A/N: Sorry for the wait, but I've been busy. Anyway, here we are, so let's get to it.
(Tython)
Obi-Wan Kenobi was seated in his new quarters within the newly restored Jedi Temple on Tython. The Jedi Master was deep in meditation, seeking guidance from the Force during these dark, and trying times.
For six months, the Jedi were forced to do little to help the people of the galaxy as their troops and the Separatist droid army were occupying and slaughtering countless people throughout the galaxy. All this death was like a violent hurricane in the Force, and it was overwhelming. Many of the Jedi who had survived the attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant were enraged that the Jedi Council would stand idle and do nothing whilst the galaxy was eating itself alive and countless sentient beings were being snuffed out. The tensions between the Jedi Order rose to suffocating heights until finally, two Jedi by the name of Baylan Skoll and Taron Malicos led an uprising against the Jedi Council, damning them for their hubris, dogmatic idealism, and unwillingness to take action and save lives while the galaxy is being destroyed by this nightmare of the late Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. Many Jedi followed Skoll and Malicos, believing that the current Jedi Council is far too corrupt and too ignorant. This uprising led to a Jedi Civil War, hundreds of Jedi were killed because of this, and eventually, the uprising was quashed and only a handful of the treasonous Jedi were apprehended, as were the joint leaders— Skoll and Malicos. With these Jedi now agents of darkness and succumbing to the dark side, the Jedi Council agreed to send these traitors to the Ghost Prison simply known as The Prism to be incarcerated for their crimes against the Jedi Order.
Despite the bloodshed and death, the Jedi who fought against the traitors and survived had similar feelings that the traitors did towards the Jedi Council, especially a large number of the Knights and Padawans of the Order. Regardless, Grand Master Yoda and Master Windu were able to assume control and have burial ceremonies prepared for their fallen brothers and sisters.
Currently, in his meditation, Obi-Wan contemplated so many things, but the one thing that was at the forefront of his mind was Maul. The Dathomirian Zabrak had not been seen at all during the last six months, and that was a terrifying thought. Undoubtedly, Maul had been taking advantage of the chaos and death throughout the galaxy to expand his empire and grow more powerful, and yet despite his wishes to pursue Maul and bring him to justice, his requests were denied repeatedly by the Jedi Council, which served to vex the Jedi Master greatly.
Why would the Council deny the need to hunt down Maul and his brothers?
Have the Jedi truly fallen so far?
The Jedi have become the playthings of the Sith, and now, with their numbers severely depleted because of the clones' betrayal and because of the actions of Skoll and Malicos, the Jedi were stretched thin and if they were to act, it must be carefully planned and calculated.
Despite the now fractured Jedi Order operating at minimum capacity, there was still hope for the galaxy, Padmé and her allies in the Galactic Senate were currently on the planet of Alderaan, discussing a solution to end the mass violence and chaos throughout the galaxy. Clone Force 99 was the only clone unit that hadn't turned on the Jedi and the senators, and so they aided the Jedi and Republic Senate in any way that they could. Because of the atrocities committed by the clone and droid armies, millions of refugees were forced to leave their homes and seek life elsewhere. And of course, this only fueled the people's resentment towards the Jedi and Republic even more, the fact that their troops were slaughtering countless of their people and forcing them to flee their homes lit a raging inferno in the bellies of these refugees.
There were so many fires to put out, and the fact that the Jedi Council was being picky on which fires needed to be put out frustrated Obi-Wan even more.
The doors to his chambers slid open, revealing Anakin and Ahsoka. "Sorry to interrupt your meditation, but the Council wishes to speak with us."
"Us?" Turning to face his old student, Obi-Wan rose to his feet and raised a curious eyebrow. "What's happened now?"
"The Council has assignments for us and a handful of other Jedi," Ahsoka explained. "I guess it's time to finally take action."
As the trio made their way to where the Jedi Council was gathered, they bowed their heads in greetings before Obi-Wan spoke up. "Masters. What would you have of us?"
