The Legacy of House Ordo

by Sage1988

Five souls from Earth survive its end and find themselves in a different galaxy, Harry finds himself born into House Ordo one of the most powerful Mandalorian Houses. As the chaos of the Clone Wars spreads how will he and the others fair?

22. Chapter 22 Finding Peace

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Star Wars.

Hello again, sorry this chapter took so long but there was a lot to write and I had a bout of sickness that slowed me down a bit.

It was suggested to me that the Mandalorian lightsabers not resemble Jedi lightsabers as they have a completely different culture being more like traditional sword hilts, similar to the Darksaber. It was an awesome idea so I decided to do it. Thanks!

In this chapter two characters will have a ghostly encounter each. With someone that means much to them in different ways.

Sorry, no review responses this month but I will get them back next update and if you have a question just send a private message. It might take me a bit to get back to you but I will.

On with the story…

Chapter 22 - Finding Peace

Carnax, the Mid Rim…

Carnax was a planet that lived up to its position in the Mid Rim. Caught halfway between the Core Worlds and the Outer Rim some areas were as rich and advanced as the Core Worlds planets but some were poorer than some of the settlements on worlds like Tatooine, made them look lawful and modest in comparison.

It was however a neutral world in the Clone Wars and the leaders of the planet were hosting a conference for scientists from other unallied worlds so they could engage in scientific debate without the interference of the two warring factions.

Professor Mors Hebrigne was one of the scientists that had been invited and was looking forward to some intense debate, while there were many capable scientists in Mandalorian Space he was hoping to find some new ideas from peers outside his own culture.

After all, different world…different ideas or so he thought.

He settled into his room with the three bodyguards he had been given and while he was sure their presence would be unnecessary his clan leader and employer had insisted, they come for his own protection. He swallowed his own reluctance and accepted them being there as they were quiet and didn't interrupt him when he was working. Two more stayed back at their ship in anticipation of having make a quick getaway which he thought was pointless.

However, when night came just before the conference began the lights suddenly went out as the professor sat down to work. He blinked and his bodyguards instantly became tense, their weapons in hand in the blink of an eye and turned on their night vision and stood ready for trouble.

That came moments later when Commando Droids like those used by the Separatists burst into the room, shooting without hesitation.

The bodyguards yelled to him as they activated their gauntlet shields and returned fire.

"Get out of here." The problem was that they were boxed in and the only place left to go was the refresher which had no exit. Mors saw one of the bodyguards get cut down and knew as more droids poured in that they were going to get overwhelmed. He also noticed that none of the droids seemed to be shooting at him.

Realising that he was likely about to be abducted he hit the emergency transponder that would let the two guards left on the ship know they were in danger and quickly ran for his case. Ducking behind a desk he opened it and injected himself with the emergency tracker. Something that would allow the guards on the ship to track and follow wherever he might be taken.

The sharp pin prick was over in a moment and as the last of the bodyguards was overwhelmed, he felt the stun blasts and tried to resist but soon fell into unconsciousness.

- x -

In the small ship that had brought the Professor to this world the two remaining guards were doing their job which was monitoring the situation. The moment the emergency beacon was triggered they jumped into action.

"Go check out the apartment, any evidence secure it. Out bound ship registers the professor is alive and onboard. I'll track it and report to base, a ship will come for you." The senior warrior said.

"Yes sir." The younger one said and left the ship and went to do his duty while the elder took off and began to follow the other ship.

Quickly staying as close as possible before following it into hyperspace.

- x -

Reijar, the Ordo System…

The day was quiet on Reijar, not much was happening outside of the norm and the peace was appreciated even by their warriors. They spent time with their families and went to work and just enjoyed the peace of the moment.

Luna and her students were the only ones doing anything out of the ordinary. After their recent trip to Earth and the harvesting of their crystals they had duly inserted the crystal shards recovered into their gauntlets to help channel their power but also using the larger single crystal to construct their new weapon.

Luna watched as Kento instructed the four students who were now finally ready to be considered the first Akaan'aran of their new order once they had constructed their lightsaber and would soon become teachers themselves.

"These weapons are unique to you, built for you and you alone. As a Mandalorian you have the force and many weapons and tools at your disposal but the lightsaber is a weapon that will belong only to you." Kento said to the students, not liking for them to think of the Force as a weapon or even a tool but he knew after living among them that the Mandalorians did not think that way. Duty and family were the most important things to them governed by a strict code of honour.

He was surprised though that the hilts constructed by the Mandalorians were not like Jedi hilts. They lacked the cylinder shape the Jedi and the Sith favoured, instead they were shaped much more like traditional sword hilts similar to the Darksaber although each had their own individual points that set each one apart so like the Jedi no lightsaber was identical.

Luna watched as visions of them using those sabers came to her mind while she meditated, it was awesome to see their warriors wielding such impressive weapons. But her thoughts changed when she looked at Lelia.

The girl was very powerful, Luna thought. Full of raw power that when focused would enable her to become very strong and her other training was going very well. If anything, she would likely be ready to make the trip to Earth within a year or two to find her own crystals.

She would make a very powerful force wielder with more time and training.

Something the new soon to be graduates would be able to help with. It was a bit difficult for her to give all her students the attention they needed although Kento and Mallie had been a big help in relieving that pressure. Especially as eight new students would be old enough soon to begin training including Astoria Ordo who would join her older brother Markus as a student. It would of course mean more work but their order was now starting to grow.

- x -

Ara was sitting with her children as she considered her own pregnancy and what a fourth child would mean to their situation. She had three children already and that was enough for her but she just couldn't bring herself to abort the baby. It was frowned on in Mandalorians space but not illegal.

So, she would soon have a fourth child and it honestly made her sigh with how little control of things they seemed to have.

However, the message from Carnax immediately shook her from her worries for the future and redirected them to the present.

One of their greatest scientists had been abducted by the Separatists and taken to a planet near their border. She frowned as she read through the details and knew swift action was required so as Hannah and Neville were still staying home with their sons and the rest of their inner circle was either off world or too busy and there wasn't time to find someone else Haron would need to deal with this personally. The fact it would get him away from the planet where someone had tried to kill him recently was merely a bonus.

- x -

Ordo Apartment, 500 Republica, Coruscant…

Haron was sitting on the couch of the sitting area with Ahsoka right across from him.

"So, the Armaments Committee meeting is cancelled now we have chosen to stick with the current providers and the Senate Subcommittees have been put back a week." Ahsoka told him as she read his diary for the next week. The boredom on the girl's face made Haron smile with amusement. It seemed that adjusting to admin was hard for a girl that had experienced non-stop action and he wondered just what sort of work she would seek out as soon as she was ready to go her own way.

But he had to admit she was very good at this, he thought with admiration. She managed his heavy schedule efficiently and rarely overlooked anything.

If this kind of work didn't bore her so much, he would have employed her full time.

Then his personal datapad chimed with an emergency message, frowning he picked it up and quickly accessed whatever message had been sent. Ahsoka looked on while his frown deepened, and he realised the implications of one of their best scientists being taken prisoner. Worse their information network revealed he wasn't the only one, a number of prominent scientists from different worlds including Republic ones had gone missing in the last few days. He saw that the Republic had no idea that the Separatists were behind it so he and his people had a lucky break since they had managed to track the ship to their hidden base.

A team was going to meet him and his people there choosing to keep this fast and light, it was a little-known planet that was on the very border with Wild Space. On the charts but all but forgotten in galactic terms…Odessen

He knew the name from his ancient history lessons, a world that had once been home to the Eternal Alliance which his ancestors had been a part of against first the Eternal Empire and then the Sith Empire as Task Force Nova. However, it had soon slipped into obscurity as the years passed and to his knowledge no-one lived there now. It was fairly isolated and not positioned for any strategic value so it had been largely forgotten.

Perfect place for a secret base.

Haron knew that it they had gathered so many scientists by kidnapping they must be working on something big there. Rescue aside that was worth going to see just what they were up too.

Despite the fact he was leader and could delegate he was fed up by the lack of action and spending so much of his time in an office or meetings and was determined to get some action. So, he would lead this team himself.

Looking at his former Jedi assistant who was now staring at him confused at what the message he had received said he told her.

"One of the most important scientists in Mandalorian Society has been kidnapped and we have his location. Since we have a few days, I will be leading the rescue mission and you will be coming with me." He told her sternly.

Ahsoka blinked in surprise for a moment before coming to her senses and telling him.

"But Duke Ordo." She said, still formal given their respective positions. "You are the Field Marshal for the Republic Military! There are countless issues that need you attention." She told him but he interrupted her.

"And just as many back home, but that is why we will make this as quick as possible. Delegation doesn't come as naturally to me in matters such as this. Not to mention I have many of those I could trust with this on projects just as important." Haron said with complete calm. "I have set up a good structure and it can do without me for a few days. Besides this will give us both a chance to get some excitement back in our lives." He told her, glad to finally be able to get off this world even for a little while.

Ahsoka instantly perked up at that and was eager to finally do some more interesting that organise his schedule and attend meetings to take notes. However, the lack of weight at her waist due to her lightsabers still being in the hands of the Jedi made her stop still in disappointment that she was still weapon less, especially as she wasn't that comfortable with blasters and other weapons.

The sudden hesitation in his assistant and the way her hand went subconsciously to her waist as if she was going to find her lightsaber there made Haron frown as he knew what the problem was. He sighed before going to his locker in his room and opened it. She looked confused at what he was doing before he returned and pressed a lightsaber into her hand. She blinked in surprise before looking at the hilt and igniting a blue blade. Staring at it for a moment before he told her sternly.

"You really need to build a new one of your own. This one is a trophy from the first Jedi I defeated. I did not take it from a cold dead hand I assure you, the Jedi that originally built this weapon is still very much alive. You may use it for this mission but I will be wanting it back when this is concluded." Haron warned her and she nodded quickly, cowed a little by his intense gaze. She shut it down and clipped it to her waist.

But she couldn't help but wonder if there was something Haron Ordo was holding back. Over the war and through what she had been told about him he seemed to be far more capable than he was letting on. To the extent that he was able to hand to hand with Master…no Ki-Adi Mundi she thought stopping herself from referring to the ass hole as a master anymore. But Mundi was still tough…and Haron had beaten him.

Was he all he seemed Ahsoka thought to herself? He seemed nice and honourable but he was keeping secrets that she was sure about.

But still she thought as they prepared to leave, maybe she might learn so of them on this mission.

---

Vorex Ultima, Outer Rim Territories...

Anakin was sweating with the heat of a planet that like Tatooine had two suns but had the value of being enormously important for fuel for the Republic and more importantly taking it away from the Separatists.

He was working alongside Rahm Kota and a number of the other Jedi who had agreed to give his ideas a fair chance, on the ground he and Rahm Kota led both their clones and in Kota's case his own militia troopers into battle. The ferocity with which Kota fought was incredible and even Anakin was impressed at his fighting skill and that of his militia.

