A New Player in the Force

The walk was short, with the four guardsmen – Grenk and Bracul from inside our waiting room and two others from outside – acting as an escort and soon we found ourselves stepping through large doors into the large, high-ceilinged room that I remembered from The Clone Wars.

The walls were generally empty and clean, though a few paintings hung on the walls while banners were displayed prominently near the throne. These depicted a large, stylized cat that I knew from my research was the symbol of House Kryze.

I turned my head and looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows that dominated one side of the room, noting the same diamond shape was in the centre of every windowpane and watched as speeders and flyers zoomed past outside.

Along the sides of the room, guards were posted at regular intervals with a further four standing at the edges of the steps leading up to the throne. Unlike the guards along the sides, these four wore traditional Mandalorian armour and each bore the crest of House Kryze on their right breastplate.

In front of the throne and its steps stood three people, with my eyes being drawn to the man standing on the right of the three. He looked familiar, yet not quite matching what I knew from the cartoon. To confirm my theory, I use Observe on him and the other two.

Pre Vizsla

Race: Human

Level: 27

Health: 100%

Age: 43

Force Potential: Low

Threat Potential: Intermediate

Reputation: Disliked

Affiliation Loyalty: Death Watch (89%) Duke Adonai (38%) New Mandalorians (12%)

Emotional State: Grateful/Concerned/Curious

Pre is grateful for your killing of Girk Saxon as it allowed him to assume leadership of a Death Watch Faction

He is worried that you have arrived with the Butcher of Galidraan

Though he does wonder why his sister extended the invite for you to come

…

Hox Worra

Level: 26

Health: 100%

Age: 56

Force Potential: Minimal

Threat Potential: Minimal

Reputation: Neutral

Affiliation Loyalty: New Mandalorians (92%) Duke Adonai (43%)

Emotional State: Pleased/Amused/Curious

Hox is pleased that you have killed Girk Saxon as his actions were causing problems for the New Mandalorians

He is also amused at how this has seemed to confuse Pre Vizsla

Though he is curious about why Nia Vizsla extended an invite for you to come to Mandalore

…

Laxi Traye

Level: 24

Health: 100%

Age: 51

Force Potential: Minimal

Threat Potential: Minimal

Reputation: Neutral

Affiliation Loyalty: New Mandalorians (89%) Duke Adonai (41%)

Emotional State: Intrigued/Concerned/Curious

Laxi is wondering if there is some way to use the arrival of four Jedi to shore up support for the New Mandalorians

Though she is concerned that the arrival of so many Jedi may make some of the Warlords attempt an attack

She is also curious as to why a former member of Death Watch extended an invitation to a Jedi Padawan

…

I had been right about the almost-familiar face, as it was Pre Vizsla, the future leader of Death Watch. Apart from the squarer jaw and larger brow than how he was shown in the cartoon, what confused me was the full head of blond hair. While it was true that in The Clone Wars, he had first been seen with golden hair that was combed down and back, he had lost it in later episodes, so the flowing locks were a surprise. Yet, given it was about fourteen years earlier in the timeline, it did make sense that he’d have more hair now than he would in the future.

The little details that were different between how I remembered him, and how he was, were a reminder that the show had used a generalised approach to depicting people. And that I should expect others from the show to look slightly different when I met them. With my thoughts there drifting to Satine and Bo.

Pre having no loyalty to the New Mandalorian cause was hardly a surprise but discovering that he had some respect for Duke Adonai was. Though that respect may have gone both ways, which would help explain why he was appointed Governor of Concordia by Satine.

The other two were loyal to the New Mandalorians which made sense, and not even a low-level threat, though both were still wary of Adonai. Well, that’s how I interpreted their low loyalty ratings to the man, which suggested that this alliance between them was still tenuous.

That all three were curious about why I had been invited to Mandalore was amusing, but not entirely unexpected. It seemed that Nia hadn’t been quiet about her invitation, or maybe Pre had revealed how Girk died and used that to protect his sister from charges when she had returned. Death Watch was classified as a terrorist organization by the New Mandalorians and Republic, so her stating that she was no longer a member of the group would have likely caused Pre problems.

“Ah, Master Jedi, welcome, welcome,” I was drawn out of my thoughts on what Observe had revealed as the man on the throne stood.

He was tall and well-built, with green eyes and hair that, where it was not starting to grey, was copper in colour and spread down his jaw to form a thick, bushy beard. Like the guards, he wore armour – which while mainly green had grey on the shoulders and lower legs – and over that, a simple blueish/grey tunic. It was in the same colours as those worn by the New Mandalorians but to me, when combined with the armour underneath and the way it moved, it reminded me more of a bathrobe than a toga, which was likely what it was meant to be.

“May I introduce my Prime Minister, Hox Worra, My Foreign Minister, Laxi Traye, and the Mayor of Sundari, Pre Vizsla.” As the introductions were being carried out, I noticed Dooku tense when Pre was mentioned, likely due to the clan name. “On behalf of all of Mandalore, I bid you welcome to our world.”

As he stepped down, it was clear to me that he was a soldier, a warrior. His steps were assured and measured, and his posture was friendly but tense as if expecting hostility to break out in an instant. Possibly that was due to four Jedi standing in his throne room, or perhaps his alliance with the New Mandalorians was not as secure as it appeared.

“Duke Adonai, thank you for taking the time out of your no doubt busy schedule to greet us,” Dooku said with a slight bow, which was mirrored by Fay. Serra and I followed suit.

“I am Jedi Master Dooku,” I noted the way everyone in the room tensed as Dooku revealed his name, though I paid close attention to Pre. “With me is Master Fay and Padawans Serra Keto and Cameron Shan.”

Adonai’s eyes settled on me as my name was confirmed. “Ah, so you are the one who killed Girk Saxon in a duel.”

I shook my head. “No sir, I defeated him in a duel. He then dishonoured himself by trying to shoot me after he conceded. His death was a result of that dishonour.”

One of Adonai’s eyebrows rose at my words. “Yes, it certainly was.” He turned and looked at Pre. “It appears your sister was being truthful regarding Girk’s death.”

“As I told you, Adonai,” Pre responded as his lips twitched upwards. “My sister may not understand the importance of allying with the New Mandalorians, but she is no liar.”

Adonai chuckled once. It was a deep sound and seemed to rumble around the room even as he stepped forward. “No, she is not. Since it is confirmed, her pardon is no longer conditional. Yet, to know that Girk was taken down by a mere adiik, even a Jedi,” he shook his head and chuckled once more, “well if you had not just confirmed it Jedi, I would not believe it.”

His gaze shifted to me and I straightened my stance, adopting a rest position from my previous life in the army. Something inside told me that earning his respect would be useful for the future and his lips twitched upwards at my new stance.

“Girk was not my first kill. My house was attacked when I was eight and I had to defend it against pirates and Sith,” I stated clearly. From what I had learnt of Mandalorian culture, such a thing was worthy of notice and likely be used to improve my reputation with any who were not members of the New Mandalorian faction.

The twitch of Adonai’s lips turned into a wide smile. “Hmm. Unexpected,” His gaze shifted to my masters, where I caught sight of Dooku nodding before it returned to me. “Most unexpected. And here I thought the Jedi had grown weak while becoming the lapdogs of the Senate.”

Both Hox and Laxi reacted to that comment by frowning, though Hox’s was closer to a sneer as his brow knotted, while Pre’s eyes seemed to focus on me. Possibly, he was trying to determine if I was a threat to him and the Death Watch. I was, but no need for him to know that just yet.

“The High Council believes that the Jedi should serve the Republic,” Fay responded in a tone that seemed neutral to those who didn’t know her. Yet to those who did, they knew it meant she was less than pleased.

“Stupid,” Serra muttered under her breath. Adonai’s gaze shifted to her and a single eyebrow rose as he gave her a once-over.

She stood her ground, though unlike me she didn’t adopt a more military stance. Adonai chuckled, seemingly satisfied with what he saw, before turning his attention back to me.