"A mission we have for you, young Skywalker, and Padawan Tano, Master Kenobi," Yoda spoke before humming softly. "A disturbance in the Force I have felt on the planet Ilum."
"What kind of disturbance?"
"In pain, the planet is, young Skywalker," the Grand Master replied before closing his eyes to feel through the Force. "The Sith are there. Their reasons for being there, uncertain is. Act quickly we must!"
Master Windu then stepped forward. "While you two investigate the reason why Ilum is in pain, Master Plo and her niece, Sha Koon, along with Master Shaak Ti and her apprentice, Maris Brood, and Clone Force 99 will go to Kamino and find a way to snap the clones out of the conditioning the Sith have programmed in them and bring them back to the light." He then gestured to Quinlan Vos. "And finally, Master Vos has heard of a major event in the criminal underworld, supposedly an arms deal that's taking place on Canto Bight. If this event has anything to do with Darth Maul's criminal operations, we need to find out."
"Divide and conquer we will. Move swiftly we must, even now, a growing darkness that threatens us all, I sense," Yoda spoke with worry before continuing. "Pawns we have been for Sith, but now we must act quickly to see an end to their kind before more lives are lost."
"You have your assignments. Go. And may the Force be with you." Master Windu bade.
As the Jedi went their separate ways and boarded their transports, Obi-Wan knew that with so much at stake, the Jedi Council themselves would need to remove themselves from their seats and take action themselves. For months, they suspended him from going after Maul personally, and each day the Council held him back was a day when Maul and his regime would grow stronger. And Obi-Wan feared that when the time would come to face his nemesis and his faction, the Republic and the Jedi would not be prepared for the inevitable conflict that is to come.
Bo-Katan was onboard her flagship and in the training hall, sparring with loyal Nite Owls. While her opponents wielded electrostaffs, she wielded a family heirloom, much like how House Vizsla had the Darksaber, House Kryze had a ceremonial sword made of Beskar, and when activated in the wielder's grip, it crackled with azure electricity. This weapon had no name, it was simply an heirloom of Clan Kryze, wielded by the man Bo and her late sister had called father. With this weapon, Bo was determined to free Mandalore and its people from the dark clutches of Maul and his machinations.
"Begin!"
The younger Kryze raised her blade and met one of her opponent's electrostaffs, causing sparks to shower. Kicking away her opponent, Bo raised her left arm and activated the combat shield to halt another one of her opponents from striking her with their staff. With a grunt, the redhead swept her opponent's feet out from under them and then engaged in a fierce battle with another one of her contenders. Though she was at a disadvantage as far as numbers were concerned, Bo was implementing her superior training to obtain victory.
Two more of her adversaries pounced at her and before their staffs could strike her, Bo used her blade to hold off both staffs. The combined electricity from the weapons crackled and hissed thanks to the strength put into the strikes. Utilizing her jetpack, the redhead leaped over both of her adversaries and used her vambrace sonic repulser to blast away her two sparring partners. Her final opponent put up more of a challenge, his skills were not exaggerated, and judging from the gray hair on the sides of his head, he was the oldest and most experienced. However, despite his prowess as a fighter, Bo overcame them when she used her whipcord to immobilize them and deliver the final blow that sent them tumbling to the ground.
"Cease!"
As her fallen sparring partners rose, Bo helped the older one up after severing the whipcord around their body. "You fight well for an old man, Drux."
"I may be old, but I was born and raised how to fight. You're fortunate that I was taking it easy on you, Lady Kryze."
Drux Murvhell was the commander of the late Duchess Satine's Royal Guard. He had been raised in the warrior ways of old, however, when Satine became ruler of Mandalore, he pledged fealty to her, despite his warrior roots and heritage, he was a faithful servant of Clan Kryze as well as Mandalore. Upon learning of Satine's death at the hands of Darth Maul, Drux and the Royal Guards joined Bo and her resistance to rip it away from the Sith Lord's grasp and place the young Kryze on the throne.