They might not have the same intensive training but they were excellent soldiers in their own right.

He was still feeling the absence of Ahsoka greatly, his anger towards the Jedi Council for not sticking by her side during the campaign against her by the traitor was still strong but at least he knew that some had cared enough and instead focused his rage and distrust of the council on the droids instead to burn it off rather than let it build up.

It was a technique that was not only serving him well but his Jedi too. They continued to develop themselves as people and discovering their own inner selves.

Bultar Swan some distance away was fighting a different front of the battle and her side was becoming somewhat bogged down by the droids. This irritated her a lot and stoked her own anger, something that would have once horrified her but now she accepted it as a perfectly natural reaction to the situation as long as it didn't control her.

Her anger however and her determination to see justice done for the people of this planet who toiled as slave labour to mine and process fuel for the Separatist war machine surged through her and without even knowing what she was doing, guided only by the force raised her hands and before she knew what she was doing let out all of that feeling.

Bolts of green lightning surged out of her hands and straight at the droids who shook violently as the lightning crashed into them before falling to the floor, reduced to helpless metal with circuits fried.

Bultar was almost in a trance as the force flowed through her, letting all her determination and anger be channelled into her outpouring of power. The clones that were with her all looked over in shock as she rendered all the droids that were close enough useless with her powers. They were all in awe of her as they had never heard of anything like this before and cheered as Bultar reduced the enemy line to a fraction of its strength.

She blinked after a while as sweat began to fall from her brow and then finally, she sagged, unable to keep up the barrage any longer but it had done its job. The clones all cheered as they charged at the weakened droid lines, able to break through now because of what their general had done. Hell, they might actually be able to beat Skywalker and his 501st legion there they thought with excitement.

Bultar meanwhile was struggling to keep up with her men as she felt drained but at the same time confused. She had never learned any ability even related to force lightning and yet moments ago she had been releasing it from her hands. However, it had not felt dark to her nor did it have the traditional blue colour. Instead, it had been green and that confused her until she remembered her former master Plo Koon had managed to learn the art of Electric Judgement, which was the closest Jedi equivalent. It was a banned art due to how close it was supposedly to the Sith version but she honestly had felt nowhere near close to the dark side when she had used it, instead it had come from her own sense of justice.

She had never wavered towards the dark side and had enabled them to push the campaign, she made a vow to herself to explore this new ability when she had the time. But for now, she thought with determination, they had a battle to win.

---

Jedi Temple, Coruscant…

"Force is within us and like us there is a light side and a dark side to it. Like a person has good and bad parts of their nature. To truly begin to explore the force, first you must explore yourselves." Tuwan said to their latest recruits to their way of thinking.

The students listened attentively even if some were uneasy about facing the darker parts of their own selves. Tuwan smiled encouragingly as they began their own meditations, aided by the incense he had acquired that would aid them in going into a special state, putting them in touch with their subconscious selves.

He smiled as he saw them go under, they would awake when they managed to connect to their deeper self, the parts of their own personalities that until now they hadn't explored. The force would sustain them till they completed this trial and discovered their true self.

"This is a hard journey; we will they manage?" Depa Billaba said from the side, knowing this trial was hard on those that endured it but if they managed to succeed…they would find strength within themselves and abilities they had hardly dreamed of. Both within the force and within themselves as people.

"They will if they have it in them to walk this path. If not, we shall know soon enough." Tuwan said sadly, knowing some didn't have the conviction to face the worst parts of themselves and would pretend they didn't exist rather than face it. Some had come to try and learn their ways only to fail this test. Tuwan told them that they must find the courage to try again and he would be waiting for the day they were ready. Some hadn't liked that and not returned but others had retaken the test and managed to pass it the second time.

It didn't matter how long it takes or how many tries you took, what was important was that you learned the lesson. Some masters he had known in his long-life time had taken two or even three attempts to get the lesson or pass the test but in time they had all become all the wiser for their failure.

You learned far more when you failed than when you succeeded.

Tuwan's own former apprentice, a Neti like himself had failed the first time and yet had come back far stronger for it. He had not looked up the Jedi Archives for any mention of him as he preferred to think that he went on to have an exceptional career, he had all the markings for being a great Jedi Tuwan thought and wished whatever had happened that it was a testament to his strong spirit and deep commitment to the force and to the Jedi.

"Well, having seen the results I can honestly say I am fully in support of this. My own apprentice will take this test when he is ready." She said, referring to the boy that some time ago she had caught spying on her when she had been training with Master Tuwan herself. Caleb was young but she could sense great potential within him.

- x -

In the Jedi Council Chamber, a meeting of the Council was taking place. One that had major implications for the order.

"And it was concluded that Master Looff had actually been using the force to gamble and steal so he could afford the most expensive materials and equipment for his own use." Master Tholme said with a calculating look in his eyes. "While I leave it up to the Council to determine his punishment and for the Jedi that have secretly been leaking information to Count Dooku." Master Tholme reported and some of the other masters around him all looked uncomfortable at his presence not that he cared what they thought.

He did his job and in doing so this time had discovered a number of Jedi had some dirty secrets to hide such as criminal activity while they were away from the Temple not to mention some were even spying for their enemies, either because they were in agreement with Count Dooku or where simply being paid to betray the Jedi and the Republic too.

It was deeply unsettling for some, to realise how much corruption had spread within the Jedi Order for so much to be going on under their noses. A few of the more conservative members like Ki-Adi Mundi felt it was just a case of some bad apples spoiling the barrel but others like Shaak Ti worried it might be a symptom of a larger problem within the Order. Either way for now the rotten parts had been identified and confined until the Council could decide just what to do with them.

"A proposal, brought to us by Master Tuwan has been." Yoda said, moving them on to the next point of business. The Conservatives even Mace frowned as they wondered what the 'heretic' or relic as some thought of him. While Skywalker was the figure head of this potential revolution in the Order it was Tuwan that was the brains behind it and many of the masters on the council even the more open-minded ones like Shaak Ti were very wary of him.

"Wants to create a new branch of the Order he does, or rather recreate one." Yoda said before Mace Windu took over.

"He wants to send some of our healers to study psychology so that a new specialisation of Jedi Healer can be founded. The Jedi Mind Healers who will be charged with the mental health of all members of the Jedi Order and providing treatment to those afflicted with mental health issues." Mace said simply, calmly and not showing his own personal feelings on the matter.

The Jedi on the Council blinked in surprise as the proposal was a great shock to all of them, mental health had not been a focus of the Order in its current generation ever. It was against the code to indulge in emotion. At least some interpretations of the code any way.

"Absolutely not!" Ki-Adi Mundi burst out, making everyone look in his direction. His eyes blazing with indignation. "It is forbidden for the Jedi to indulge in emotion! We must rise above such things to become one with the force and to serve it and the greater good! This is a power play by the heretics and failures to usurp the true Jedi Way." Mundi said, almost shouting by the end.

Many of the Council just sat there in silence as he ranted and blinked as silence hung in the air.

"Only if they seek to control the Order. But after some of the things I have experienced…having someone to speak to would have been a blessing in helping me find my inner balance again." Kit Fisto said calmly, sad too as he knew many of the Jedi who had quit the Order or turned to the dark side would likely have stayed if they had someone to speak too about how they felt like his old friend Eeth Koth. He had certainly wished he had someone to talk to after Nahdar's death he thought sadly, remembering the horrible fate of his first and only padawan. Nahdar himself might have managed his own feelings better if he had such an option open to him.

"Many Jedi especially those who see a great deal of combat would benefit from this." Shaak Ti said quietly. She often kept her own counsel in these meetings but this time she felt compelled to speak. "Someone whose job it is to help Jedi who are in danger of losing their way could be of great value to the order."

"If a Jedi cannot find their own way, then they are not fit to be part of the order." Saesee Tiin said interrupting his fellow council member. His expression as hard and unforgiving as stone.

Plo Koon, who had been silent since Ahsoka Tano had left the Order and appeared to have almost withdrawn from the Council finally spoke up.

"If you have never trained a padawan or if you have then you know that it is necessary sometimes for others to help you with their own wisdom to find your own balance."

The other members of the council especially Yoda who many of the Jedi Order would seek out for counsel anyway nodded in agreement, some Jedi needed the help and guidance of a master to find their way but who would those that had already been knighted or even masters seek if they felt the need to unburden themselves? Some of them and the other members of the Order had seen horrible sights since the war had begun. Some that since haunted them to this day. More of the Council started thinking that this might be a good idea.

"I most firmly object to this and will resign from the council in protest!" Oppo Rancisis said sternly as if to cow them into agreement.

"Seconded!" Saesee Tiin said loudly.

They were senior members of the Council, although only Tiin had a permanent seat and some were shocked at the move. However, Yoda saw it plainly for what it was, they were trying to leverage their position and the idea that the Council would value them over this new specialisation within the Jedi. He had seen such moves in the past on many worlds and much to his chagrin even in this room before. Not this time he thought with frustration, he was not going to tolerate such petty moves and teach these two a valuable lesson in the process.

No one is irreplaceable and to appreciate what you have or lose it.

"Sad we will by your absence." Yoda said before anyone, like Mundi for example made moves to support their position. They all looked at Yoda in surprise as they had expected him to compromise to keep the two masters who had served the order for years there. He however had sensed the opportunity to remove two of the biggest bigots in the order and replace them on the Council with more levelheaded Jedi. Already he had two in mind. "If feel so strongly about this matter you do, recorded your position is but feel I do that it is a good step for the Order. Rig Nema and Olge Plavi will both attend the University of Aldera on Alderaan to study matters of the mind and its healing. In Rig Nema's absence, Master Stass Allie will take over duties of healing the Temple. Master Billaba and Master Sinube will take the vacant places on the Council." Yoda proclaimed firmly to end all debate.

The stunned two masters that had just without meaning to just resigned from the highest position one could hope for in the Jedi Order, with the exception of Master of the Order or Grandmaster and largely due to their own arrogance. The intense and hard stare of Mace Windu made the pair get up and leave rather than try to backpedal or worse beg for their seats back. Their embarrassment was so complete they retreated to their rooms and sat in silence while meditating on what they had just done.

Back in the Council Chamber though, Master Shaak Ti made a suggestion that would hopefully ease the tensions with the Jedi who followed Skywalker's example.

"We have spoken much of them but what do we really know of what they are being taught by Master Tuwan? Perhaps if myself and Master Windu were to observe their sessions we could discover if they truly are a threat to the Order or merely interpreting the code in a different way." Shaak Ti suggested with a hopeful expression. She was doing this largely for the reasons that she had mentioned but also there was a good amount of curiosity and intrigue in their methods.