“I have heard other rumours about you adiik,” he began as I heard the doors behind us swish open, “that you are a direct descendent of the Jedi known to us as Revan the Butcher.”

“I am,” I replied simply, ignoring the strangled gasp of an unfamiliar female that came from behind me. “Due to a hyperdrive malfunction after the attack when I was eight, I was sent forward in time nearly four thousand years.” I allowed a smile to spread across my face. “And yes, while I know how insane that sounds, it’s the truth.”

“The Jedi have examined the evidence and verified this is a fact,” Dooku added clearly, though the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth let me know he was less than happy about having that information out in the open.

Adonai leaned closer to me. “You are aware that your ancestor was responsible for shattering the Clans?”

I held my ground and gave a single nod as I replied. “Yes, though from the stories I was told, he was later responsible for convincing Mandalore the Preserver, formerly known as Canderous Ordo, to reunify them.”

It seemed that an opportunity I had hoped to encounter while I was here was occurring on my first day on the planet. Curiosity about Revan, Canderous, and the Mandalorians of their time was likely to lead to some questions and inquiries about how things had once been.

Adonai’s comment may well give me a chance to offer some ‘home truths’ far earlier than I’d expected, but I was not about to look a gift bantha in the mouth.

Adonai held my gaze for a short while, before leaning back and chuckling. “Aye, he did. Te Taylir Mand'alor did his best, but our people were not ready to reunify after the two crushing defeats of previous Mand’alors.” He rubbed his chin, running his fingers through his thick beard. “I wonder what Te Taylir, or any of the older Mand’alors, would say about the state of our people now.”

It took all of my years of training to not react outwardly at him giving me that opening, even as I laughed internally.

“Honestly, I think he’d be insulted.” Again, there was a startled gasp from behind me, though this one sounded older.

Adonai’s gaze returned to me as the same single eyebrow from before rose once more. His eyes locked onto mine as if challenging me to continue.

“From what I was told by my grandfather Vaner, and great-grandmother Bastila, Canderous felt that a true Mando'ade commanded both fear and respect. Yes, Mandalorians were warriors, but they were not raiders.” I paused for a moment, playing around with the wording of a speech I’d been preparing for just over a month in my mind.

“The core guiding philosophy of Mandalorian culture is the belief that combat and war are essential for growth, on a personal, cultural, and even spiritual level. Those who survive challenging encounters are rightly lauded for their strength and prowess, the more challenging the victory, the greater the prestige. Therefore, they viewed defeating weak foes as a waste of their time.”

“They did not go around burning villages and demanding tribute as I have heard Death Watch is known to do. Not only did these actions prevent any individuals or the Clan as a whole from growing stronger, as there was no challenge to overcome, but they also displayed the lack of personal strength and honour of the individual or Clan in question. It signalled that the only foes they felt they could beat were simple farmers.”

“Nor did they hide their heads in the sand and pretend that by giving up their weapons and their culture, they’d suddenly be respected by the greater galaxy, or be safe from threats; both internal and external.”

Hox and Laxi, who had been looking thoughtful up until that last point, now looked both shocked and angered by my words, and Pre was glaring at me so intently that I suspected he was trying to make me spontaneously combust. I disregarded them in favour of focusing on the one Mandalorian in the room I was actually trying to win over. Adonai’s face was calm – and possibly curious – as he considered my words.

“How dare you!” A female voice called from behind me and I turned to see that three more people had entered the room.

Two were female and, allowing for the same slight variances in appearance that Pre had shown, I was all but sure as to who they were. The oldest, and only male, however, was a complete unknown. He shared the blonde hair of the eldest girl and the green eyes of the youngest, hinting that he was their brother.

Adonai sighed loudly. “Satine. These are my guests.” I couldn’t see his face, though I somehow knew he was shaking his head at his eldest daughter, even as her two siblings did their best to not smirk at the scene. “Control yourself.”

With the name of the eldest girl confirmed, I was now all but certain that the other girl was her sister, Bo-Katan. What was obvious was that Bo took after her father more than Satine.

Curious as to where they stood, and about their likely brother, I used Observe on the three.

Bo-Katan Kryze

Race: Human

Level: 18

Health: 100%

Age: 14

Force Potential: Low

Threat Potential: Low

Reputation: Neutral

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Kryze (61%) Duke Adonai (48%) Death Watch (11%)

Emotional State: Interested/Amused/Curious

Bo is interested in what she has just heard you say as she is disillusioned with the current state of Mandalore and its sector.

She also finds it funny how quickly you have gotten under her sister’s skin.

And she thinks Serra looks cute and believes she knows Dooku’s name from somewhere.

…

Dorgo Kryze

Race: Human

Level: 21

Health: 100%

Age: 22

Force Potential: Minimal

Threat Potential: Low

Reputation: Neutral

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Kryze (78%) New Mandalorians (26%) Death Watch (5%)

Emotional State: Curious/Amused

Dorgo is fascinated to meet someone from the past as he enjoys learning about the Mandalorians of old.

He is also amused that you have managed to annoy his eldest sister as her attitude often riles him.

…

Satine Kryze

Race: Human

Level: 18

Health: 100%

Age: 17

Force Potential: Minimal

Threat Potential: Minimal

Reputation: Disliked

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Kryze (61%) New Mandalorians (58%) Duke Adonai (53%)

Emotional State: Annoyed/Angered/Curious

Satine is irritated that you are instantly dismissive of the work done by the New Mandalorians

She is angry that you seem to be suggesting a return to the old ways, which she feels are responsible for the death of her mother and youngest brother.

Though she is curious about the Jedi and wishes to learn more about their message of peace

…

Bo finding Serra cute was unexpected – though as a random clip from the cartoon flashed through my mind, it did hint at a fan theory I’d heard about regarding Bo. If I was mentally the same age as I was physically, I would likely have been jealous of that. As I wasn’t, I was not jealous and hoped that having someone other than me show an interest in her might help Serra with whatever seemed to be bothering her.

The brother, and clan heir, was a complete unknown. Obviously, he had died before the outbreak of the Clone Wars along with Adonai, but I was pleased to see he had little interest in either the New Mandalorian or Death Watch approaches. That suggested that he was likely the voice keeping the two sisters in a position to talk with each other.

From what Observe was implying, Satine had not yet crossed the point where she placed the New Mandalorians above her clan and family, but it was rapidly approaching. If she did, then it would be a problem as the Mandalorians were one of the only groups that I felt might be able to help me prepare for the galactic war that was to come and the one that would erupt against Sidious and his forces. While there might only be one war, I suspected that it would be two. While the gap between them may only be days, I had started to alter my planning to first prepare for the Clone Wars – or whatever they ended up being called this time around – then the war to remove Sidious and his taint from the galaxy.

While I liked her pairing with Obi-Wan, her behaviour… well, saying I was irked was a bit like a star was hot.

Since she’d lost her mother and younger brother, I could understand why the ideals pushed by the New Mandalorians appealed to her. And then, losing her father and older brother at a later date would have only cemented those beliefs in her, so her extreme pacifism was understandable, even if it drove her and Bo into opposing camps.

However, perhaps I had a chance to stop the deaths of her father and older brother, or at least not allow her to fall hook, line, and sinker for the New Mandalorian Kool-Aid. Hopefully, that would also mean that I could prevent the split that occurred between the two sisters as well.

Quest Alert!

Sisterly Feud No More [¤]

Can you prevent the incident that resulted in the canonical falling out between Satine and Bo-Katan?

Rating: A

Objectives:

Find a way to get the siblings to reconcile their growing differences before it is too late.

Ensure that Duke Adonai Kryze does not die when he canonically did.

Ensure that Dorgo Kryze does not die when he canonically did.

Bonus: ?

Rewards:

2500XP

1500XP

1250XP

Failure:

The death of both Kryze sisters before the outbreak of galactic war.

Large reputation loss with all Mandalorians.

The death of Adonai Kryze.

The death of Dorgo Kryze.

Accept?