Before the young Kryze could retort to the older Mandalorian, one of her lieutenants entered the sparring chambers. She had a look of dread etched on her beautiful face. "Koska? What is it?"
"You'll need to see for yourself, Mand'alor."
Both Bo and Drux followed the dusky-skinned warrior until they reached the ship's bridge where many of the Mandalorian resistance leadership were gathered. They were gathered near one of the holotables as they were going over their combined fleet and warships. To her disbelief, Bo noticed another one of her frigates was gone.
"How many, Koska?" Bo asks wearily.
An air of palpable tension permeates the room. In the time since the Mandalorian resistance fleet had aided the Jedi to escape from their destruction on the Republic capital, three separate frigates had defected days after arriving on the Jedi homeworld of Tython. A fourth had just followed suit an hour ago, and it was just now reported to the hierarchy of the Mandalorian resistance.
Bo began this campaign with fire in her heart. Now, she feels only cold and tired.
"A total of 250 soldiers are now lost to us, Mand'alor," Koska answered.
Clenching her fists, Bo, or to her loyalists and allies, Mand'alor the Liberator, took this news heavily before asking quietly. "Are there any other defectors?"
"Rek Mast'ran and the entirety of House Mornar aren't being much help. They are questioning your leadership and openly oppose our alliance with the Jedi and the Republic. I suspect it's only a matter of time before Rek and his brother, Shad, will turn on us."
"We must strike, now!" Axe Woves shouts suddenly, slamming his fist on the holotable. "Anything less will be seen as a sign of weakness!"
A clamor ripples through the rest of Bo's advisors. Only Drux remains silent.
"Inaction is anathema, especially for us Mandalorians," Fenn Rau states. "Our warriors long for the glory of battle and conquest, not the dormancy of waiting on our Jedi allies to regain control of their precious clones and wait for the Republic's leader to enact damage control."
"Even if it means fighting for Maul," sneers Ursa Wren. She spits the Sith Lord's name as if it were made of bile.
A bitter fury builds in Bo toward the mention of her sister's murderer. With Maul in command of the Mandalorian people, Bo knew that it was only a matter of time before the Dathomirian would run her people into the ground for the sake of obtaining his power. She knew that to him, her people were expendable warriors that could be discarded at any moment and at any time. Undoubtedly, Maul was the cause of her resistance's numbers slowly ebbing away; promising them conquest, battle, and glory would lead to their unnecessary deaths.
If only I had executed those Sith while they were near death in that escape pod, Bo mused bitterly.
"Those who abandoned us are traitors, and I see no reason to lament over those who would rather join a monster that would drive our civilization and people into the dust until we are but a distant memory." The Mandalorian leaders are now silent as they listen to what Bo has to say. "We Mandalorians are no strangers to challenges and setbacks. The defection of these traitors is a way to cut the wheat from the chaff; we will root out anyone who wishes to defect or betray us until all that remains are true Mandalorians. These are my orders. Go."
Bo speaks in a tone that brooks no argument. Her advisors and allies leave the room, wisely keeping any further misgivings to themselves. Drux nods to her as if to say he and he alone agree with her decision as he too takes his leave.
Bo can only wonder if she agrees with it herself as she looks over her forces projected before her on the holotable.
(Dathomir)
"None of you see yourselves as servants. You are proud. You have carved dominions for yourselves in the dark and won battles by fire and blood. You have territory, wealth, and followers to fulfill your every whim."
Darth Maul was within the Nightbrother monetary, speaking with the newly formed Dawn Council. This council included the criminal syndicate leaders under his fealty. However, three of these syndicate leaders were having a hard time accepting that they needed to answer to the Sith and Crimson. These three were Prince Xizor of Black Sun, Isa Durand of the Durand crime family, and Lady Proxima of the White Worms. These three crime lords, along with several members of the Hutt Cartel, including Jabba the Hutt, were still finding it very hard to answer to the Lord of Crime, Maul, as he is now being called in the galactic criminal underworld.