Wondering if perhaps they might help her deepen her own connection to the force.

"A good idea, that will hopefully lay many of our fears to rest." Master Obi-Wan said with a smile, hoping it would ease the tension on the Council by bringing more calmer Jedi onboard.

- x -

An Hour Later the Council meeting was over and Yoda alongside Mace Windu sat in one of the meditation rooms with Master Billaba and Master Sinube.

"Hello old friend." Tera Sinube said with a smile on his old face. Yoda returned it with a warm smile of his own.

"Greetings Master Sinube. A request of you and of Master Billaba I have." He told the pair who both looked confused especially as Sinube was already doing a job for Yoda albeit very quietly.

"Two seats on the Council have become vacant after the Masters who occupied them resigned." Master Windu said plainly and they then both realised where this was going. "We need masters of considerable experience and wisdom to fill those posts. Will you both be willing to take up your seats on the Council again?" He asked them, both had sat on the High Council at some point in their lives and been highly respected members while doing so.

Sinube was surprised as he had not sat on the Council in decades but nodded, not really wanting too but knew that he must be needed if the two most highly ranked masters in the Order were asking for him to join them. So, he nodded and spoke.

"It would be an honour my friends."

Yoda nodded in gratitude for his old friend. However, Depa looked uncertain at the idea of serving on the Council again. None of them could guess her reasons but Mace seeing her conflicted feelings on the subject asked her.

"Is there any reason you don't want to assume this seat Depa?" Mace asked her gently, wondering what was holding his old apprentice back. Depa frowned before admitting.

"I had hoped to focus more on being a Jedi in the wider galaxy, to develop my own connection to the force and to train my new apprentice. Being on the Council is not exactly a good step in either of those goals." She said with a frown, she could still do those things but it would be hampered by having to attend Jedi Council meetings not to mention the larger number of missions they would be given.

"There is always time for that." Sinube said with a smile at the much younger master. "You will be able to do those things and when the time comes you can always step down if you wish. But for now, the Order needs you." He told her with a warm look in his eyes.

Depa felt her resolve weakening as she felt all three masters looking at her and sighed before finally admitting defeat.

"Very well, for at least the duration of the war I will be willing to sit on the Council again." Depa said with some reluctant acceptance. Yoda and Mace nodded in acceptance.

"Grateful I am that you are with us once again." Yoda said with a relieved look on his face, knowing he had two masters who were both wise and capable but more to the point were less rigid in their interpretation of the Jedi Code and more forgiving to its members. "Thank you I do but speak in private I must to Master Windu." He said and they both bowed before leaving.

Now alone with his long-time colleague Yoda turned to him and asked.

"Have any thoughts do you on hiding the Sith relics?" He said with a frown, knowing it needed to be done but had too much on his mind to manage hiding them too. Windu nodded before explaining his plan.

"The aura the relics create is too strong, the Sith or their servants will sense them if we hide them conventionally so we must find a powerful dark side aura in a suitably remote place that is difficult to get too. I think I have such a place in mind but it is rather unusual." Mace said before taking a breath to explain.

"The Malachor System is full of dark side energy. All the planets are touched by it and Sith sites can be found there, however what I propose is we use the one planet where no-one goes…Malachor V." Mace said.

Yoda blinked for a moment having not expected that before he stared, needing to hear more before he risked any trip to arguably one of the most dangerous systems in the galaxy for the Jedi.

"The planet's remains are still highly immersed in the dark side and some of the chunks are large enough to hide a ship among the other ruined ships there. We can fly a ship in under droid control and have it land inside a cave on one of the larger asteroids and then shut down. The aura will be masked and any who see the ship if anyone dares going close to the ruined planet, they will think it just another wrecked ship from the Mandalorian Wars. They should be safe from discovery there." Mace said with care to ensure he got his point across.

Yoda while hesitant at having anyone going to that corrupt and dark system was still highly impressed at what Windu had come up with. It used the Sith's own corruption of the planet against them and the dark side nexus there was strong enough to mask the objects but they could with difficulty be retrieved if needed.

"See to it immediately." Yoda said with a proud look at his friend. His thoughts however went back to how much darker his visions had grown in recent days as the Sith grew stronger and the day they made their attempt for power came closer. Time he was sure was running out and his preparations were not yet complete which worried him no end. He wished he could do more and realised that maybe he was trying to do too much alone…maybe it was time for him to let Mace in.

"Time though it is, to reveal just what I have been doing and to share my suspicions." Yoda said and Mace blinked before settling more comfortably on his chair as this was likely to be a long discussion.

Yoda slowly started telling him about the group he had assembled and how they over the last few years had been going to old Jedi sites or other places to establish secret temples for the Jedi to run too if they ever had to hide. Also, that Ossus was now being explored by a Jedi team to uncover more of their ancient past and to give the Jedi somewhere else to go if they needed to hide not to mention store a copy of their archive and many of their relics for safe keeping.

Mace was astonished and in awe of the Grandmaster now thinking more than ever that he deserved the title. Thanks to him and his planning and guile the Jedi had much more security and preparation from future difficulties but more than that they were recovering their ancient past too.

"I understand and think it is very prudent. If the Sith are watching the Order then it is a good thing to keep it secret." Mace said, a little relieved. Yoda however then disclosed one of the reasons he had gone to these lengths.

"Vital this is, because fear I do that the Chancellor, either a Sith he is or a puppet of them." Yoda said sadly. "Signs I have seen and if so the Republic, turn against the Jedi it will."

Mace seemed shocked by that statement and Yoda quickly explained his reasoning for making that statement and when finally, Mace had managed to regain his wits he looked at Yoda with accusation.

"Why haven't you done something? Before he can mount any potential action against us? Why wait and let him gain more power?" His earlier admiration gone as he was honestly lost as to why Yoda had done nothing when he had a fairly good lead on who the Sith was.

"What proof do we have?" Yoda asked sadly. "Can we even make the galaxy see the danger he poses? What he is beneath the surface, we cannot." Yoda said with a sigh. "Twist the truth he would, make us the villains and use it as an excuse, to turn the Republic and the Clone Army against the Jedi. Trapped we are, by a plan long in the making. If act against the Sith we do without some kind of plan and fail we do, destroy the Jedi he will."

Mace blinked as he realised that Yoda was right, most of the galaxy couldn't really tell the difference between the Jedi and the Sith and wouldn't understand why Palpatine was so dangerous. Worse as Yoda said if they failed to stop him in one move then he would turn the Clone Army against them and wipe out the Jedi in one fell swoop.

Mace was horrified as he realised just how much danger the Jedi were in and why Yoda had kept it to himself purely to stop the Sith from wiping them out before they had a plan to stop it. Mace nodded in acceptance and sighed himself.

"Then until we are ready, I will make no move against him, so to not destroy the Jedi." Mace said with determination to now find some way to reveal this Sith for who he really was to the whole galaxy.

- x -

Elsewhere in the Temple Tholme was looking through his highly detailed notes in his room that he had turned into an office.

"You know you really should get out more." His former apprentice and current lieutenant Quinlan Vos said with his usual smirk. Tholme was far too used to his eccentricities and too disciplined to react however and instead told him.

"I am sure that you will get out enough for both of us Quinlan." Tholme said with a calm smile that masked his ever-calculating genius. He might not be the most powerful Jedi nor the most skilled lightsaber duellist, but his mind was one of the sharpest in the Order and he could operate in the greyer or even darker areas of the galaxy that few Jedi could even go into.

As a spymaster he had served the Jedi and the Republic far better than he could as a general. Quinlan had been a big help to him as while more troubled than he was, he too could operate in the darker areas of the galaxy too.

"I have a lead on another potential traitor to the Order." Tholme said with a grave tone in his voice. "He has been making several attempts to see Barriss Offee and hidden communications to Jedi who are in the service of Dooku."

"Who is it?" Quinlan asked, suddenly becoming serious and even angry at the mention of yet another traitor. Tholme was about to tell him when someone else appeared.

His second apprentice however as she came in through the door hadn't quite mastered that skill of eccentricity. Aayla was a far more conventional Jedi than both him and Quinlan put together which he honestly felt was a shame…the events of her past especially the time when her own uncle had forced fed her with glitteryll and wiped away her identity. She had lost so much time under that drug and then when her uncle had been killed by Quinlan sought revenge against him falling to the dark side in the process. Even though she had regained most of her memory she still felt responsible for all she had done namely setting the dark Jedi Volfe Karkko free and helping in his campaign.

So, she had devoted herself to being a 'perfect' Jedi he thought with a frown even if she at least was an individual in how she dressed looking at her leather outfit, rather than be true to herself since she didn't trust herself to make the right decision. It was a great shame and he felt stopped her from reaching her full potential, something he was hoping to fix today.

"Aayla, thank you for coming to see me." Tholme said while Quinlan brightened at the sight of his former apprentice even if he had never finished her training, he still cared a great deal about her.

"Master…Quinlan." She said more formal towards him than Quinlan who she gave a slight smile too, showing the bond that still existing between them. "You wanted to see me." She said, not sure why especially given Tholme's new position on the Jedi Council…something she felt was well deserved.

"Aayla…I have a task for you." Tholme said carefully, knowing he had to present this the right way or his plan to not only get Aayla to finally get her full confidence back but find her true self was not going to work. "I want you to join Master Tuwan's next class."

Aayla looked shocked for a moment, blinking as if not able to believe what he had just asked of her. Quinlan smiled and patted her on the shoulder to jerk her back to the moment before she finally managed to recover herself.

"Master…I don't think that is acceptable for a Jedi." She said quickly, too quickly and with a tell-tale quake in her voice. She did well at hiding her emotions but not well enough to hide them from him and he saw her fear straight away.

"Acceptable or not I think it would do us good for one Jedi that we know can handle herself to go into the class and see just what they teach. Not to mention I think you might learn something about yourself while you do." Tholme said carefully before Quinlan who was fully on board with this came over and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Aayla, trust me and yourself. You can do this. Face your demons. I believe in you." Quinlan said with a proud look in his eyes and complete confidence. She was touched by his faith in her even if she had far less in herself. She nodded slowly, not able to disappoint them and hoping that they were right about her and that she could face whatever the ancient Jedi could throw at her.

- x -

Republic Correctional Facility, Coruscant…

Barriss was such a strange sight in her prison overalls and her dark hair was now hanging loosely down to her mid back. Her face was full of frustration and pent-up rage as she lay on her bunk. Her confession might have saved her from the death penalty but she had instead been left to rot in this prison cell. Of course, she had been cast out of the Order much like Ahsoka had been but during her 'trial' there she had refused to say a word and instead just glared at the Jedi Masters who had dared judge her for doing what in her mind had been right.

Not that it had done her any good she thought with anger, her words were being dismissed as those of a madwoman and a traitor to the Republic. She had been reduced to nothing more than a footnote and nothing she said mattered.