Yes/No

…

I rejected the quest after barely a moment of considering it. It was too open-ended and vague for me to be comfortable with accepting. Now, if there was a chance that I could prevent their break and the deaths of Adonai and Dorgo, I would take them. Throw in that the quest seemed to hint that it was more than just those two deaths that resulted in the split, and it was an easy quest to reject.

“I don’t care!” Satine shouted back, ignoring her father’s warning about us being his guests, “What gives this child the right to come here and insult everything that we’ve done to stabilize Mandalore over the last seven hundred years?”

I ignored the annoyance and anger that I sensed from Dooku and Serra at her words, though I felt my brow crease.

“I didn’t insult anyone. I simply stated my opinion – after the Duke asked what I took as an open question – of what Canderous Ordo, a former Mandalore, would think about the current state of the Mandalorians,” I replied slowly.

A more suitable comment came to mind, and I smirked as I vocalised it. “If I wanted to insult people, I’d call the Death Watch a bunch of thugs using the resol'nare as an excuse for their actions while corrupting its meaning and I’d refer to the New Mandalorians as anything but Mando’ade. They abandoned the beliefs that make one Mandalorian and were more interested in doing nothing while everything burned around them if it protected their vaunted ideal of total pacifism.”

I could feel my anger grow as I spoke, but I felt that I’d managed to just about keep it under control. Though even without that, Satine clearly did not like what I’d said as her lips narrowed as I spoke.

“Hrumph!” Satine stamped her foot on the ground and sneered, her pale blue eyes narrowing as she glared at me. The expression she now wore was neither intimidating nor a good one for her. But I bit back a comment about that as I knew my opinion of her was clouded by how I’d first been introduced to her in my old life.

While her glare did nothing to me, having her focused on me allowed me to see her eyes were a little paler than how I remembered, while her face was rounder. She wasn’t in the same league as Queen Amidala for looks, but I could see what physically attracted Obi-Wan to her.

“You know the resol'nare?” I turned from the elder sister, to focus on Bo, who asked me the question.

While again, she looked similar to how she’d appeared in the cartoon, here there were more differences. Likely to her being younger and less jaded.

Her face was softer, likely due to her still being young and her approach having not hardened her persona yet. Her nose was a touch less dominant as a feature and her eyes were greener than I remembered seeing in The Clone Wars. Her hair, which was a touch blonder than I remembered and wavier, was not held back by a large band but pulled back into a simple ponytail.

“Ba'jur bal beskar'gam, Ara'nov, aliit, Mando'a bal Mand'alor. An vencuyan mhi,” I replied, stating the rhyme that Nia had taught me before she left the ShaDo system with her fellow ex-Death Watch members.

Bo’s eyes widened, which made the green even more captivating, as I spoke the rhyme. I noted that Dorgo and Satine both reacted to my recitation, though Satine’s surprise was mixed with annoyance if the way her lips turned downwards was any indication.

I turned my attention back to Satine as another comment came to mind. “And if I really wanted to insult those groups, I’d call the Death Watch a sick perversion of an honourable tradition being played at by little boys who want to feel important as they're likely compensating for something, while the New Mandalorians chose the opposite route and betrayed everything that their ancestors and culture stood for. Actually, It's an interesting contrast. Neither side has any balls, but the New Mandalorians chose to flaunt their status and put it on display for the whole galaxy to see.”

Satine’s face started to turn a shade of red that didn’t look healthy even as her brow crashed into her eyes and her mouth opened and closed in a fair imitation of a fish. Perhaps I’d gone a touch too far with the insults, but I felt she’d asked for it with her behaviour.

While Satine reacted as she did, Bo was trying desperately to avoid laughing and her shoulders shook, and she bit her lip.

One other notable thing that happened as I insulted both Death Watch and the New Mandalorians was Danger Sense flaring twice. One of those, provided no one had moved behind me, was from Pre Vizsla, which wasn’t unexpected or unintended. To hell was I passing up the chance to insult Death Watch while I went after the New Mandalorians.

The other warning came from one of the guards near a side door to the room. Since that warning had come at the same time as Pre’s, it had me suspecting that the mayor of Sundari had placed operatives within the palace guard. The odds of a random guard reacting so aggressively to my insult were low, not least as no one else reacted and the two ministers were confirmed supporters/members of the New Mandalorians.

While there was the chance that the guard in question was just a member of Death Watch from another faction, it was unlikely he would’ve managed to gain such a position without Pre’s knowledge, hence why I suspected a plant. However, since they, like Pre, were currently behind me, I couldn’t use Observe without turning. Which was made even more difficult as Satine stormed forward, closing the gap between us, and jabbed a finger towards my face as she glared daggers down at me.

“You! You! You!?!” She repeated as the finger waved around erratically and one eye twitched madly. I kept my attention on her as I knew that if I glanced at Bo, the younger sister would’ve lost her battle to avoid laughing.

“Yes, me,” I replied to Satine with my best puppy-dog innocent smile.

“Pfft.” Bo barely managed to keep in her laugh, but enough escaped her lips that it was easy to hear and Satine pivoted so fast I was impressed she managed to keep her balance.

“BO!” Satine hollered as she spun before stalking towards her younger sister, who was swaying even as she tried to contain her laughter.

I couldn’t see Satine’s face anymore, but the way her finger was almost touching Bo’s forehead, and the shaking of her shoulders told me she’d transferred her anger from me to her sister.

“Satine! That is enough!” growled Adonai from behind.

I turned slowly, figuring it was time to face the music for my comments and saw his gaze – focused through narrowed eyes – was locked on his daughter. Though the anger in the gaze was tempered by the upwards curl of his lips.

“They are my guests and the Padawan was initially responding to my question.”

“B-but father, he insulted everything we’re doing here!” Satine protested.

Adonai sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, he was simply taking advantage of your failure to control yourself.” He let his gaze turn to me, his eyes returning to their normal size as he did. “Though I admit I am surprised to see a Jedi bait another so openly, especially one so young.”

I responded only with a shrug before he shifted his attention back to his daughter.

“Regardless, they are guests in our system and shouting at them on the very day they arrive is unacceptable.”

“Yes, Father,” Satine said in a far quieter voice than she’d used so far. “I apologise for my reaction.”

I turned and gave her a small smile. Even if she didn’t deserve it, there was no need for me to gloat at how easily I’d managed to rile her. “It’s fine. I also bear some of the blame, as I did goad you with my later comments.”

While I did agree with everything I’d said, stating them in such a manner was done entirely to get a reaction from her. Petty and unbecoming of a Jedi? Yes. Fun and totally worth it? Also, yes.

And not apologising would have cost me the small victory I’d achieved and would’ve cost me whatever standing the interaction had gained with the Duke.

Adonai nodded and with a simple gesture of his head, his children walked around us and moved to his side.

“Well, with the entertainment over,” Satine’s cheeks tinted pink, “Allow me to introduce my children. You’ve already met Satine. She’s deeply passionate about the work being done in Sundari by the administration,” Satine curtsied even as the tint in her cheeks grew stronger.

What caught my attention was his referring to ‘the administration’ and not ‘his administration’. Perhaps I was reading something into that, but it was an interesting turn of phrase.

“Master Jedi,” Satine said with a curtsey.

As Fay and Dooku replied with a nod, I used Observe on Adonai. And ignored the way Serra’s eyes darted my way as I did.

Adonai Kryze

Race: Human

Level: 34

Health: 98% (inflamed knee)

Age: 50

Force Potential: Minimal

Threat Potential: Intermediate

Reputation: Neutral

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Kryze (100%) New Mandalorians (31%)

Emotional State: Curious/Amused/Disappointed

Adonai is intrigued about you, even more so now that he knows you are the Padawan of Master Dooku

He is entertained at how easily you put down two groups he does not like.

But is unimpressed with how quickly his daughter lost her temper and moved to defend the New Mandalorians

…

Nothing there was unexpected, save the fact he had an inflamed knee, though learning he was not fully on board with the ideals of the New Mandalorians was encouraging. Just like his son, this meant he was likely one of the things keeping Bo and Satine together. And if his death could be avoided, then perhaps I could use it to prevent them from falling out and maybe I could even gain his support for the future.