"But make no mistake. Your wealth, influence, and titles could be stripped away easily and be given to one who is more subservient. And I do not need to face you in person to end your life. You do serve. And serve you will." Turning his intense gaze at Crimson Dawn's figurehead, Maul gave him a curious look. "Dryden, how goes our business on Canto Bight?"
"Crimson Dawn has received support from dozens of wealthy and influential individuals who are willing to aid us in further constructing Dawn Fleet as well as providing us with men and women who are willing to take up arms against our enemies," Dryden smiled. "I have concluded several deals with some of the most ruthless arms dealers in the galaxy, and they are prepared to mass produce advanced weaponry for the Dawn and its soldiers."
With a pleased hum, the Dark Lord turned to King Atai of Zygerria. "I have been informed that the slaves you have provided to help complete my ultimate weapon are of your best stock." The Zygerrian king nodded in confirmation. Smiling, Maul reassured him. "My deals with Trandoshian hunters will be delivering you more captured beings, your stock will be replenished, and you will be compensated." The Sith Lord then turned to his Mandalorian Super Commandos, as well as Chop'aa Notimo. "Have you and your Mandalorians continued to rally more of your kind to our cause?"
"We have, Lord Maul." Rook Kast smirked. "The traitor, Bo-Katan has now lost four frigates and two hundred and fifty warriors. While she and her allies aid the Jedi, we have retaken Vizsla Keep 09 and will begin supplying the outpost and fortifying its defenses."
"Each of these warriors who were loyal to the traitor, Bo-Katan have pledged fealty to you and they thirst for battle and conquest," Gar Saxon grunted. "Of course, we will ensure that none of these defectors are spies on behalf of Bo-Katan, and therefore we have sent them to the newly constructed arena on Mandalore to fight to the death. Those who survive will have proved themselves worthy to join the Super Commandos."
"Mandalorians who've been on their acting as mercenaries and bounty hunters are flocking to our cause and are eager to serve, Lord Maul," Chop'aa Notimo crossed his arms across his chest. "My men and I are taking them in and using them to take over Cloud City on Bespin, just as you commanded. Once we have complete control of the criminal operations, we can overrun law enforcement and run Cloud City."
"Good. Persuade those in seats of power to our side: politicians, law enforcement, it matters not. Use them to our advantage." The Dark Lord then turned to the other crime lords. "Continue with your operations and collect profit to fund for our inevitable conflict. The time for war draws closer. And after millennia of corruption, weakness, and rot that the Republic and Jedi have allowed to fester, we will build a galaxy based on strength, conquest, and glory!" He then boomed. "Await the Dawn!"
"Await the Dawn!"
After ending transmission with the crime lords, the Dark Lord stepped out of the monastery and was met by the sight of his new army of Nightbrother Sith Warriors sparring with each other. In the last six months, Mother Talzin and the other Nightsisters took the best of the Nightbrothers and performed a spell that was similar to the one that they had performed on Savage, but instead of enhancing their physical bodies, they had awoken their Midi-chlorians and were now powerful in the Force. And so Maul trained them to hone their newly unlocked power and use it as a sharp blade to wield against their enemies. These elite Nightbrothers of course, build their lightsabers and serve as the personal guards to the Sith Triumvirate and Mother Talzin. But to finish building their weapons, these Nightbrothers would need kyber crystals to complete their weapons.
Mother Talzin's shuttle suddenly approached and Maul came to greet his mother and brother, Savage, as well as three beautiful Nightsisters by their side. During the six months, the Sith brother trio had taken mates for themselves. Savage had taken two mates for himself, two Nightsisters who were lovers already, their names were Shuj and Jenji. The other Nightsister was a woman Maul had affection for even as a boy as was by Talzin's side in the Nightsister's lair so many years ago. This Nightsister's name was Trielaj. Her beauty was blinding like the sun yet she had all the darkness of the night, she was one of the best witches in Talzin's coven.
"Mother," Maul bowed his head in greetings. "Should you be preparing to depart to find whatever beckons you beyond the known galaxy?"