The injustice and failure ate away at her as she was confined to her cell. She wasn't allowed to mingle with the other prisoners, never let out of her cell in fact and all meals were brought here by droids. Doing limited exercise was her only real distraction and trying to meditate but her frustration was such that she just couldn't focus.

Then someone approached the cell door and she could feel a familiar presence in the force that only irritated her. With her back to the security field, she didn't even bother turning around before snapping.

"What do you want? Come to give me a lecture on how I went wrong?!" She said sharply as her former master. She honestly was so angry that Luminara had dared show up that she was nearly shaking with rage. "If so then you are wasting my time and yours. Leave!" She snapped.

Luminara who had never seen Barriss like this was honestly taken aback by the incredible amount of rage inside her. How had she missed this? She thought to herself with disbelief. It had to have been growing for years to get this bad and she had never caught even a whiff of it.

"I would think a distraction would do you good as you have precious little else to do right now." She said back to Barriss, not excusing her sharp words by responding in kind. She just sat at the foot of the security field and waited for Barriss to respond.

"I would rather live through the Battle of Geonosis again than be distracted by you!" Barriss said, spinning around without getting up so she was now face to face with her former mentor who looked as unruffled as ever which only angered Barriss more.

"Which one?" Luminara said with a raised eyebrow as they had been at both of them.

"Both!" Barriss shouted with her eyes having returned a little to the deep and alluring blue they had always been before her fall but still a small ring of yellow remained around the pupil. The sight of it unsettled Luminara but she didn't let it show.

"I came only to ask one question; answer it and I will consider leaving you alone in your new home." Luminara said, casting her gaze around the small cell that was likely going to be Barriss's home for the rest of her life.

"I don't care what you want!" Barriss said with rage, getting off the bunk and she came so close to the security field that they were almost touching. "What possible reason would I have to tell you anything?"

"What else do you have to do?" Luminara asked calmly although inwardly she was desperate to know just what had driven her apprentice to this.

Barriss looked at her with complete loathing which after seeing blind obedience for so long was jarring for Luminara but she persevered, hoping that if she learned enough maybe she could help Barriss find her way back to the light.

Barriss didn't like the comment and glowered at her for what seemed like an age. They both sat there as Barriss glared at her for hours before finally Barriss got fed up and decided to do so on the off chance that Luminara might leave her alone.

"When? When did I start realising the Jedi were rotten to the core and cared nothing for anyone but themselves!? From the time I had a brain worm steal control of my body or the time I saw the Republic destroy the truly beautiful world of Phorose and the peaceful Ru being wiped out! From all the destruction caused by the Jedi and the Republic from the start of the conflict and even before like when they supported the Arkanian Dominion in exploiting the Yaka and Quermians! When they rebelled, the Jedi helped suppress their freedom! So many other actions! How could I still believe in a code that is so rotten and corrupt that it could endorse such things!" Barriss said as too many times the Jedi had protected the status quo rather than help people like they were supposed to.

Committed slaughters and protecting horrible dictators! She spat at the field and her spit dissolved on contact but the point was clear.

Luminara was now starting to understand just how the lack of compassion the order showed had started getting to Barriss. She was a healer not a warrior by nature and helping people was her calling, so the war and all the morally questionable things the war had forced on the Jedi had started to erode her confidence in it.

"But it wasn't till Umbara that I finally realised just why the Jedi were never the place for me." Barriss said with a nasty smirk on her face as she recalled the place that she had discovered her heritage. This made Luminara look up as this was new information and hopefully would explain just how Barriss thought a Sith from ancient times was her ancestor.

"When I was on the surface of Umbara I went off to scout on my own, I could move faster than the clones. More quietly too." She said with considerable arrogance that made Luminara frown, wondering just when Barriss had started thinking herself better than others. "The force pulled me to a cave that was hidden by plants and inside…was a tomb. A tomb of a Sith called Belani Syy'in." Barriss said almost in reverence.

"She was a Sith from the New Sith Wars. An assassin with some sorceress training and one that killed many Jedi during that war and relished every moment of it." Barriss said sounding almost in awe of the woman which worried Luminara greatly. "She lived up to her family till the day she died and when I came to her tomb, her holocron woke up. I had never seen anything so beautiful as that pyramid and when I touched it…" Barriss said, her eyes glazed as she remembered the moment she had learned of her heritage.

"It opened for me. The gatekeeper, Belani herself told me that she had a vision one of her descendants would come to this world. The holocron wouldn't work for anyone not of her bloodline! She told me so much about the Jedi and the Sith, let me see things so much more clearly." Barriss said with an almost relaxed look in her eyes.

Luminara was now starting to wonder if this Sith had merely been lying to manipulate Barriss, making her feel important and building up a false bond between them but listened as Barriss continued her story, hoping that when she had all the details that she could start getting through to her fallen padawan.

---

Auratera, the Outer Rim…

A world of light, near constant daylight Auratera reminded some of Alderaan with its great mountains, Dantooine with its great open plains and Endor with its forests not to mention beautiful clear oceans. Like someone had taken the best qualities of all three and combined them on this unspoiled world.

Unspoiled, was the word. Few people actually lived here but they lived simple lives in small, scattered communities.

Yoda's group was instantly invigorated as they stepped out of the ship and onto the surface of the planet, the force was incredibly strong here, far stronger than on any world they had been too before and mostly it was in tune with the light side of the force.

For a Jedi it was paradise.

Yaddle and Fay both meditated in front of the beautiful Crystal Sea which is where they had decided to build the new temple since the old one had long since collapsed. It was peaceful here and both were enjoying it immensely while the others took time to make sure this was the correct site to build a new Jedi Temple on. Make sure the ground was firm, not prone to flooding and that there was no sign of tidal waves or tsunamis in the past. T'ra Saa was busy investigating the nearby resources to see what was available so they could perhaps stretch the materials Master Yoda had sent them further by expanding the temple.

Due to this world being more hidden than others they could build more out in the open and more elaborately so a full temple could be built. Not a monstrously large construct like on Coruscant but a complex with all the facilities Jedi could possibly need to train and live.

Just as well Yaddle and Fay thought as they felt in the force that they were going to be here a long time for some reason. This was the latest place they had been sent to establish a temple on but no more had been chosen yet and the feeling of being safe here prevailed.

They just hoped that it was because they wanted to stay for a while, which they might well do…and not because they were forced too.

---

Odessan, Wild Space…

The Ordo's Revenge approached the planet under cloak, carrying with it over a hundred Mandalorian Warriors aboard. There were no sentry ships in orbit and no satellites either so they remained undetected as they made their approach.

Haron on the bridge of the corvette looked at the planet and even from here could feel how strong it was in the force. It was strangely pleasant as it was neither light nor dark but perfectly balanced.

Restful Haron thought with a smile under his helmet.

At his side Ahsoka stood and she too felt the force here, it was a balm to her soul after recent days and she was desperate to get closer to the planet. She could almost feel herself becoming energised by the planet and knew she would need to tell Anakin about this planet. It was beautiful with half of its surface covered in water and the rest forest and mountains. But also, so emersed in the force that it was a place to make pilgrimages too or train on.

"Mandalore, we have the enemy base. The tracker signal is strong, what are your orders?" The pilot asked Haron who nodded as he spoke.

"Set the ship down in the most hidden landing spot you can find close by. If we have to make our way miles over land to surprise them, we will." Haron ordered with a grim look in his eye.

The pilots did as they were told and the corvette made its way down through the atmosphere and landed in a valley not far from the Separatist Base. The forest was thick around them and hid the ship well and they powered down to avoid detection.

Haron assembled his people in the hold and gave the briefing. The holotable in the centre projected some of the images of the building they had seen from the sky.

"The complex is one single building with no wall around it. Limited access with two doors and standard B1 and B2 battle droids at roughly two hundred strong. Comm scan reveals at least forty organics inside including the Professor. Identities to be confirmed but it is likely some are Republic or Independent scientists or Separatist officials. Stun and we'll sort it out later. Twenty of us will stay with the ship to guard it and prepare for extraction. Flora and fauna on this world are largely unknown so watch your step. We assault the entrance at the south side and use stealth tactics till we are inside then go noisy. We go in five." Haron said, now all business as he and his people prepared for the mission. His warriors nodded in understanding while Ahsoka watched intrigued at just how he led.

"You are different to Anakin." She remarked as they, accompanied by eighty of the warriors. Haron was amused at her comment and asked.

"How so?"

"The way you lead and plan, it's very thought out in advance and regimented rather than Anakin who just often plays it by the ear. I mean you have the same strong aura he does as a leader but you take it in a different direction." Ahsoka said and Haron just smiled before telling her.

"Everyone has their own style of leadership Ahsoka, while I plan in advance to prepare for all eventualities your master is able to adapt and go with the flow of the battle so both styles have their merits and demerits. You will find your own style as you get out there in the galaxy." Haron told her and Ahsoka seemed unsure of that but continued to follow him.

Although their packs could have gotten them there faster, they didn't want to risk using them and being detected by flying over the tree line so they moved the five miles on foot instead. The forest was not silent as all kinds of animals and bugs made their home there none of which were known to them and all of them were on edge because of it.

They watched their step as best they could but as they passed a hollowed out log a small lizard rushed out and tried to bite one of their warriors on the leg only for Ahsoka to kick it away. The warrior gave her a slight nod in gratitude before they continued on.

Soon they reached a darker part of the forest were a pack of nasty scaled creatures with glowing eyes charged straight at them but they pulled out their blasters and fired. The creatures had impressive scales and resisted a little requiring several shots to be brought down but soon they all lay dead on the floor. Scans of the area thankfully revealed no droids within range to hear it but they wasted no time in moving on. Ahsoka looked sad as they moved on, staring at the creatures with pity but didn't slow them down.

Soon they arrived at the base which seemed to be built into the remains of a much older structure. Haron called out quietly on the comms.

"Snipers, take position on the ridge at point six three and take out the droids. Infantry with me to proceed forward until in position. On my signal begin attack." He ordered and they all responded quietly with.

"Copy that." Ahsoka was used to the clones and open combat so stealth operations were unusual for her. The silent way the Mandalorians moved was almost scary as without the force she would not even have known they were there and she was actually impressed at how efficient they were, wasting no time in getting things done.

It took only a few minutes for all the warriors to get into position, Haron and the majority of the warriors were hidden in the tree line as close to the base as they dared to get while on a nearby ridge the ten professional snipers were set up and judging their shots before hand.

"We go on three. One…two…three!" Haron said and immediately the snipers began firing at the droids on patrol near the door. The snipers didn't waste a second, gunning down all six droids including two B2s with ease while the rest of the warriors rushed forward. The clankers were down as soon as they reached the door which was closed but Haron then turned to the tech who came forward and plugged in the small unit into the control panel. He worked it for a moment before the door began to open.