Though that would depend on me being around whenever what caused his death before happened here. Which might not even happen with my very presence here.

“My eldest, Dorgo. I assume Sellena is with the child?” Adonai continued as he turned to ask the question to his son.

“Yes, Father. Korkie is sleeping peacefully,” Dorgo responded though his tone sounded weary and I noted that Adonai’s eye twitched at the child’s name. Perhaps the wife and/or the child’s name was a matter of contention between them? Still, it did explain how exactly Korkie was related to Satine and Bo.

“And my youngest, Bo-Katan,” Adonai continued as my eyes returned to the red-haired girl.

Her eyes were locked on Dooku and I swore I could see the metaphorical light bulb flash in her eyes as she realised who Dooku was.

“You’re the Butcher of Galidraan!” Bo blurted out.

I watched the almost slow-motion response that took place as her father and sister grasped what Bo had just said.

“Bo!” “BO!”

Both Adonai and Satine called out the younger girl’s name. Adonai sounded weary as he did while Satine’s eyes enlarged as her head snapped around to her sister. And if not for how I knew Dooku felt about that battle, I might have chuckled at the behaviour of the three Mandalorians.

“I am. That battle… it was a disaster that should not have happened,” Dooku offered slowly, as I saw a moment to, if not complete, then at least help with one of the new bonus conditions for Dooku’s quest.

“Master, as I have said before, the deaths were not your fault. They were the fault of the High Council and the Republic for not confirming the intel before ordering you to apprehend the True Mandalorians,” I said calmly, keeping my expression neutral. “And I suspect that most who died were satisfied with how they became one with the Force.”

Adonai grunted as I finished. “I’m not sure a Mandalorian would wish to join with the source of your powers, but what the adiik says is generally true. Master Dooku, while I cannot speak for all who died that day, I knew Jaster Mereel when we were both younger.”

“I do not deny that his death weakened our people, nor that the deaths of his followers that day on Galidraan did the same. However, I also know that he, and those who followed him, would hold no regrets about dying in battle with the Jedi. They died as honourable a death as any warrior could wish, in battle fighting for a cause they felt was worthy.”

“The failing that day was, as I have learnt from various sources, the result of the cowardly actions of Death Watch and the deceit of the governor of Galidraan. Neither the Jedi nor yourself Master Dooku carry any blame for what led to that fateful battle.”

As Adonai spoke to my master, I noted that the Mandalorian ministers behind him all grimaced, though I suspected that Pre’s was not due to the loss of life, or the Death Watch’s actions. More likely, it was due to Adonai’s comment on the behaviour of the Death Watch and their leader, Tor Vizsla.

The relationship between him and Pre was something I had not been able to determine before arriving here and was a minor goal I’d set myself for no reason beyond filling in the gaps in my knowledge.

Satine reacted to her fathers’ words by shifting her weight from side to side, while Dorgo and Bo both listened to their father. Though Bo appeared far more interested in what he was saying than her brother.

There was a moment of silence before Dooku bowed to Adonai. “I thank you for your honesty, Duke. However, it does not absolve me of my failings before, during and after the battle. I should have done more to confirm the intelligence given to me by the High Council before confronting the Mandalorians. I should have approached the situation with more tact and been less confrontational. Instead, I acted no better than a newly Knighted Jedi and lost control of the situation before I had even realised it.”

Adonai nodded as my master spoke. “Yes,” he paused and sighed. “Sadly, there are always things we could have done differently in hindsight.” His eyes drifted to his children, though only Dorgo met the eyes suggesting they were thinking about a shared memory, one I suspected was linked to the death of the Duke’s wife and youngest child.

“Duke Adonai,” I, along with everyone else, turned our attention to Hox Worra, “I hate to interrupt, but we have a meeting with the governors of Concord Dawn, Kalevala and Jakelia in ten minutes.” The man said and I had a feeling he was less concerned about the Duke being late for the meeting than with him discussing points of view that did not agree with those of the New Mandalorians.

Adonai turned his head away from his Prime Minster and rolled his eyes.

The action was clearly caught by Serra and Bo as both stifled a laugh at the behaviour, and the pair shared a look.

I noticed that Bo smirked at my fellow Padawan and licked her lips. While I couldn’t see Serra’s exact response, I felt her confusion, curiosity and embarrassment through the Force.

“If I must,” Adonai said with an overly dramatic slump of his shoulders. “However, I insist that you join my family and me for dinner tonight.” He added as he spoke to my masters.

“We would be delighted,” Fay replied with a smile.

I caught sight of Pre’s eyes wandering over Fay’s form and I slapped back a desire to launch the man across the room – and out the window – for looking at her that way.

“Excellent,” Adonai said as he gave us a large smile and clapped his hands together. “I look forward to speaking with all of you this evening.” His eyes found mine as he continued. “And perhaps we might even get to see this lightsaber that Pre’s sister can’t stop speaking about.” He finished as he gave me a wink.

I inclined my head to confirm he could, and he chuckled.

His smile grew and he glanced over towards one of the side doors. “Minister Itera will take you to the quarters we have prepared for you.” He then turned to his children. “I am sorry but work never ends.”

Dorgo and Satine smiled at their father but Bo kicked aimlessly at the ground.

I watched as the Duke’s brow creased as he focused on his youngest for a moment before he schooled his features and turned his attention back to us.

“Until dinner then. Feel free to wander the palace, though I must ask that you do not enter anywhere the guards say you cannot go.”

We all offered him a bow. With a last look at the four of us, he walked past us towards the main doors of the room. His ministers quickly followed, but I caught sight of Pre giving my masters one last glance – his eyes narrowing just a fraction as he did – before he followed.

“If you will follow me,” Almec said drawing my attention to him, and away from Adonai, Pre and the ministers.

As Dooku, Fay, and Serra began to follow him to one of the smaller side doors, I noted that the three Kryze children were ambling around. Satine and Dorgo had turned to each other to speak quietly, however, Bo glared daggers at her father’s back as she clenched her fists so tightly that I could see the knuckles turning white.

Clearly, there was anger there, which I suspected had a lot to do with the father siding with the New Mandalorians while Bo, even now, was more traditionally minded. Perhaps Adonai hadn’t explained his reasons clearly, or Bo was just in a rebellious teenage phase and didn’t want to listen to her father’s reasons. Regardless, it was an issue that I would have to deal with.

As I followed my masters and Serra towards one of the side doors, I considered what to do about Pre and Bo. That resulted in two new quest alerts.

Quest Alert!

Pre-Emptive Strike [¤]

Find a way to handle Pre Vizsla before the outbreak of galactic war.

Rating: B

Objectives:

Kill him before he can re-unify Death Watch

Kill him after he has re-unified Death Watch

Persuade him to find another path that is better in keeping with Mandalorian tradition.

Convince him to join a faction of your creation before the outbreak of galactic war.

Rewards:

1000XP + Combat XP

1000XP + Combat XP + Darksaber

Variable reputation increases and decreases with members of Death Watch

4000XP

6000XP

Failure:

-1000XP

Pre Vizsla becomes a nemesis.

Death Watch will be permanently aligned against you and your allies.

The highly probable death of someone close to you

Accept?

Yes/No

…

Quest Alert!

Flight of the Owl [¤]

Prevent Bo-Katan Kryze from joining Death Watch

Rating: B

Objectives:

Ensure she is not a member of Death Watch by the time galactic war breaks out.

Kill her to ensure this.

Convince her to remain loyal to her family and/or the New Mandalorians until the outbreak of galactic war.

Persuade her to join a faction of your own creation before the outbreak of galactic war.

Rewards:

1000XP

1000XP + Combat XP

1500XP

5000XP

Failure:

-850XP

Bo-Katan Kryze becomes a nemesis.

The likely death of someone close to you

Accept?

Yes/No

…

As we exited the throne room and moved down the corridors, I considered the two quests.

