CHAPTER SIX
"What do you mean your leader is not here?"
The burly Mandalorian standing before Jaden and Starkiller crossed his large arms. "Do I have to spell it out for you? He left for Concord Dawn a few days ago. Didn't say why, though."
The three men were standing outside the fort which served as the Mandalore's headquarters. On either side of the large Mandalorian were two other members of the nomadic warriors. Both were fully armored and had their EE-3 carbine rifles aimed at the two Jedi.
"Right then," Jaden said. "So we'll go to Concord Dawn and-"
"I wouldn't," the man said. "Mand'alor doesn't think kindly of...stalkers, for lack of a better term." He glanced at Starkiller's ruff-looking appearance. "And going by your appearances, he'd probably assume that you were bounty hunters."
"Pot calling the kettle black," Jaden said with a smirk.
Starkiller crossed his arms. "If Boba Fett's not here, then who's calling the shots?"
"Goran Beviin, Mand'alor's lieutenant. You wouldn't want to speak with him either, though."
"I believe we'll have to," Jaden said. "A war is threatening our galaxy, and we're going to need help from the Mandalorians."
The burly man scowled. "And why should we help you? Our kind have been regarded with nothing but disdain for over four thousand years."
Jaden nodded. "Yes, I am aware of that. But ever since you helped us at the Battle of Coruscant, we have looked at you with more respect. We have put the past behind us and-"
"I haven't," the Mandalorian growled. "I can not speak for my fellow Mando'a, but I have refused to forget what the Jedi have done to my clan."
Jaden blinked, bemused. "I...don't quite understand."
"Of course you don't." The man signaled the other two Mandalorians to lower their weapons. He then said to the two Jedi, "I think it would be best if you followed me."
* * *
Shadow narrowly dodged Carnor Jax's lightsaber blade as the Sith apprentice attempted to stab at him. He then swung his leg out to trip Carnor, but the latter anticipated the move and jumped over it, aiming a kick at Shadow's face. The Glorian agent dropped to the floor and rolled as Carnor's booted foot came down.
Before the apprentice could make another move, Shadow brought out a dagger and flung it at his back. Carnor Jax barely avoided it in time, the tip of its blade just brushing his side, leaving a bloodied scar in the black cloth he wore under his ebony armor.
"Ah, I apologize for ruining your new outfit," Shadow said sardonically. "I take it that you adopted a new style after leaving Dxun."
His dark eyes now glowing with the yellow blaze of the dark side, Carnor lunged at Shadow, his lightsaber pike raised high over his head. The Glorian agent casually stepped aside, causing the scarlet blade to plunge into the floor. Before the Sith apprentice could pull his weapon out, Shadow grabbed him by the collar of his tunic, which he wore underneath his armor.
"I'm sorry," Shadow said, "but I did not come all the way here to this worthless planet just to play with you. Now, where is your master?"
Carnor scowled at him. "Like I would tell you."
Shadow tightened his grip. "I believe it would be in your best interest to do so."
The apprentice's eyes burned with fury. "You might as well just kill me."
"I could," Shadow said. "And I plan on doing just that. But first, where is your master?"
"Standing before you."
Shadow turned to see the Sith Lady known as Lumiya, standing casually before a doorway which no doubt led into the crypt's main chamber. Her green eyes stared at shadow with an icy glare.
"I'm surprised that you managed to track us all the way here to Sarafur," the self-proclaimed Dark Lady of the Sith said. "I don't recall leaving any trail behind."
"I find my way," Shadow said. "Now then, there are two ways we can do this. You can make this quick and easy and just let me kill you. Or we can delay the inevitable and waste our time fighting until someone dies."
"In the latter case," Lumiya said, "what would be the 'inevitable' event?"
Shadow shrugged. "I would like it to be your deaths, but that depends on how well you've improved since our encounter on Dxun."
"You weren't much better."
Shadow chuckled mirthlessly. "I simply underestimated you. So, what shall it be; my way or the easy way?"
The snapping sound of a lightsaber activating was the response. Shadow grinned as he released Carnor Jax from his grip.
"My way it is."
* * *
The clock was ticking. The time was drawing near.
Ever since he had put his plan into motion, he had been watching, searching for the one being in the galaxy who he could speak with, who could understand him, and who could serve as a connection between him and the rest of the galaxy.
And he had finally found that being.
All he had to do was watch, and wait for things to take their course.
The Reunification was drawing near....
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