The warriors charged forward, Ahsoka with her lightsaber in hand and she lit it. The blue blade was unfamiliar but, in her hands, it was a lethal weapon and she was now in her element, slicing up droids.

"Secure the database." Haron ordered one of his techs as they came upon a terminal. The tech he indicated stopped with his squad mates to make sure they had control of the computers by injecting their little virus into it. Now none of the security systems could be turned against them nor could they purge the database till they allowed it, the virus would make sure of that.

Haron meanwhile led his warriors further on, blasters in hand he and his men started shooting down the pathetic droids with ease. All the warriors he had brought for this mission had considerable combat experience and good quality armour not to mention the best gear so they were leagues above the droids, even the B2s were going down quickly.

Ahsoka likewise was graceful, almost like a dancer as she moved quickly around the corridors, cutting down droids. Most of the warriors had been at Mandalore and had seen her and her fellow Jedi there so they were reluctantly impressed at how skilled the former Jedi was.

However, as they cleared the building, they became separated from her and saw a troop of Magna guard droids coming at them. The droids carried phrik staffs which they managed to spin fast enough to block the blaster bolts. Haron grimaced inside his helmet as he knew how bloody annoying these things were to take down. He put his blasters away and pulled out the Darksaber, ignoring the black blade and its lightning which arced fiercely around the blade as it appeared.

Haron wasted no time and drew the force into himself, feeling greater from the planet's powerful force nexus. He moved forward at a terrific speed. He cleaved one of them in two with ease and then moved in virtually the same second to blow a staff coming at him from another of the droids. His body was like a machine itself, no hesitation or a second wasted in his movements. He managed to block the rapid strikes of the three other droids before slicing the head off another but knew from reports this wouldn't stop it so he followed up with a slice across the middle. He knew to aim for the centre and taking off the head would mean nothing to these droids.

That left only two droids left and Haron managed to sidestep in time to avoid a strike and plunged his saber straight through one on the right while kicking the other back with all the force he could muster. His muscles with the force enhancing them sent the droid back some feet but Haron who was on him in a flash cut him in half before it could recover.

Some of the droids though were still moving and Haron gritted his teeth and severed whatever was left in two to make sure they were dead, annoyed at the ridiculously tough droids. His warriors all looked astonished as it was the first time most of them had seen him fight with the Darksaber. Haron nodded and reminded them sternly.

"We've still got a mission to complete…so move!" He said firmly and the tone of her voice had them scampering off immediately.

- x -

Ahsoka meanwhile was moving through the facility cutting down droids, fighting with a single saber was not her style anymore and a little awkward to be honest. Something that she knew she would have to correct after this mission was over, she thought with annoyance that she had let herself become dependent on having two weapons. Meaning she would need to practice more with a single weapon and not just both when she finally replaced her own sabers.

The power of the force was with her though she thought, unleashing a powerful blast wave towards the weak droids who hit the wall and shattered into pieces. She didn't even feel winded the force was lifting her up so much. Ahsoka smirked widely and continued on till she reached the command centre when she felt a tremor in the force. A cold shiver ran through her and she saw a Verpine standing there with a red lightsaber in its claws. She frowned as she remembered a briefing on traitors to the Jedi Order and was hit by recognition of who she was facing.

"Beyghor Sahdett. What is this facility? Why are you here?" She said with a cold voice, not liking this traitor who had defected over to Dooku. The Verpine looked at her with its large red eyes and clicked as it spoke.

"The Jedi 'click' they have failed. 'Click' They are 'click' weak. I 'click' will serve the strong." Beyghor said and Ahsoka gritted her teeth as despite her uncharitable feelings towards the Order right now it, this one had defected solely for power. Sticking to a larger bully to secure their own power, how weak was that? She thought mockingly before putting herself in the ready position.

The Verpine was fast, moving swiftly and while it lacked the strength to put as much force behind its attacks it had the passion and drive to make them stand up. Ahsoka however was a far more experienced fighter than he was and more to the point she had a greater connection to the force, bolstered by the planet and her unique training from Tuwan and Anakin.

Ahsoka used her Shien and Ataru to launch a blistering counterattack with occasional switches and feints to put her opponent off balance and stop him guessing her rhythm. He was she admitted, quite skilled with a lightsaber, able to deflect her attacks almost effortlessly and would be more of a challenge than she had believed at first but she then started using the force forms she had been taught by Anakin and Master Tuwan. Deepening her connection to the force even more and her body started moving even faster, her moves more fluid and more accurate while the Verpine former Jedi could only manage to defend for a moment before Ahsoka with a single stroke after flipping over his back in a sudden move, took his head clean off.

Ahsoka didn't really feel pride in killing but she did in victory, she wouldn't relish having to kill but removing a genuine threat to the galaxy was something she wouldn't make excuses for doing.

She felt the Mandalorian warriors who had been watching the duel with interest come up behind her and take control of the displays in the command centre. She smirked; this was far easier than she had thought. Clearly Dooku hadn't thought they would find this place and so it was lightly defended.

But even so this was far less than she would have expected especially after so many scientists had been kidnapped. Just what had they been trying to do here? She wondered.

- x -

The cells where the kidnapped scientists were being held were barely more than four walls, a ceiling, a floor and a pair of hard slabs to sleep on. They didn't even have a proper refresher, and all had to share one. The smell was already unpleasant as some had been held there for several days and were all too happy to be out of the cells.

"Mandalore." Professor Mors said with a respectful nod which Haron returned as soon as he found them. "Thank you for your swift rescue."

"It is quite alright Professor and I am just glad we were able to find you before anything untoward happened. Do have any idea just why they kidnapped you?" Haron asked, curious at just what the Separatists had been doing here.

"This is Count Dooku's secret weapons labs. He wanted us to come up with weapons to bring down all his enemies. Since I am an expert in high energy physics, they wanted me to improve the Subjugator-class Heavy Cruiser's weapons. The Ion Cannon variant and a new Plasma Cannon version that they wanted me to make. Like I would do that for them…but still, I think I can make something based on this." He said going to work quickly on a pad he had apparently been given.

They watched as the brilliant but somewhat eccentric man worked frantically and showed them a ship he'd imagined. It was a very odd design with what looked like two large barrels in a central hull with a rear mounted engine section. It made all of them blink at the strange design but he proudly gave them.

"The Aggressor Project. It will take some more work but it scales down the ion cannon from the Subjugator-class and teams it with a plasma cannon. This allows it to deliver a devastating one two punch. First the ion cannon shuts down a ship and leaves it with no shields before the plasma cannon hits them hard while they have no defence. To any enemy ship that would be devastating and potentially even to space stations." Mors said with a pride.

Haron was impressed at how skilled the man was if he could come up with a weapon that effective so quickly. It would be size of a capital ship to build and need fewer crew with no room for small craft so it would need a support fleet for protection but it was a potentially very useful weapon.

"When we get back home, I will provide resources for you to work on this design and get it to prototype phase. What about the other scientists?" Haron asked with interest to see if they could find anyone worth recruiting.

"Many are from Separatist worlds and are here voluntarily. But some were taken from Republic and Neutral worlds like me, many of them have families which are being threatened to get them to work like my friend here." Mors said before turning to a nearby cell and saying. "Come on, its safe now."

They all looked and saw a man in his early thirties with shaggy sandy blond hair walk out with a slightly younger woman with a very young girl in her arms. Haron was familiar with the man immediately given he was a high priority figure for the Republic who had been trying to get him back for some time.

"Professor Erso. I am surprised to see you here." Haron said although he really wasn't, the man was certifiable genius and had been captured by the Separatists some time ago. They had been trying to get him back for years now but the Separatists had always refused.

"Duke Ordo, I thank you for the rescue. They were threatening my family to try and make me work for them." Galen Erso said with a tired look on his face. He then introduced his family. "This my wife Lyra and my daughter…my Stardust Jyn." He said with a proud look on his face and Haron smiled as he took off his helmet. He gave a slight nod to Lyra who returned it uncertainly but as he turned to Jyn he felt the force tremor. The girl was not force sensitive Haron thought but she must be tied to something very important in the future. He nevertheless smiled and gave a slight wave to Jyn who smiled back and waved too.

"I have three children of my own, number four on the way so believe me even if I wasn't Mandalorian I understand." Haron told Galen who was relieved at that. "I am willing to offer you sanctuary in Mandalorian Space for the rest of the war if you would prefer that." He made the offer, after all Galen was a genius and worth an attempt at recruiting.

Galen looked tempted for a moment but a look to Lyra who gave the slightest shake of her head and he turned back.

"I must regretfully decline; I do not doubt your good intentions but I will not allow my work to be used for war." Galen said and while Haron would have liked to push the point he decided to let it go for now.

"I understand your reservations and admire your conviction. I will ensure you and your family are returned to Coruscant with us. Now I am sure you all will want some food so see to it." Haron said turning to one of his warriors who nodded and led the Erso family away to find some food. Haron wondered just what the force was trying to tell him about this family especially the girl and would keep an eye on them as best he could for a while.

"Mors, would the other scientists join us in exchange for safety do you think?" Haron asked the Professor who nodded.

"Many would like to be far from the war and would jump at the chance to be safe after their treatment here. Not to mention there is much freedom for them to work with us." Mors said and Haron told him.

"See how many you can convince to join us. Genius is hard to find and there is much of it here. I will review the files on the Separatist scientists and see if any are worth keeping not to mention any other projects we might want to steal." Haron said quietly to Mors who nodded and smiled as he went off to talk to the other scientists and recruit them if possible.

- x -

Later that night as the last of the droids and Separatists were cleaned up after the battle and Mors was talking to the others to convince them to join the Mandalorians, Ahsoka found herself drawn to the forests outside the base. She couldn't explain it but she had the urge to go out into the forest. She could feel the urge getting stronger the longer she held it off and was now almost getting itchy feet over this. She just kept staring out into the forest and fighting the urge to run off.

Haron eventually found her like this, her longing looks out into the wilderness made him frown as she didn't even seem to notice he was there and knowing she was likely to react instinctively if he disturbed her spoke while standing a small distance back.

"Thinking about a late-night run?"

As he thought the sudden interruption made her turn and lash out with her leg but he was far away to avoid it and she then realised just what had happened.

"DUKE ORDO!" She said mortified at what had just happened and instantly was wondering if she was about to lose her new job. "I am so sorry!"

"Forget it, you have quick reflexes I see." Haron said more amused than anything and could tell the girl was distracted by something and that was in the force. He could sense it pulling at her and despite not wanting to reveal that asked her. "Is there something out there?"

"No…I mean yes…I mean." Ahsoka said not sure how to describe what she was feeling to someone who was force blind but she had to try to make him understand why she had to go into the forest!