For Pre’s quest, the first option of just killing him before he could re-form Death Watch was the least appealing. While it was the easiest – I was reasonably sure I could kill him tonight before he even realised what I was doing – the addition of the Darksaber meant letting him re-unify Death Watch was the more appealing choice. As was the fact that killing Pre once he’d done so carried the possibility of me gaining the loyalty of at least part of the group as had happened with Maul in the cartoon.

Also, it would likely make it easier for me to remove Death Watch from the board; or at least those not willing to follow me. With the Darksaber in my possession, anyone who wished to assume leadership of the group would be hamstrung by lacking the symbol of leadership the group used.

Convincing him to take a more traditional path or join any faction I created were much more unlikely options, but since my current thinking was to kill him after he reformed Death Watch, there was no risk in testing the waters to see if I could pull those off, or even wanted to.

Though it did have me very slightly regretting insulting Death Watch a short while ago. Though the way Satine reacted was worth any loss of reputation with the man.

For Bo, I had long planned to try to convince her to join my side. Ignoring the fact that she was a redhead and a warrior – though both elevated her in my eyes even if the former was a superficial reason – getting a member of the ruling house of Mandalorian space as an ally would be beneficial. Both militarily and politically.

And three of the objectives for her quest were not mutually exclusive. It would take a lot of effort, and be hard to pull off, but doing so would net me a large portion of XP, a loyal ally – and likely friend – and the support of her clan.

Mentally, I accepted both quests and as we reached our room, I began to consider how I was going to pull off each quest.

… …

“I see your eyes are drawn to our shared history.”

I turned my gaze from the mural I was admiring; one depicting a familiar-looking Jedi in combat with a Mandalorian to see Dorgo standing just behind me and to my left.

We were both now standing in a large dining room I’d been escorted to with my masters and Serra about ten minutes ago and while the room was decorated with paintings, tapestries and artwork, my eyes were drawn almost instinctively to the mural.

“Yes. I am… surprised to see a painting depicting a Jedi hanging here,” I replied.

His lips turned into a small smile. “Ah. Well, while my father’s ministers may not approve of it, that painting was a favourite of my mother,” his gaze shifted to the mural and I allowed mine to do the same. “She held that particular Jedi in very high regard. Unsurprising since she was from Clan Ordo.”

I managed to keep my face neutral, or at least I hope I did, at hearing that Bo and Satine’s mum had been an Ordo, even as my mind again drifted to what had been hinted by Nia about Clan Ordo and their regard for Revan.

To get my mind back on the present, I concentrated on the mural.

The painting was stylised with sharp, lines and edges, but there was no mistaking who the Jedi was as the mask he was wearing was black with a red T-shape highlighting the visor. And as I gazed at it once more, I wondered when I would next meet Revan; and what I had to do to prove myself to him.

While it could be as simple as preparing for the war to come, I felt that would be unlikely. More probable was to find a path that preached balance in the Force instead of the narrow-minded dogmas preached by the Jedi and Sith. Yet, doing that was going to be a long and difficult road. Especially with the war that was to come.

“To think that I would one day stand here with a Revan’ade,” Dorgo’s words trailed off and I heard him chuckle. “The universe has a strange sense of humour.”

I barely managed to keep my face calm at being referred to as a ‘Child of Revan’. While it was true it sounded far too much like a title, and I was getting sick of those being hoisted upon my shoulders.

“Many Jedi would say that is the Force at work,” I said before shrugging, “however I’m not overly fond of that empty platitude.”

If Dorgo wanted to reply, I didn’t know, as someone clapped loudly and we both turned.

I already suspected it was Adonai as my Detection-linked minimap showed a group of five had entered the dining room while I was examining the painting and since I was talking to Dorgo it hinted heavily at who the others were. And I was proven correct when I saw him standing near the doors with his hands clasped together.

Fay and Dooku were standing near him while Satine was standing next to an unknown woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties while Serra was next to Bo. The older girl was standing inside Serra’s personal space and – ignoring that I’d had a peek inside Bo’s mind because of Observe – it was easy to see and sense Serra’s confusion at the behaviour of the redhead.

“Good, good. Now, we’re just waiting for a few…” the doors behind him hissed as they opened and I saw Pre Vizsla step into the room, followed by three others.

One was Nia and I instantly tensed thinking that the young male with them was Gar, but the boy made no move towards me; instead, stopping at Pre’s right-hand side. That allowed me to shift my attention to the fourth person, who looked very similar to Nia, though her eyes were a mix of Pre’s blue and Nia’s grey.

Curious about the pair, I used Observe.

Tor Vizsla

Level: 20

Race: Human

Health: 100%

Age: 18

Force Potential: Low

Threat Potential: Low

Reputation: Disliked

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Vizsla (89%) Death Watch (47%) New Mandalorians (15%)

Emotional State: Curious

Tor is interested in learning more about you due to how his aunt described you and when you come from.

He is also intrigued to meet the person responsible for the death of his uncle, the apprentice of the Butcher of Galidraan and the supposed child of Revan.

…

Naz Vizsla

Level: 17

Race: Human

Health: 100%

Age: 15

Force Potential: Intermediate

Threat Potential: Low

Reputation: Neutral

Affiliation Loyalty: Clan Vizsla (82%) Death Watch (22%) New Mandalorians (10%)

Emotional State: Curious/Intrigued/Confused

Thanks to her aunt, Naz is fascinated by you, and who you are descended from.

She also thinks you’re cute, for an adiik.

Though she wonders why her father wants her to get close to you and Serra.

…

I managed to avoid frowning in confusion. Nia was their aunt, which seemed to suggest that the pair were Pre’s children. But nothing in my knowledge hinted at him having children. Given that I was seeing them now, I could only speculate that they, like Adonai and Dorgo, had died in the years leading up to the Clone Wars.

Yet, the idea that he didn’t have children was less surprising than him having any when I considered how important family and the clan were to Mandalorians.

“Ah, Pre. Excellent timing. And Lady Nia, a pleasure to see you once more,” Adonai said after he had turned to see the group that had entered behind him. “Will your son be joining us?”

“I felt it best if he stayed away from the Palace for now,” Nia replied slowly as her eyes sought me out, “he is still under the misbegotten belief that the Jedi are here for him.”

Now I did frown in confusion. I had expected him to try to attack me or challenge me to a duel, but to hear he was concerned about me trying to kill him… Unexpected, but not unwelcome.

“Ah, yes,” Adonai’s jovial tone lessened, and he shook his head. “Understandable.”

There was a brief pause before Pre spoke up.

“Master Jedi, may I present my children, Tor and Naz. I do hope I was not being presumptuous in asking if we could join you,” he said as he turned to face Fay and Dooku, “but after the stories my sister has told of your Padawan and his blade, they were both eager to meet him.”

“Of course not,” Fay replied as I noticed that Dooku seemed less tense now than when we’d been in the room with Pre earlier. “Cameron has a tendency to draw attention.”

“So, it’s true that he is from the past?” Tor asked.

“Yes. While there is some… disbelief within the Order, the High Council and Chancellor Kalpana, both accepted it as truth.” Dooku answered in a voice that somehow sounded even more lacking in emotion than normal.

“Indeed,” Pre turned to face me, as did everyone else, “and are the rumours about your energy sword also true?”

I bit off a retort that passed through my mind. There was no need for me to directly antagonize him as subtle comments about Death Watch were far more fun to use.

Instead, I unclipped my lightsaber, ignited the blade and watched everyone’s reactions.

Adonai’s eyes widened a touch, and he took a small step forward even as Tor and Dorgo reacted in almost identical fashion with their brows rising into their hairlines.

Satine’s eyes narrowed and she fixed me with a glare that was about as intimidating as a kitten with a ball of wool while Nia allowed a smile to creep onto her lips.

Naz and Bo had the most expressive reactions. Naz gasped and her eyes shot from my blade to Nia before resting on me. It was as if she was searching my face for something. Bo’s eyes widened more than her father’s and I swear she licked her lips as she shifted her attention back to Serra.

However, my main focus was on Pre and seeing how he reacted.

I had to give him credit, as he schooled his features extremely well, and if no one was watching it would have appeared that he didn’t react at all to my blade. However, I caught the slight upward movement of his brow and the widening of his eyes. I also saw his knuckles whiten as he clenched them tightly.

