

"Well, take a break, I think the dark force user controlling the Kath Hounds is close by," Calak said. "I have to face him alone."

"Or her," Mission said.

"Or her," Calak agreed.

He continued in the direction of the cold feeling as it stronger, soon he came to a small stone structure that looked ancient, even older then the Jedi enclave. It lay under a tree, this must have been the ancient grove, though there wasn't much in the way of trees to call it a grove. Sitting there in the center of it was a Cathar, a catlike alien. She had cream colored fur and light brown stripes, wearing an orange and blue outfit that resembled Bastila's somewhat. She opened her eyes, golden suns that burned with anger, and got to her feet.

"I will be your doom!" she shouted in a fierce and aggressive tone.

Her lightsaber lit, its red blade shining.

Okay, made it to Juhani. Finish that off later. I decided not to have all the side quests done right now as that would take too much time. We'll get Elise and Bolook later. Hope you enjoy. I just replayed the journey to the grove here to make sure I got the quickest way possible. Mission took a bit more damage in the game but that's okay, the character I was using wasn't exactly top notch to fight with a lightsaber at that stage which will be different on the next round I'm about to start. Though that character did have good resistance to the Kath Hound bites with Brejik's belt and armband. So that's my tip for the day, I usually give the belt to Zalbaar, but the main character is good too. Hope you enjoyed and I'll see in two weeks.