"I mean." She said again taking a breath to steady herself before starting again. "I can feel a pull…in the force towards the forest. Like I need to see something there." She said nervously, not knowing just what was calling to her but something was.

Haron frowned, understanding far better than she would ever know. He wondered if this was a good thing or a bad thing and asked her.

"Is it a good thing or a bad? Even though I don't understand the force I do know it can go either way." Haron asked her seriously. Ahsoka thought for a moment.

"I don't know." She told him honestly. "All I know is that I have to do this. Whatever happens."

Haron was worried as they had no real idea just what else this world might hide inside its large forests but could tell she wasn't just going to let this go and sighed before telling her.

"Go, but make sure you come back before dawn. I certainly don't want your master coming after me for not having you home by ten." He said with a slight smile, trying to lighten the moment with humour. She smirked a little before taking off into the forest without any more hesitation. Haron looked after her and hoped she would be alright and that the force wasn't leading her astray.

- x -

The darkness of the night made the forest feel terrifying even if you didn't know how many animals were around and how they would love to make a snack of you.

Ahsoka could feel all that and more with the force as she ran forward, no destination in her mind just towards the presence that was calling to her. She just kept running and running, with no idea just where she was going or how far away it was.

Just that she had to get there.

It seemed like an eternity of her running through the forest before finally she arrived at the side of a cliff. In front of her was a structure that looked ancient, a stone altar of some kind littered with what looked like ancient lightsaber parts and even crystals and with two decorative pillars at either side. It was old but she felt the force even more strongly here and it honestly was almost overwhelming now she was so close making her feel giddy.

"I have not seen another Jedi here in many years. This one must be trying to walk the path of the Outlander." A male voice said behind her making her jump in shock and she turned with her borrowed lightsaber in hand. Its blue blade lit the area around her but there was no need as two glowing figures appeared out of thin air.

"Quite a firebrand this one." The female said with a bemused smile at Ahsoka's reaction.

"Once you were not so different." The man said under a heavy suit of armour that covered him from head to toe.

Ahsoka's mouth dried as she honestly forgot just what she was doing and where she was, before her were two force ghosts. She had heard the legends of such things but never believed herself that it was possible for your spirit to continue on after becoming one with the force. Not only was she coping with that sudden realisation that most of what she had been taught in that area was wrong but also the woman ghost that had appeared before her was none other than Grand Master Satele Shan herself!

Ahsoka felt like she was going to faint, one of her greatest heroes and a Jedi of legendary status was standing before her. One that she had aspired to be like for most of her life and she was so enamoured with that she honestly found herself unable to speak.

"Since the girl needs a moment to find her tongue again let me and my companion introduce myself." Satele said with a smile, amused at the girl.

"I was in life Satele Shan; a Jedi and I had the honour of leading the Order during one of its most trying times. With me is one of the greatest Sith of his era, Darth Marr. Member of the Dark Council, Head of the Spheres of Defence, Military Offence and Military Strategy and a leading member of the Yavin Coalition not to mention one of the wisest Sith of all time." Satele said with a smile. Marr just shook his head.

"I care not for my titles and you are too lack with your own. You were just as accomplished in our time if not more so." Darth Marr said. Satele didn't contradict him but just shrugged.

Ahsoka was still struggling to deal with the fact she had two force ghosts before her not to mention one of them was her personal hero but the mention that one of them was a Sith Lord was like a bucket of cold water being thrown in her face. She kept her saber lit and pointed in his direction, her eyes suspicious but Marr wasn't concerned in the slightest and told the girl.

"If I had meant you harm girl I would have done so as soon as you arrived but your presence awoke myself and Satele from our slumber. You were brought here for a reason and it is in our best interests to find out what that is."

"How could I ever trust a Sith?" Ahsoka asked, nearly spitting with the last word and Marr sighed before Satele stepped in since she could see Ahsoka wasn't going to listen to him.

"I did and was richly rewarded for it." She said, making Ahsoka blink in surprise before Satele continued now knowing she had the girl's attention.

"Darth Marr drew his strength not from hatred or a lust for power as many Sith do, instead he drew from his duty to the Sith Empire. In his life he became known to its people as their greatest protector and they loved him for it."

"He could see the Sith's human centric bigotry and their habit of backstabbing each other and constant infighting would lead to their downfall. He knew the Sith would need to evolve in order to survive. Few Sith have ever reached such a level of understanding." Satele told Ahsoka.

"Or respected the Jedi as warriors and force wielders." Marr said now deciding it was better to speak for himself and turned to the girl was looking at him with confusion as what she was being told about the Sith was in conflict with her own opinions and long taught values. "The Sith are far more complicated than the Jedi have ever credited and by the same token, the Jedi are more complicated than many Sith ever dream. You girl are caught in the middle. Not a Jedi nor a Sith and yet not sure about which direction to go. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been drawn here." He said and seemed to look intently at Ahsoka through his armour.

Under the intense stares of Satele and Marr Ahsoka couldn't hold out for long and finally admitted her inner conflict.

"I was betrayed by the Jedi, they cast me out like I was nothing to them and the Sith plot to tear down everything for their own gain. I don't want to go back to the Jedi or go down the same path as the Sith but I am unsure of just where to go." Ahsoka admitted, her own uncertainties coming to the surface.

Satele smiled and did her best to comfort the girl.

"The Jedi Order has become exceptionally corrupt but I do sense a change is happening on the inside, caused in no small part due to yourself. But it is perfectly right to feel this way Ahsoka, when our values are shaken it can be very easy to lose our way and not be sure what to do. The important thing is not to betray yourself, find those values that you hold most dear and let them and the force guide you. You will find your way."

"The Outlander was much like you." Marr said suddenly. "He had seen both the Jedi and the Sith fail, he had to find a new path of his own. To work with those that had once been ally and enemy alike to defeat the Eternal Empire and those that came after. He however remained an honourable man; he would never strike down a helpless opponent, never betray those who fought with him and kept his word once it was given. Those values gave him strength to see through all the chaos of our time and come through the other side. And so will your values see you through the now." Marr told her imperiously.

"But first you must find yourself in this new era of your life and that weapon you carry. It doesn't reflect you, nor will any other until you create a new one that reflects you now. So, use this lightsaber forge, let the force guide you and create the weapon to light your way in the coming path." Satele said and gestured to the forge where the Outlander had once created a new weapon to fight the Eternal Empire.

Who am I to question a Grand Master? Ahsoka thought with a small smile and stepped forward to the forge, she put her borrowed saber to her waist as she had promised to return it and instead put down the saber that she had taken from Beyghor. She began to meditate and try to connect with the force that ran so deeply through this place, feeling its great flow like a raging river that was deep and powerful. She let herself go into it and sunk deeper into it than she ever had before, finally not thinking of herself as a Jedi but instead as just herself.

She was passionate, curious, hopeful, kind and devoted to her friends.

She was Ahsoka Tano, not a Jedi just Ahsoka.

On the altar in front of her the lightsaber she'd taken from Beyghor as well and several of the older parts and crystals floated into the air and began to move. The late Verpine's lightsaber split into pieces as she subconsciously pulled it apart with the force. Its red crystal and another one that had a greenish shade started glowing as the force began to purify the crystals as she had done before constructing her second lightsaber years ago.

While the crystals began to change colour two lightsaber hilts began to form, parts floating carefully into place while screws floated besides them. When the crystals finally stopped glowing, they too moved into place and the lightsabers came together in a carefully arranged new pattern that was nothing like the ones she'd had before.

They were more rectangular with a slight curve to them. One was shorter than the other and was more like a shoto, while the other was the size of a regular lightsaber hilt. When she was finally ready, she opened her eyes and saw to her awe the new lightsabers were ready, almost afraid she reached out and touched them before finally finding the confidence to grab them.

She held them in her hands and was astonished at how well balanced they were, far better than her previous ones had been and fit her hands perfectly. She ignited both and saw to her surprise rather than green like she had expected two white blades of light appeared. She gave them an experimental twirl and heard them hum as they moved through the air.

She smiled at the two and almost regretfully turned them off so she could put them at her waist. Turning to the ghost of Satele and Marr she saw to her disappointment they had disappeared but as she wished they had stuck around she could ask one of the million questions she had but instead was drawn to a strange glint in the small cave nearby. Walking over she looked and saw to her astonishment that a holocron was just sitting in a small stone alcove inside the cave. It wasn't a cube like other holocrons she had seen before. It was an Icosahedron, or she thought with a frown not knowing what to make of it but she carefully picked it up and marvelled at the vast array of shifting colours moved inside.

Oh, Anakin is going to be so jealous Ahsoka thought with a smirk when she thought about showing her master what she had found.

- x -

Haron was just watching as the Star Chaser, the sister ship of the Ordo's Revenge was taking off. It carried Mors and the people that had decided to join them back to Mandalorian Space along with the research data that they had been working on here.

Apparently Dooku had been attempting to develop a variety of weapons that would enable him to fight his enemies, which Haron guessed included his own master as he was not blind as to how the Sith operated. It seemed Beyghor had been put in charge here and decided to keep the place as isolated as possible. One automated supply ship every month and that was it and by keeping any forces here to a minimum so the chances of detection were smaller.

It might have worked had Mors not managed to raise the alarm in time for them to follow him but it had netted them a considerable reward. After all, apart from the scientists they had all the research data.

It was a chilling read he thought as he considered some of the stuff the scientists had cooked up here. Regular stuff like an improved variant of the Droideka with a stronger shield and added ion blasters and three extra blaster cannons. That was something Haron was reluctantly thinking of adding to their arsenal given how effective Destroyer Droids were against infantry.

However, then there was work on the Gravitic polarization beam, a weapon that he had read about in the reports of the Jedi when Separatist Kul Teska had tried to use it to destroy the Naboo sun, thankfully it had been abandoned after that although Dooku had started work on it again. The scientists with any knowledge of it had been killed as a precaution and while ruthless this was a weapon designed to kill whole star systems and they knew that.

Far to dangerous to risk it falling into Palpatine's hands.

Moving on from that there were other weapons of mass destruction like the Desolation Missiles, short range hyperspace capable missiles that carried a warhead of highly dangerous hypermatter that upon contact with a planetary body would cause a devastating explosion, potentially even extinction level. The missiles had their own shields and were covered in stealth plating to reduce the chance of detection and move at incredible speed.

On top of that was a variety of truly nasty viral and chemical weapons, each with the capability of wiping out entire populations including ones designed to be programmable to specific DNA so it would only wipe out those with that precise genetic pattern and leave everyone else untouched.

Then there was arguably one of the most effective computer viruses that Haron had ever seen, the Armageddon Virus. A bit of a melodramatic name but it was not without reason. It once inside an enemy computer would seize control of the navigation system and lock the ship to collide with the nearest object of greater mass. It locked the computer completely and could spread to other systems then reinfect the navigation system in case they tried to wipe it.