“That… Your blade is remarkably similar to the Darksaber young one,” Pre said slowly, seemingly choosing his words with care, “I had not expected to ever see something so close in colouring to the blade used by my uncle.” He paused and turned to his sister. “It seems you were right again.”

Nia’s smile grew and she lifted her chin a touch as she replied. “As always.”

Pre chuckled at that and shook his head, and I could admit it was strange seeing him be a father and not the fanatical leader of Death Watch.

“May I?” Adonai asked with a hand moving towards my blade.

I glanced at my masters, where Fay gave a fractional nod while Dooku simply raised an eyebrow, before powering down the blade and handing it to the Duke.

He turned it over in his hand slowly, seeming to examine every detail of it before he pressed the activation button and the blade flared into life.

“Impressive,” he said as he gave the weapon a few experimental swishes. “I thought lightsaber hilts all had the same cylindrical shape, but this one does not.”

“The Padawan, like myself, is a student of Makashi; the duelling form,” Dooku offered and Adonai turned to him. Dooku unclipped his own hilt and displayed it to Adonai. “The curved hilt is beneficial when using a lightsaber as a Makashi practitioner.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” Adonai stated as he powered down the blade and handed it back to me. “Perhaps you and the Padawan would be willing to give us a demonstration of the form?”

Dooku was silent for a moment before nodding his consent.

We moved over to the far side of the room, as that was devoid of any important-looking artwork or sculptures. While we walked in silence, Dooku spoke to me via our bond.

[Keep the velocities simple and slow, Padawan.]

[You do not wish them to know how comfortable I am with the blade?]

I sensed his pride through our bond. Likely it was because of my understanding of his reasoning [No. It is better if they underestimate you while you are here. Make them believe a strength is a weakness so if they do try to attack you already have the advantage.]

[Yes, Master.]

While that conversation took place, we had chosen our starting locations and saluted each other.

We moved through a series of elementary and intermediate velocities – all at a slower pace than we would normally and without allowing much movement from our starting locations – until we stopped. It felt as though we had only been sparring for a few minutes, yet as we saluted each other to end the spar, I noted a clock on the wall showing that we had actually been sparing for just over twenty minutes.

Adonai clapped gently as he stepped forwards. “Most impressive. Though I do feel you were holding back.” He commented with a small smirk.

Dooku lowered his head. “Indeed. With the room being unsuited for duelling, it was inadvisable to engage in a full-strength spar.”

Adonai chuckled as Nia, Pre and the other adults came closer to us. “For that I thank you. Some of the artwork in this room dates to before the last great conflict between our peoples.”

Dooku’s brow rose fractionally. “Then I am relieved we did hold back. Damaging such priceless possessions would have been unacceptable.”

“Is it true that a lightsaber is powered by a crystal?” I turned at the unexpected question and noted that Naz had moved in close to me while Adonai and Dooku were speaking.

“Um, yeah. Though most Jedi have blue or green crystals,” I replied slowly as I noted that Bo had engaged Serra in a quiet conversation while Tor had stepped over to Satine.

“So why do you have such an unusual colour?” She asked as her eyes wandered down to my lightsaber, which was now reclipped to my belt.

“I really don’t know,” I responded with a shrug, “though it does draw more attention than I’d like,” I added as I wondered just what the girl was up to. I also noted that whatever Tor was saying to Satine was making the girl blush.

Naz’s eyes came back to mine, though not without taking a leisurely cruise over my form. “Why wouldn’t you want the attention? You’re far more impressive than I expected for a Jedi.”

“Attention brings undue scrutiny and expectations. And not necessarily the ones I want to have.” I explained as I didn’t react to her attempts to unnerve me. “I prefer to not conform to the beliefs of others and let them instead make false assumptions about me.”

As we spoke, I examined her more carefully.

I wouldn’t deny she was cute and seemed to be in good shape. And I had little doubt that in a few years would likely turn heads with ease – but right now she was just a child and I, mentally, was not. Thus, her simple attempts to either unsettle me with the attention or lay the groundwork for something more were doomed to fail.

Her eyes widened at my words before a smile slowly appeared on her face. “My aunt was right about you. You’re not the typical Jedi.”

“Have you met a Jedi before today?” I asked as I remembered that Knight Lhan was assigned as the Watchman for the sector and wondered if or when I’d meet him again.

Naz shrugged even as the smile turned downward. “One. A Cathar male. My father says he arrived in the sector not long after the death of the Duke’s wife. I’ve seen him in passing a few times, but my father doesn’t think much of him.” She paused, licked her lips and tilted her head fractionally to the right. “You, however, are not what I’d expect from a Jedi.”

“Ah, thanks,” I muttered as I looked away, hoping for a distraction.

Which thankfully came as a chime sounded.

“Ah, it appears dinner is ready,” Adonai stated as he broke off from speaking with Dooku and Pre and moved towards the large circular table that sat in the centre of the room.

Adonai took the seat that was meant for him – the large back of the chair dominated all the others – while Dooku and Fay sat at Adonai’s gesturing, to his right.

Dorgo and the unknown woman that I assumed was his wife sat to Adonai’s left with Pre and Nia sitting down next to the woman along with Pre’s children. I had hoped to sit down near Fay – mainly to avoid Naz and her attempts at seduction/information extraction – but Satine took that spot with her sister dragging Serra into the next few seats.

Without making eye contact with anyone, I slipped into the final seat, which placed me between Serra and Naz.

As the doors opened, and palace staff brought in the first course, which appeared to be some kind of salad, I silently prayed to the Force that Naz would cease her attempts to unsettle or fluster me.

Not because her attempts were working – far from it – but because it was awkward having a fifteen-year-old try to flirt with me.

And with Serra sitting nearby, the chance of her overhearing and reacting was high. A diplomatic incident on our first night on the planet was not how I wanted to begin my stay on the world.

Thankfully, Naz did not speak to me as the starter salad was distributed around the table, instead, she spoke quietly with Nia.

I felt Serra tense up for a moment and turned to see why.

“Master Fay, I notice that you do not carry a lightsaber,” Satine asked loud enough that it drew my attention, though not before I spotted Bo’s hand moving away from Serra’s. Perhaps an accidental touch was why Serra had tensed?

“I do not,” Fay replied. “While I am trained in their usage, it has been… some time, since I have held one.”

Satine glanced my way and the corners of her lips began to turn upwards as our eyes met. “So that means you believe that nonviolence is the only way to survive.”

Behind Satine, I spotted Dorgo roll his eyes while Adonai pinched his nose at her words.

“While peace and stability are something that any society should strive for, they require help to survive,” Fay began slowly as if she was measuring her words. “War and conflict should never be the desired state of any planet or people. Yet, to abandon any willingness to defend oneself from aggressors is… foolhardy at best, naïve at worst.”

The smile that had been slowly forming on Satine’s face faded and she turned back to face my master. “B-but, allowing warriors a chance to fight will only lead to conflict.”

Fay lowered her head for a moment in apparent agreement. “While that is possible, to cling to an ideal and not show a willingness to adapt, nor listen to the views of others, will only lead to disaster. If you do not respect the views of others, or listen to them, then everyone develops an ‘us versus them’ mentality.” Fay sighed and shook her head even as she lifted a hand. “One side wishes to return to a way of life that they do not fully understand, the other wishes nothing to do with that past. Both are flawed and doomed to fail.”

While I could no longer see her face, Satine’s shoulders had slumped down as Fay explained her reasoning and I did my best to not smirk at how calmly and elegantly Fay had exposed flaws in both the New Mandalorian and Death Watch ideals and in their inability to cooperate.

“Wise words, Master Fay,” Adonai said before Satine could respond. “And something I hope everyone here takes to heart.”

His gaze fell on his daughters and I wondered how often the pair fought over their differing opinions.

“You have had dealings with our people before?” Pre asked and I noted that he was now leaning forward, his food momentarily forgotten.