"I will go soon, my son. But only after your brother, Feral returns. I wish to have the three of you by my side as we seek to find whatever calls to me." Gesturing to Trielaj, Mother Talzin smiled at her son. "You remember Trielaj, I hope?"
Approaching the beautiful woman before him, Maul looked deeply into her eyes before replying to his mother. "Of course, I remember Trielaj. You had plans to arrange for us to be a mated pair when we were children," reaching out to tuck in a strand of her hair, Maul grimaced. "And then... Sidious came—"
"And I never felt more alone in my life when you were taken by that Sith devil, my lord," Trielaj's voice was smooth as silk, yet there was a venom laced in her tone as she spat words of hatred towards the former Dark Lord of the Sith. "I was overjoyed to hear when you killed the man who ripped you away from us. I had plans to track you down myself and kill the devil who wrested you from us. From me."
"Vengeance that was misguided, my child," Mother Talzin said. "You were not prepared to face a being as powerful as Sidious. He would have killed you in seconds."
Snorting softly, Savage finally spoke up. "And yet he was defeated by the two of us," referring to himself and to Maul, the hulking yellow-skinned Zabrak crossed his large arms across his barrel-sized chest. "Our vengeance against Sidious and Dooku has been slaked. We must fix our eyes on the Republic and the Jedi."
"Indeed," Maul agreed firmly. "Our numbers grow day by day, and with the addition of the Nightbrothers and the Army of the Dead, we will consume of enemies in fire and blood."
Looking to the sky, Mother Talzin could see another shuttle arriving. Smiling to herself upon sensing who was within the vessel, the witch mother turned to her two sons. "Contact your brother via hologram. We have a guest that the three of you will want to see." She then gestured to the Nightbrother monastery. "Waiting for me while I make our guest comfortable."
Asajj Ventress didn't dare believe Merrin, but upon approaching the Nightbrother village, and seeing her sisters restored to true life, Ventress was eager to speak with Mother Talzin and inquire how this had been done. After the massacre that Dooku had sanctioned, Ventress had cut herself off from the magicks and ways of the Nightsisters, having believed it to be irrelevant then, but now she let herself bask in the old ways and she could feel so many of her sisters.
Upon exiting the shuttle and following Merrin and her Nightsister escorts out of the ship, Ventress closed her eyes inhaled the air, and exhaled softly. She had not been back home since the massacre, and to know that her sisters were truly restored made Ventress feel genuine happiness.
"Sister Merrin. Welcome home."
Bowing her head in thanks, the young witch then turned to Ventress. "We found her in the Republic capital world. She was... skeptical at first to hear that our sisters were fully restored."
"And now?"
Looking at her fellow Nightsisters, Ventress smiled. "Now I'm home," she then gave the witch mother a confused look. "I don't understand, how did you restore our sisters to life?"
Inviting Ventress to walk with her, Mother Talzin revealed everything to her. How she learned necromancy on a scale that would bring true rebirth to those restored, and how her powers had surpassed any Sith or Jedi thanks to the ritual she had performed with the aid of the Frangawl Cult. And now she told Ventress how she intended to travel the known galaxy in search of something that was calling to her beyond the veil.
"And you believe whatever calls you is of Nightsister origin?"
"Yes. The planet Arcana held a star map that would point as a guide for us to find Peridea, the original homeworld of the Nightsisters. We must seek whatever lies there if it gives us an advantage over our enemies."
As the Nightsisters walked the steps of the Nightbrother monastery, Ventress raised an eyebrow. "We?" She inquired further. "What aren't you telling me, mother?" Upon entering the monastery, Ventress visibly flinched at the sight of Maul, Savage, and the holographic image of Feral. "You!"
Bearing his teeth like a rabid animal, Savage turned sharply to Mother Talzin. "This is your guest?!" The eldest of the brother trio's feelings weren't alone. Feral too snarled at Ventress, even though he was still on Ilum, he could sense her aggression and resentment toward his older brother. "I ought to remove your head myself." Savage then ignited his lightsaber as he pointed his crimson blade at Ventress.