Finally, there was some new kind of weapon system, proton beams. It was a high energy weapon of sorts that while still experimental did look promising.

Some of it would prove potentially useful in the future Haron thought but also the thought that they had to create some sort of special operations group for missions like this in the future as recruiting normal warriors might have worked out this time but in the future warriors specifically trained for this kind of work would be a huge asset.

He remembered that when he had been an auror he had attended a training course designed for Britain's most elite army unit, the SAS. It had been one of the most gruelling experiences of his life but he had seen the results it created. Those soldiers had really been elite and could handle all kinds of missions. They were exactly the kind of warriors they could use for the wars to come.

When he had a spare moment, he would begin working on devising the training program and the sort of weapons they might use. Perhaps modular weapons like those used by the Clone Commandos units after all he was a shareholder in Blastech and could see their specs anytime he wanted. Others might be able to add their own ideas when they had a chance to think about it.

Speaking of others though Haron thought as he saw Ahsoka return. She looked much more at ease than when she had left and he immediately noticed the two new lightsabers that she had at her waist. Just what had she discovered out there he wondered to himself.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Haron asked her curious. She smiled and told him.

"A potential way forward for me." Ahsoka said and held up her new holocron.

Haron blinked for a moment and shook his head, wondering if this was what Professor McGonagall had felt around him and his friends at Hogwarts sometimes? Constantly exasperated at the hijinks that they seemed to get into and the incredible coincidences that seemed to follow them. Now he was finding that same feeling with being around Anakin and Ahsoka.

Honestly Haron thought with some mirth, they could give me a run for my money in the saving people and recklessness department.

"We all have our own path to take." Haron said becoming serious for a moment. "Our own future is in our hands and we must follow our path to shape it. I and Anakin can help as can others but you must find out were it goes and take control of your life. It took me a long time to learn that lesson so I am telling you that now when no-one told me. Keep that holocron and don't let the Jedi take it. You found it; it was meant for you." Haron told her, wishing when he was younger in his first life at Hogwarts that someone had told him this. He would have done a lot better at some of the things he had gotten into if he had been more active in his own preparation and not winging it or relying on others like Hermione or Dumbledore.

"Are you sure?" Ahsoka said, looking longingly at the holocron and feeling protective of it.

"Absolutely, you at least might learn from it. Better than then letting it gather dust. Just who is it about anyway?" Haron asked with genuine curiosity.

"It's a collective holocron, it was created and added too by all the force users of the Eternal Empire." Ahsoka said proudly as she held the special device in her hands. "The Outlander himself started it but everyone in his alliance added to it. His wife Lana Beniko, she was Sith would you believe! It was her idea to begin with! All the Jedi and Sith and even Voss that were part of the alliance! Even two Eternal Knights Senya Tirall and her son Arcaan added to it. There is so much in here." Ahsoka said with excitement, eager to dive in and learn its mysteries and secrets.

Haron smiled and wondered if he had ever been that excited about anything at her age or younger? He couldn't remember any except maybe when he had first arrived at Hogwarts and was ready to charge in and learn everything there was to learn here. That drive would serve her well Haron thought and nodded in approval.

---

Dooku's Castle, Serenno…

Dooku had spent many hours in meditation recently, unsettled by a feeling he got from the force and wondering if there was more afoot than he had considered possible. His master had been most displeased of late with some of the events that threatened to derail his plans but that wasn't it Dooku thought with a frown.

It was like something was reaching out to him, something just out of reach that he could barely grasp but it was still there. It was unlike anything he had ever felt in all his years of studying the force.

He was determined though to find out just what it was, not in case it was a potential asset or threat but because it was something new and he wanted to understand more. He immersed himself deeper and deeper into the force in hopes of understanding, struggling to hold back his frustration while delving deeper.

"You were always determined to get to the bottom of any mystery my old master." A familiar voice said nearby suddenly.

Dooku froze, blinking as he couldn't believe what he had just heard but looked up and saw to his complete astonishment that a simmering blue form of Qui-Gon stood there before him with a small smile on his face.

"I think this might be the first time I have ever managed to surprise you master. Clearly, I have learnt more than I thought I had." Qui-Gon said while waiting for Dooku to comprehend just what he was seeing.

"Qui-Gon? This must be an illusion." Dooku said not believing for a moment that his old and much-loved apprentice was back from whatever lay beyond the veil of death. He was about to leave the room but stopped when he saw an imploring look on Qui-Gon's face.

"Master, I know this is perhaps a first even for you with all your knowledge and experience but I assure you I am very real. It takes a great deal of effort to reach you and my time is short so I am eager to talk as much as I can."

"I am impressed Qui-Gon. You clearly are much wiser and more in tune with the force than I." Dooku said with a small smile creeping onto his face.

"Wisdom comes in many forms as does strength. You taught me that master. But time is short so I must say what I must quickly. Remember the nature of the Sith. Remember what they do to those that fail them and that all people are expendable." Qui-Gon said urgently to his old master. "The Dark Lord wishes for a more powerful apprentice and once he has him you are dispensable. But remember there are always ways to ensure victory even when we are gone." Qui-Gon said before he disappeared before Dooku's eyes.

Dooku was instantly disappointed as he had hoped for more time and wondered just how Qui-Gon had done it…managed to preserve his consciousness after death. It was supposed to be impossible but he himself had wondered if it was actually possible sometimes in his past. Nevertheless, he was exceptionally proud of his old apprentice, a swelling of pride inside at him achieving more than any of those fools that currently ran the Jedi Order.

But Qui-Gon's words hung on, refusing to leave his mind. He had been assured by his master that when the war was over that he would be figure in the Empire to come while another younger man took on the duties of Palpatine's apprentice and chief enforcer. It had been promised Dooku thought with a slight desperation but thinking on the nature of the Sith he realised it was foolish belief.

He was an old man, frail and getting frailer every day and far past his prime. He fancied himself as intelligent but there were many much more controllable men who could do his job.

Yes, he thought thinking himself a complete fool for taking Palpatine at his word. He would likely be killed the moment he ceased being useful. That made him frown as he knew he didn't have the strength to kill his master and take his place even with an apprentice. Palpatine was just too powerful he thought with a shiver of fear running through him at the idea of facing his master in a battle he knew he couldn't win.

Telling the Jedi had an appeal but realising the Council was unlikely to take him at his word made him realise doing his master's bidding had made that course of action impossible, which in turn made him feel more foolish for being so blind as to trust Palpatine.

But what else could he do? He thought to himself in quiet contemplation. Events were fast approaching that would end the war and establish the new order. Even he wouldn't be able to stop that now but Qui-Gon's words about ensuring victory even when he was gone returned to his mind and then he started smiling.

Looking at his holocron he got up and walked over to it, picking it up and holding it in his hands. It contained all his knowledge including the true identity of his master and all he knew of his powers. Of the dark side, lightsaber combat, the force in general, diplomacy and everything else he had ever learned. It was his proudest achievement and now he realised his fail safe.

He would he thought slyly arrange for it to be delivered to the only Jedi he trusted on the event of his death. In case he wasn't able to figure out a way to destroy his master by then he would send the information to someone who he knew would use it wisely and help bring about the downfall of Palpatine.

Just in case Dooku thought to himself with some satisfaction. Looking up he smiled and said aloud.

"Thank you, my old apprentice."

---

Malachor Five, the Outer Rim…

Mace Windu aboard his ship was not comfortable here.

The dark side energy might make the system perfect for hiding the Sith and dark side relics the Jedi Order had acquired but the sheer amount of corruption here was making him feel physically sick. He tried not to think about it as he launched the ship containing all the dark side objects and watched from the cockpit of his own shuttle as the small freighter flew carefully into the shattered ruins of the fifth planet in the system. He sighed in relief as the ship disappeared into one of the larger rocks that had some caves that would be more than enough to hide the ship and within moments of him looking away, even he couldn't tell which exact rock the ship had landed on.

At least that was done he thought with some relief, eagerly taking the controls and taking his ship back into hyperspace and away from here. The further he got away from the former Sith system the easier it got but even he shuddered at the thought of all that must have happened in the system to leave as much dark side energy as that.

---

Landing Pad, Coruscant…A Day Later…

The Ordo's Revenge touched down on the landing pad with an audience to greet them, friends of the scientists they had rescued and importantly one figure in Republic military uniform. He scanned the crowd as the passengers all disembarked and seemed to smile when he saw one man in particular emerge from the ship accompanied by a woman and little girl.

"Galen. Thank the fates you are safe." Orsen Krennic said as he came forward, offering a hand that Galen took and shook in gratitude. "Your family?" He asked even though he could see them.

"Well thank goodness." Galen said and was relieved to see the towering buildings all around them as it meant after two years of captivity he and his family were at last free. Krennic nodded and told him.

"I found you and your family a secure apartment and I will handle the debriefing. The project will be far better for having you back." Krennic said with a smile, glad that his project could get back on track after being delayed for years. The ultimate weapon he thought with pride.

"Lieutenant Commander Krennic. It is unlike you to personally do so much for anyone." Haron said as he disembarked with Ahsoka and his guards at his side. The Republic Officer blinked for a moment at the shock of seeing Haron Ordo here in person.

"Duke Ordo. I am most grateful for bringing my friend back and for bringing us so many high-profile prisoners although I do question why you would lead such an assault yourself?" Krennic said and Haron knowing he was fishing for information just smiled before leaving the platform. Once it had off loaded all the passengers the ship took off and left to return to Mandalorian Space.

- x -

The Jedi Temple, Coruscant…An Hour Later…

A Temple Guard stood on his regular guarding duties and under his ceremonial mask his dissatisfaction with the Order grew with every moment. He honestly could hardly stand its corruption and became disaffected with it.

Offee had a point he thought with anger, the Order had grown corrupt and he was starting to think despite the recent improvements in some areas that it needed to be destroyed for the good of the galaxy. He had been doing something to encourage that goal for some time and actually spying for Count Dooku for quite some time. Helping him find Jedi that would see things as they did and when the time came, he could honestly say he dreamt of the day when he would impale Jocasta Nu specifically on his lightsaber.

He however was unprepared when Quinlan Vos appeared from behind him and kicked him hard in the back, sending him flying as Quinlan pulled his lightsaber away from him.

"Master Vos! What is the meaning of this?" The Temple Guard said with anger in his voice, his true feelings leaking out in the shock of the sudden and unprovoked attack. Not to mention Vos now had his lightsaber and he was rather defenceless without it.

"How long did you think you could get away with spying for Dooku before we caught you?" Vos asked with an enraged look at the traitor who blinked and realised somehow Tholme he presumed has discovered him somehow. Knowing he had to escape the Temple he quickly took off his helmet and threw it at Vos so he could make a break for the door but at the end of the corridor he saw his fellow Temple Guards standing there with their sabers lit.