Fay nodded and before replying her fingers went to her tattoos. “Yes. When I was younger, barely a Jedi Knight, the Force had guided me to a mining colony beyond Republic space. There, I met a Mandalorian who had left the sector.”

Fay's gaze shifted from Pre to a point above his head and a small smile crept onto her lips – seemingly lost in the memories. Doing the quick calculations in my head, it was likely that this story took place around the time of the Dral'Han.

“She… well, she did not agree with the direction her people were heading, nor the Republic’s actions towards them, so she had become a bounty hunter.” Fay laughed a single time, and while the joy in her laughter was easy to hear, I could sense the pain she was feeling at the same time through the Force.

“The Mandalorian was working for a group that controlled the colony, while the Force was guiding me to help the miners. After a few tense discussions, we ended up duelling,” her smile grew as she spoke. “For five days we fought, on and off, across the planet until we found ourselves far from the colony and without food or fresh water.”

“Somehow, we managed to not kill each other and instead ended up working together to survive and return to the colony.” Fay’s head lowered and her smile fell. On instinct, I send a wave of reassurance and comfort through the Force. Her head turned so our eyes met and she smiled before she sat up fully and continued. “The company that had hired her had invaded the colony and attacked us when we returned. We were forced to work together to free the colony and defend ourselves. Afterwards, the Mandalorian expressed her respect for me; even if she could not believe that she would one day find a Jedi to be a worthy ally.”

“We met several times over the years that followed, and learned much about each other, and our cultures.” Fay’s smile returned and her fingers gently touched the tattoo on her cheek.

The table was silent as everyone waited for Fay to continue, but she did not. Somehow, I knew there was more to the story, and that this Mandalorian was linked to her tattoos. However, thanks to being wiser and more mature than most my age, I knew that the rest of the story was personal, and not something to be discussed at a dinner table.

“What was her name?” Bo blurted out, and I resisted the urge to facepalm at her lack of tact.

“BO!” Dorgo and Satine called out as Adonai glared daggers at his daughter, who had the sense to understand her mistake and tried to sink into her seat.

“Forgive my youngest,” Adonai began as he looked at Fay, “while intelligent and resourceful, she…” anything else he wished to add was cut off by Fay raising her hand.

“It is quite alright Duke Adonai,” she said before turning to face Bo. “Her name, young one, is long forgotten to time.” Fay shifted her attention to Satine before she continued. “It was because of that woman that I no longer carry a lightsaber. Not because of any misguided ideal that peace and freedom are not worth defending, but as a reminder that one is not right merely by the strength of their convictions or the belief that the other side is flawed.”

“I… I think I understand,” Satine replied slowly. “Or at least, I believe I understand what you are implying.”

Fay smiled as she held Satine’s gaze. “Perhaps, in time, you will understand why I said what I did as well.”

“What are they talking about?” Naz whispered and a sideward glance showed she had leaned closer to me, so much that if I turned, our faces would end up mere inches from each other.

“It is impolite to whisper at a dinner table niece,” Nia said before I could answer, and I saw her give me a wink as she continued. “Perhaps you should find a more suitable time to discuss private matters.”

“Yes, Aunt Nia.” Naz pulled back and returned to her meal as a comfortable silence fell over the table.

As the salad was taken away, and the doors opened once more, Adonai smiled and clapped his hands together as a pungent smell invaded my nostrils.

“Excellent,” Adonai said as he stood, and four servers placed two large roasts of what looked like deer on the table while others placed a bowl in front of each of us. Through the glass lid, I saw what looked like a casserole and I was sure that this was the source of the smell.

“Jedi, you are in for a treat. Roast shatual and tiingilar.”

Dooku, who until this point had been silent, spoke up. “We thank you for the hospitality, Duke Adonai. I have heard many encouraging comments about shatual, but never had the chance to sample it until now.”

“Then you are in for a treat Master Dooku,” Pre replied with a smile that while I suspected was fake, was convincing. “And I would suggest trying it with a touch of amber root.”

Dooku nodded his thanks at the suggestion, though if he said anything else, I didn’t hear as my senses were overloaded as Naz lifted the lid on her casserole. The pungent smell became overpowering and I heard Serra cough into her hand.

“Let me help,” Naz said as she reached over and lifted the lid of my dish, “this is a traditional dish of our people.” She explained as it felt as if my nostrils were on fire.

“It,” I paused and took a breath through my mouth, “it has a strong scent.”

Naz smirked at my reaction “That’s a good sign.”

“Not for my nose it isn’t,” I countered with a smile, and she laughed.

“You’ll get used to it,” she replied with a smile of her own and handed me a plate of what looked like unwrapped tortillas. “Here, dip the haarshun in it.”

I took a slice, noting that it was so thin I could almost see through it and cautiously dipped it in the dish.

It was a good thing I was used to strong spices from my last life, otherwise, I might have struggled to get the damp bread into my mouth as the smell threatened to overpower my other senses, but I was glad I did.

“What do you think?” I heard Bo ask, and I turned to face her noting her hand was touching Serra’s as she handed my fellow Padawan a slice of haarshun.

“It’s nice, and it certainly tastes better than it smells,” I replied once I’d swallowed.

Bo and Naz laughed, as Serra copied my actions. However, she was not as ready for the smell and almost gagged as it neared her mouth.

Bo, Naz and the others who saw all chuckled at Serra’s reaction, and I leaned closer.

“Breathe through your mouth,” I said in a voice barely above a whisper. “It’s actually quite nice.”

Serra’s eyes glanced my way before she tried again, this time managing to get the soggy bread into her mouth.

“You know, I expected you Jedi to struggle with tiingilar,” I turned to look at Tor Vizsla as he spoke, “or outright reject it. How is the taste?”

“It’s not too bad,” Serra mumbled after swallowing, “but the smell…”

Tor laughed. “Yes, it can be overpowering. But you will grow used to it.”

“I hope so,” Serra mumbled as she took another slice of haarshun from the plate between her and Bo.

I smiled as I took another bite of my food. When Pre had first entered the room with Nia and his children, I’d been expecting a fight. Instead, I found myself enjoying a meal with them.

I ate in silence, preferring to enjoy the new food instead of engaging in idle chit-chat, though I heard snippets of quieter conversations drifting around as I ate.

The shatual tasted much like pork, but with a tougher texture and was covered in a tangy sauce. Just as I was finishing off the last of my tiingilar – though I did note that Serra had only managed to handle about a quarter of her bowl – Adonai spoke, breaking me from my enjoyment of the food.

“I must admit, when I received your request to have the Padawan study on Mandalore, I was surprised. Even with the invitation extended by Lady Nia, Jedi are… well, they’re not the most welcome of groups among our people.” He began as he spoke to my masters. “Nor did I expect you all to arrive with a second Padawan in tow.”

“Cameron had shown an… interest in your world, its people and their history long before the lady of House Saxon invited him to visit. This was due in no small part to his family name and heritage.” Fay explained with one of her regular soft smiles.

“Yes, Revan,” As Adonai spoke, every eye at the table turned my way. The Duke shook his head and chuckled once before taking a sip from his chalice.

“If someone had told me a year ago that I would find myself meeting a direct descendent of the Naast be Me'suums…” He shook his head and chuckled again. “Well, I’d have said they were suffering from hyperspace madness.”

“Nast be Me’sums?” Serra asked, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Naast be Me'suums,” Bo corrected as one side of her mouth turned upwards. “It means Destroyer of Worlds.”

“I assume that’s for what happened at Malachor V?” I asked, earning a nod from Bo.

“Yes. That day, to stop the Clans, Revan shattered a planet,” Bo said with a tone that had me thinking she either approved of his actions or was impressed a Jedi would do such a thing. Or possibly both. Though the way her cheeks reddened as she spoke was a little concerning.

It reminded me of a fair few recruits who had been excited to be a soldier and wanted to experience combat. Often, such people were… re-educated after a few weeks of deployment, but there were a few that did enjoy the battle a touch too much.

I wouldn’t deny that there were moments in combat where I felt more alive than at any other point in my life, but I had survived long enough – well until I’d died – that I had grown to see the fatal flaw that behaviour could lead to if not controlled.