"You're welcome to try, you lumbering brute," Ventress hissed as she stood tall.
"With pleasure."
Swinging at Ventress' head, Savage's blade was halted by Mother Talzin. The witch mother then pushed her eldest son back before apologizing on Savage's behalf. "Forgive my sons. They tend to hold extraordinary grudges—"
"Sons? These three are your sons?!"
Crossing his arms behind his back, Maul approached Ventress. "Don't sound so surprised. After all, even a great matriarch such as Mother Talzin would need a successor to rule over the Nightsisters. And since she did not bear any daughters..."
"...she ended up with three weak, hotheaded boys."
Scowling at Ventress, the new Dark Lord of the Sith began to circle her. "Such insolence. You should choose your words with greater care. You are addressing the new Dark Lord of the Sith."
"You? A halfwit as the reigning Sith Lord?" Letting out a mocking laugh, Ventress smirked. "I doubt that."
Turning to Merrin, Maul gave her a curious look. "You did not tell her, Sister Merrin?"
"I thought it best if she heard it from you."
Nodding at the young woman, Maul turned back to Ventress. "Whatever you think of me and my brothers means nothing. We killed not only Count Dooku in his own home, but we eliminated the one pulling his strings, Darth Sidious."
"You lie."
Smirking, Maul walked away to stand by his brothers. "As I said, what you think means nothing. You are here as a courtesy on behalf of Mother Talzin."
Gritting her teeth at the Dark Lord, Ventress challenged his words. "Is that so, halfwit?"
"Do you have value to Nightsisters? Yes." Feral suddenly said as all eyes turned to him. "Would your skills as an assassin and warrior aid us in our efforts? Of course." The younger Zabrak then narrowed his eyes at the one who not only beat him down turning the mating selection but also had Savage kill him in the past with hateful eyes. "But do we need you here? No. We do not." The brother trio all bore their teeth at Ventress, however, Talzin held a hand out to her sons, silencing them for the time being and holding them back from lashing out at her.
"They are indeed my sons, sister," confirming this revelation with Ventress, the witch mother continued, "and despite your differences, now is the time for all Dathomirians to unite if we are to claim this galaxy as our own." Turning firmly to her sons, Talzin reiterated. "Set aside your differences with her and unite as one. Am I understood?" Maul, Savage, and holographic image Feral all bowed their heads in submission to their mother. Talzin too turned to Ventress and placed her hands on her shoulders. "The past cannot be changed, sister. And, likely, you will never get along with my sons, nevertheless, they surpass you, and you will submit to their authority."
"Yes, Mother Talzin."
Savage and Feral snarled, clearly harboring great resentment towards Ventress. Maul, however, sensed potential in her. Despite crossing blades with her in the past, the Dark Lord couldn't deny Ventress' power in the Force. Perhaps she could be of great use to the Sith and Crimson Dawn shortly.
"Good." Turning to the holographic image of her younger son, Mother Talzin spoke with haste. "You have been on Ilum for several rotations now, my son. Your brothers will fetch you and bring you back to Dathomir. I wish for you and your brothers to join me, Ventress, as well as those of my choosing, to accompany me to Peridia as we return to the galaxy our kind hail from."
"As you wish."
As Feral ended transmission, Mother Talzin turned to Maul and Savage. "Prepare. We leave as soon as you bring Feral home." The witch mother then beckoned Ventress to follow her. "Come, sister. We must celebrate your return with the rest of our coven." As the Nightsisters walked away, Ventress looked over her shoulder and met the intense stares of Maul and Savage, she merely sneered at them in response.
Once they were gone, Savage turned to Maul with a growl. "She aided in Kenobi's escape in the past. What is to stop her from doing so again?"
Though that was a possibility, Maul gave his brother a reassuring look. "If that harpy is foolish enough to stand between me and exacting my revenge against Kenobi again, I will make her suffer a fate far worse than death. But not before I hand her over to you and Feral, after what she did to the two of you."