The Pau'an Jedi snarled at them, recalculating his options only for his own helmet to be smacked into the back of his head by Vos with such force that he was knocked unconscious and would likely have a fractured skull.

"Take him to the cells and strip him of those robes. He doesn't deserve to wear them." Vos ordered the guards who nodded in slight fear of the fierce look on Vos's face and rushed to carry out his orders.

- x -

"And then they told me to use the lightsaber forge to create my new lightsabers." Ahsoka said as she told Anakin, Tuwan, Sinube and Kalifa about her latest adventure on Odessan. They all looked on in surprise as she presented them with not only her new weapons but the incredible holocron she had found on Odessan.

"Such lightsaber forges are rare." Tuwan said with a surprise that any such things still existed after such a long abandonment. Ossus had some and so did Tython and other ancient Jedi worlds but he had no idea how one could exist on this world that to his knowledge the Jedi had never touched in their ancient days. Perhaps he thought with quiet contemplation the Jedi had once been there in their distant past and for some reason it was never recorded.

Kalifa was looking on with awe at Ahsoka's incredible new lightsabers and her holocron and wished dearly she could have been there to have played a part. She had something of a hero worship thing where Ahsoka was concerned, ever since the older girl had saved her from the Trandoshans. In fact, if it was possible Kalifa wished Ahsoka would be knighted so she could take her as a padawan but she thought with anger that was never going to happen now. Thanks to the Jedi Council and Barriss Offee! She thought with anger.

Sinube looked on proud as the young girl he had helped what seemed so long ago now was coming into her own. It saddened him that she wasn't going to be a member of the Order anymore because in his mind she would have been a true star of the Jedi going forward. But all the same he was glad that she was finding her own path in life.

Anakin like Sinube was impressed and very proud of her. He thought with pride in her achievement. She had come so far from the young annoying snippy girl she had been when they first met and matured into a confident, capable, powerful young woman. He honestly had nothing but respect for her.

At the same time, he was worried, Ahsoka had gone on what sounded like a dangerous mission without any help from him or their own Jedi. She had proven more than up to the task but he was just worried that she was going to get into something that she just couldn't handle on her own.

"And congratulations on your promotion Master Sinube." Anakin said after a long pause which Ahsoka nodded too eagerly. Glad to see the elder Jedi who she highly respected get the recognition he was due. Sinube however just shrugged it off.

"I am only doing so until another can be found to replace me. Too long doing this and I am likely to end up falling asleep in those boring Council Meetings." Sinube said with a cheeky smile that made all of them smile too. "I should also tell you that the Council decided to adopt the recommendation to recreate the Jedi Mind Healers and even named Minisa Anari as the dedicated instructor for Advanced Lightsaber Combat while Master Cin Drallig deals with more Temple Security matters."

That Anakin thought made a lot of sense given the woman was easily the most capable lightsaber duellist he had ever met with the exception of Master Yoda and Master Windu. She had beaten the stuffy Cin Drallig in a duel and had turned Bene, her apprentice from a rather ignorant and unconfident girl into a young woman who was far more capable with a blade and the force not to mention able to handle herself in social situations.

She might be eligible to face her trials in another year or so, if so and she passed she would be one of the youngest Jedi knighted ever.

The fact it also gave their group another position of authority in the Temple didn't hurt either, not that this was some sort of political game Anakin thought but two of the hard liners on the Jedi Council had been replaced with much more moderate voices one of whom was actually a member of their group albeit unofficially so it was a win for their group.

Speaking of wins Anakin thought as he saw Shaptives, a Jedi Master that had presented him with an honorary Jedi Starfighter Corps patch for his achievement during the Battle of Naboo when he was a kid and they remained friendly ever since. He was an older man in his forties now with greying hair but he still had that big smile.

"Anakin, you still flying?" Shaptives asked with a smile on his face and Anakin who had bonded with the man over their mutual love of flying smiled back.

"Whenever I can. Master Shaptives allow me to introduce you to Ahsoka Tano and Master Tuwan." Anakin said, they had never had the chance to meet before now with the war keeping them so busy but he was eager to introduce them to him now. Especially now Shaptives was the new leader of the Jedi Starfighter Corps.

"I have heard great things about you both." Shaptives said with a friendly voice and shook both their hands. "Now. Sign me up."

"I'm sorry, what for?" Ahsoka said, glad to finally meet the master that Anakin held in such high regard but not sure what he was talking about. Anakin too was a little confused but Tuwan it seemed had figured it out.

"To train with you. After all I have seen what you have achieved Anakin, you and those that trained with you and Master Tuwan and I am very impressed. Time that I saw what all the fuss is about for myself." Shaptives said with a small glint in his eye, tripping them up giving him a little amusement.

Anakin was blindsided for a moment as most Jedi Masters avoided them and treated them like they were falling to the dark side so it was very rare to find one that would train with them especially one who was getting older but Tuwan only smiled and spoke.

"The more the merrier! We still have room in the class for two more and you would be most welcome."

"Two more?" Kalifa asked, now in awe of all the legendary figures in the Order that was standing around her. Tuwan merely turned his head to indicate they had another visitor and it surprised all of them to see just who it was.

"Thank you…Master Tuwan. I was worried you might not have time for me." Aayla Secura said as she slowly and rather uncertainly walked into the room. The fear and nervousness were easily detectable to everyone even Kalifa.

"There is always time to help others. A Jedi might not be able to help everyone but the day we don't help anyone when we actually can is the day that we stop being a Jedi." Tuwan said and told the clearly unsettled young woman while the others took in his words of wisdom. "You have a great deal to learn about yourself and I will be only too happy to help you find your way."

"Thank you…Master." Aayla said uncertainly before entering the room followed by Shaptives who gave Anakin a slight shrug before Anakin, Ahsoka and Kalifa joined them.

- x -

As the lessons began with Anakin helping Tuwan teach they were observed from nearby by Masters Mace Windu and Shaak Ti. They watched quietly as the lesson began and the small number of Jedi listened primarily to Tuwan as he began to educate them.

"He is a good teacher." Shaak Ti remarked calmly, seeing he had all his students giving him their full attention and explained things clearly and calmly.

"Not surprising considering he is supposed to be a thousand years old." Mace Windu said with a slight drawl. The Neti species were long lived after all and he now was likely the oldest Jedi alive, even older than Master Yoda who at least he treated with respect. Something that Yoda returned as they often played chess long into the night.

"I wonder what events he witnessed? Think, he was there during the Great Hyperspace War and even before that! All he must have seen and done." Shaak Ti said with awe and wished she could talk more to him. Mace raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm but understood. He too wanted to asked questions about those ancient days when the galaxy must have felt a great deal bigger. Many of the current legends in the Order's long history hadn't even been born yet and when the Jedi had numbered a great deal higher than they did now.

But Mace thought with a frown as he squashed boyhood dreams and kept his focus on observing Tuwan and seeing just what the master had to teach.

- x -

The Chancellor's Office, Senate Building…

Palpatine was feeling unsettled.

It was an unusual sensation for him as the usually he was completely in control of himself but recently his visions of the future were growing increasingly vague and unreliable.

This was impossible he snarled, glad no one saw the true look of utter anger and disgust at this new weakness. His foresight had always been one of his greatest assets and skills but now he could barely see anything to do with the future anymore.

He wanted rage at this weakness but there was nothing he could do without trashing his office and he certainly wasn't going to do that Palpatine thought, forcing himself back under control.

The Force was his he thought with cold fury and it would do as he commanded only now it seemed to be slipping away from him.

However well things were going in other areas many parts of his plans were starting to unravel faster than he could adjust them. The Jedi seemed to be as foolish as ever so their destruction was still guaranteed but in regard to Anakin, he still had a good hold on the boy but he didn't know if it was strong enough to sway him so he would need his most important card, the powers of Darth Plagueis the Wise he thought knowing Anakin wouldn't be able to resist when his dearly beloved wife was threatened.

Still, Palpatine thought cautiously, better to be safe than sorry. He was going to have to strike at Anakin's support network and possibly he thought with a calculating smirk reduce Mandalore to nothing more than a puppet state under his control. Maybe actually a tool for him rather than a hinderance. He was only waiting for the instrument of his plan to arrive who he realised with annoyance was running late.

That was not all though Palpatine thought as he tried to plan for the future. It was he supposed with anger inevitable that some Jedi would survive Order 66 so he would need a group to deal with them. While Anakin as his apprentice would become useful in this it would be far too much to send him after all potential Jedi they might find. It was wasteful and beneath a Sith he thought with disdain at having his future enforcer running around the galaxy to hunt the Jedi while doing his duty for the Empire at the same time.

So, a new group of servants would be needed. A specialised group of people trained and conditioned to hunt Jedi…An Inquisitor he thought coming up with a fitting name for his new underlings.

Then was the matter of finding those that would serve well in that capacity. The Jedi themselves ironically might be useful in that he thought remembering a number of Dooku's acolytes were being held in the Jedi Temple and would when he was through with them serve that task well. The Pau'an who had been caught today would serve as their leader Palpatine thought with a sinister smile as he thought of the pleasure that he might get from breaking those weak fools.

Turning his thoughts back to Ordo who had at least done him a favour in neutralising one of his overly ambitious apprentices plans. It was true that he had underestimated Ordo the last time he had tried to eliminate him but not this time he thought with satisfaction.

A ping at the door signalled the arrival of his pawn finally Palpatine thought with frustration, putting on his best Chancellor face and called out.

"Come in."

The door opened and in walked a human male dressed in Mandalorian armour in a unique sand-gold colour and made of pure beskar. Wearing all the usual ridiculous gadgets a Mandalorian usually did he had chosen however to carry Verpine weaponry, specially a Verpine Shatter Gun and a similar sniper rifle.

Roughly forty years old he was still very fit and with brown hair and fairly good posture, probably due to his upbringing on Kuat before he had become a Mandalorian.

"Ah, Count Kal Skirata come in. I have a matter I feel that must be discussed with you…regarding the new Mandalore."

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There we are, hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter. Please leave a review to let me know what you think.

I am aware in the canon Galen Erso and his family were rescued before this but in this altered timeline they have remained prisoners much longer.

The Desolation Missiles are based on the Dreadnaught missiles from Star Trek Voyager with a few changes to fit Star Wars better.

Armageddon Virus is a computer virus from British Sci Fi comedy TV show Red Dwarf Series 6 'Gunman of the Apocalypse'.

I think you can all guess which character the Temple Guard I mentioned becomes later.

Next Chapter - Haron faces a challenge for leadership of his people, Aayla faces a great challenge of her own that will make her face her own fears. And a clone trooper discovers a great and dark conspiracy against the Jedi.