“Malachor V? Wasn’t that where Revan turned to the Dark Side?” Serra asked and strangely, it felt as though the temperature in the room dropped suddenly. Both physically and metaphorically.

“It was where he killed Te Ani'la Mand'alor – Mandalore the Ultimate in Basic – slaughtered the Great Fleet and shattered the Clans,” Tor explained with a partial scowl even as the physical temperature returned to normal. “It was the last time our people were ever able to challenge the Republic. Oh, there were later wars and crusades, but Malachor and Ani'la Akaan, the Last Great Battle, was the turning point.” By the time he had finished, Tor’s hands were clenched shut and it took a gentle hand to the shoulder from Pre before the tension in his body began to ease.

“You must forgive my son,” Pre began as he spoke to myself and the other Jedi. “He is both a student of history and a believer in the old ways. Something that often places us at odds.”

“It is quite alright, Governor. The call of the past can weigh heavily on anyone.” Fay replied and while I couldn’t see her face – and suspected that even if I could there’s be no outward reaction to her own words – through the Force I sensed the barest hint of regret.

“Though to return to the Duke’s original query, Serra here is Padawan to Master Drallig, the Jedi Battlemaster. While I don’t doubt that she is grateful and honoured to be his Padawan learner, she felt a… calling to leave the Temple and was able to convince Master Drallig to allow her to accompany our Padawan.”

“The boy is apprenticed to both of you?” The woman who I had to assume was Sellena – Dorgo’s wife asked. I hadn’t used Observe on her when I’d first seen her, as I was more interested in Pre’s children, and didn’t want to use it now in case Serra reacted to it in such a way that others saw.

Though that reminded me to speak with Fay and Dooku about if they could sense it – though how to bring that up was something I still wasn’t sure about – and why they hadn’t commented on it.

“Cameron is… an anomaly within the Force,” Dooku said slowly, his words clear and, from what I knew of him, carefully considered. “The Order felt it was wisest to allow him training from two masters.”

“I thought a Jedi could only have a single learner at a time?” Pre asked, surprising me with his knowledge of how the Order worked.

“Yes, however, there is nothing within the rules of the Order saying a Padawan cannot learn from multiple Jedi.” A sense of pride from Dooku drifted across our Bond as he spoke. “Cameron not only discovered this loophole but was able to convince the Jedi Council of the benefits of allowing him training from myself and Master Fay.”

“Impressive for one so young,” Nia commented as she smiled at me.

“Yes, it was,” Fay added in a tone that I knew indicated her enjoyment about something. “The four years since he became a Padawan have been… enlightening. For all of us.”

I did my best to ignore the way every Mandalorian at the table turned their gaze to me even as I sighed at Fay’s antics. Only Adonai and Nia showed no outward sign of their reaction to Fay’s words. The rest reacted with widened eyes and partially opened mouths.

“Master, please,” I half-begged, which drew a light chuckle from her.

“Very well, Padawan. I am sure there is no need for me to regal them of your actions or title with the Lokella.”

I resisted the urge to let my head fall to the table at her words.

“Ah yes, Mtael,” Nia snarked as my hands just barely stopped my head from striking the table as my shoulders slumped. “I have already told those here about that, and how he earned it.”

Adonai grunted. “Yes. Several times. And while it is easy to see you do not wish the glory from your actions Padawan, I know how fierce a warrior Girk Saxon was. Not many could say they had defeated him in single combat.”

“Thank you, Duke,” I replied as I lifted my head from my hands. “However, I would have preferred that he hadn’t died.”

Adonai scoffed. “He acted a coward. He got what he deserved.”

“Father! That is Lady Nia’s husband you speak of,” Satine pleaded.

Nia waved her hand lazily. “Hah! Girk was many things but cool-headed was not one of them. I do not share his shame, nor blame any for speaking ill of his final actions.”

“Be that as it may, the leader of Clan Saxon died by the Padawan’s actions,” Pre began, cutting off anything Satine wanted to say in reply. Which was likely a good thing as I suspected the girl would try to counter with some inane pacifist idea about how no one deserves to die for a making mistake. Or some other useless prattle.

“Girk’s death, and the reveal that he was a leader of a splinter Death Watch cell, has caused issues on Concordia,” Pre continued as his eyes focused on me. “Because of this, I must request that the Padawans forego all trappings and regalia linking them to the Jedi while they study within the Sector.”

I frowned as I realised that he wasn’t meaning just the robes or Padawan braid – both of which I enjoyed not wearing/having – but my lightsaber as well. That did make some sense, but since it came from Pre, I had to consider whether it was also a way to make it easier to take me out if he felt he needed to.

However, I had enough components in my Inventory to build three lightsabers. One from the remains of the lightsabers that were destroyed on Ilum, and two that I’d discovered during the Cleanse the Temple quest but hadn’t turned over to the Jedi but had instead taken apart for practice just before we had left for Mandalore.

I also had three Holocrons from back then as well, but they were either used as diaries or as training tools for young learners. I’d examined the one that was for training but found no mention of any new Force powers, or at least nothing had come up during my time browsing through it. Perhaps more advanced abilities were locked away to prevent a Padawan from learning something that was deemed too advanced by their Master, but nothing from Observe hinted at secondary passwords.

Still, I was holding on to them as I had an idea – one that I had not yet turned into a quest – about building my own holocron, thus having several on hand to study would be useful when the time came to generate the quest.

“While I can understand your worries and logic, I must admit that I am hesitant to accept that request,” Dooku replied slowly, his face calm and his words measured. “The Duke recently admitted that Jedi are not overly welcome here, and now you wish to disarm two of our Padawans?”

Pre cleared his throat before he replied. “Sadly, yes. Though I can assure you that their instructors will understand that if any harm comes to one of the Padawans, they will be held responsible. Also, it has been arranged that the Padawans will be in the same training centre as both my daughter and the Duke’s youngest.”

“I…”

“OK,” I blurted out, making the rare step of cutting off one of my masters. “I accept those terms.”

“Cameron?” Fay asked.

[A lightsaber is just a tool, Master. I will still have the Force to assist me.]

[I do not agree with this,] Dooku commented, making the bond a three-way conversation. [You will be targeted because of your actions and your link to me.]

[I know and expect that, Master. But, even without a lightsaber, I am not unarmed or alone. I expected this and already have a plan.]

There was silence for a moment as the two likely conversed privately before Dooku responded.

[Very well, however, you will explain your plan to us once we return to our quarters.]

[Yes, Master.] I turned my attention to Serra.

[Trust me.]

She nodded and turned to Adonai. “I accept the terms.”

Adonai’s brow rose and he looked from Serra to me slowly. “Hmm, interesting.” There was a pause as he glanced at Pre – who gave the barest of nods – before he spoke again. “Very well. We thank you for agreeing to this, young ones.”

He turned his attention to my masters. “While the Padawans are here, they will be under the protection of my House. Any move against them will be an attack on my House.”

“Thank you,” Fay said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

A chime sounded and the doors opened as the servants entered once more with more food.

“Yes!” Bo whispered excitedly at seeing the servants and I suspected that whatever food they were bringing now – likely dessert – was a favourite of the red-haired girl.

Adonai had either heard or seen Bo’s reaction, as he chuckled. “Forgive Bo. She has a liking for uj'alayi.”

“I do not blame her,” Fay commented as the servants removed the main course and placed a plate with a slice of cake in front of each of us.

The large slice of cake on my plate was amber-brown with what I assumed were pieces of fruit inside and was covered in thick dark brown syrup.

All in all, it was reminiscent of cakes from my former life.

“Please, enjoy,” Adonai said, and Bo wasted no time in attacking her cake with a fork.

I chuckled even as I copied the girl’s actions.

Even as I took a bite, and savoured the sticky sweet taste, I let my mind wander as I considered how I would convince Fay and Dooku to allow Serra and me to stay here without our lightsabers.

While I didn’t expect the two Jedi Masters to resist too strongly, I would still prepare as if they would.

… …

… …