Savage smirked in response.
The two brothers made their way outside the monastery and approached Scimitar. Once boarding the Sith ship, they blasted off into the sky and set in the hyperspace coordinates to Ilum before making the jump.
(Ilum)
A Jedi shuttle exited hyperspace and was approaching Ilum. Reaching their destination wasn't difficult, the Jedi trio onboard could sense the darkness of the Sith here as well as the pain that the planet itself was experiencing thanks to the excrutiating extraction of the kyber crystals. After flying out of the clouds, the Jedi could see a Sith warship hovering above a massive crater, which was obviously the excavation sight for the Dawn's crystal operation.
"We'll need to get down there and crash this party."
Humming softly, Obi-Wan replied to Anakin's words. "Steady, Anakin. It appears that the enemy is vacating the area."
Ahsoka could see several transport ships gliding up to the Sith warship. "Could they have met their crystal quota?"
"Perhaps. We'll know more once we're on the on the ground," Obi-Wan replied before turning to his former student. "Anakin, set us down."
Landing the shuttle that was out of the enemy warship's weapon range, the Jedi trio raced to the excavation sight and could see the last of the enemy transport ships depart. However, a dark presence forced the Jedi to divert their attention away from the sky. The icy winds showed the silhoute of the figure draped in black and a hood obscuring their face. Being the aggressive one, Anakin ignited his azure blade and pointed it at the dark figure.
"And you are?"
Bearing his teeth, the young Sith Lord lowered his hood, revealing himself to the Jedi before he replied. "I am Feral Opress. Brother to Maul and Savage," he then drew his crimson blades, whirling them expertly before smirking. "We are the new Sith Triumvirate, and our plans for galactic domination are set in motion, and they cannot be stopped. Not even by the Jedi Order." Obi-Wan and Ahsoka by this point activated their own lightsabers, ready to fight if Feral attacked.
Scoffing softly at the Sith Lord's words, Anakin retorted. "We'll see about that," he then turned to his student and former master. "We can take him easy."
Now grinning, Feral shook his head. "In time, Skywalker. In time. But not today." He then used the Force to hurl a wave of snow at the Jedi before deactivating his blades and running.
"He's escaping!"
As the three Jedi ran into the cloud of snow, they saw the young Sith Lord running toward the edge of a cliff before looking over his shoulder at the Jedi trio and jumping. Instead of plummeting to his death, however, Feral was standing on the ramp of the Scimitar. The Sith Infiltrator vessel had deactivated its cloaking device and revealed itself for the Jedi to see. Both Maul and Savage awaited Feral and as the Sith Triumvirate looked to the Jedi, the Dark Lord himself merely smirked at them before he and his brothers entered their vessel. Before the Jedi could even think of using the Force to keep the vessel from leaving, it blasted off, sending them back and crashing down onto the snowy ground beneath their feet.
"What could the Sith possibly want with those crystals?"
As the Jedi trio rose and dusted the snow off of their coats, Obi-Wan looked to the sky to see Scimitar climb higher and higher until it disappeared into the clouds. "Whatever they want with them could only spell doom for the Jedi and Republic," with a frustrated sigh, the Jedi Master beckoned his former student and the young Togruta to follow him. "We must inform the Council that the Sith have already claimed their prize and are now long gone. Hopefully, Masters Koon, Ti, and Vos will have better luck than we did." As the Jedi returned to their shuttle and departed Ilum, Obi-Wan had this gnawing feeling in his stomach, and it was a feeling that something truly terrible would occur shortly.
Whatever this looming threat that lurked in the shadows was, Obi-Wan knew that the Republic and Jedi would both need to be prepared to face it once this threat revealed itself to the galaxy.
A/N: Again, sorry for the delay, but I've had a lot going on. I hope you all enjoyed it, regardless! Also, some of the Mandalorian characters on Bo's resistance were suggested characters by DoctorDoom5600 on , I'll toy around with them and see what I can do with them. Anyway, I'll catch you all in the next update!