Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Epilogue

EPILOGUE

--Tython--

    Applause erupted from the audience as the newly-wed Anakin and Tahiri Solo joined lips in marital union. The ovation followed the couple as they went down the aisle and out the temple.

    Toah Jarsan sat by and watched as one by one the grand hall was deserted of people as they all left for the reception. Soon, only Toah remained to keep the lingering Grand Master of the Jedi Order company. Rising to his feet, Toah walked over to Jacen Solo, who was preoccupied with a very large book splayed out in front of him on the podium.

    "You aren't actually reading that, are you?" Toah said as he approached Solo. "You're just trying to look smart."

    Jacen chortled as he closed the book, making a loud thud. "Are you saying I'm not?"

    "Hey, I'm not the one who went on a five year sabbatical, got hitched and had a kid, met some old guys, all while people were busy fighting Glorians and Sith and whatnot."

    Jacen sighed. "You know, when you say it like that, it really does make me look like bantha dung."

    Toah put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, relax. I'm just teasing. If you hadn't gone on your trip, you wouldn't have found out what you did about Taral and we may have been worse off. And you may have not been there on Jakku to help us defeat Atha."

    Jacen blew out his breath. "Yeah, speaking of which...." He raised his eyes to meet Toah's. "He's gone."

    Toah blinked. "What do you mean?"

    "I mean he's...." Jacen stopped to recollect his thoughts. "They've been holding him on Coruscant for the past few months. Wallen visited his cell yesterday and saw that he had vanished. Actually, let me rephrase that: Mammon Hoole is still there, but he's dead. It's the armor that's gone."

    Toah stared at him incredulously. "You're serious."

    "Yes."

    Toah huffed, running a hand through his hair. "Who else knows about this?"

    "Besides us and Wallen? Only Shadow and Xemer. They've been working on covering it up before the Alliance can find out and start their own investigations."

    "And the Mindspear?" Toah asked, growing tense.

    "Don't worry, it's been destroyed. Unless Atha has a whole cache of saved up Vorath copies, which I find unlikely, he would have no way of finishing what he started."

    "I do hope you're right," Toah muttered. "For once I'd like to live the rest of my life in peace, without worrying about the next Vorath or Palpatine or whatever."

    Jacen smiled as he put a hand on Toah's shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll make sure you won't have to. I hear they have nursing homes on Chandrila you can check into."

    Toah glared at him. "Don't start with me, Solo. Your dad's going into one before I ever will."

    Jacen laughed as he came around the podium and started to walk down the aisle alongside Toah. "I hope your new apprentice isn't giving you a hard time as well."

    "No, but give her time. She certainly has the same kind of 'Solo spunk' that you and your siblings have, which sometimes makes me wonder...."

    Jacen raised an eyebrow at him. "Makes you wonder what?"

    Toah shook his head. "Never mind. It was a silly thought." He went silent for a moment before saying, "We should probably hurry. I don't want to get there and have there be no more cake left. I've seen how your dad and sister eat sometimes."

    Jacen chuckled as the two stepped out into the fresh Tythan daylight. "Then let us not waste any more time, old friend."

--Damosus--

    Green eyes watched from afar as the four-year-old ran around gleefully in the front yard of his home, watched closely by his equally jovial mother. His father could be seen on the roof with other men as they worked on remodeling their house to be more accommodating.

    The old woman sighed wistfully to herself. Her work here was done. She had helped the couple in settling down and starting a new life, free from the burdens of the past. It was fortunate that Damosus was as secluded as it was; few on the planet even knew what a Sith was, let alone heard of Darth Taral.

    As far as anyone in the galaxy was concerned, Darth Taral was presumably dead. Darth Sedriss was also gone. Their Sith Orders had ceased to exist, with its remaining members either dead or renouncing their teachings, as most of Sedriss' fellow Masters had done.

    There was only one last thing to do....

    "You are naive if you think they will be safe from me."

    Brisha Syo sighed as she turned away from her window and faced the floating mass of armor before her. "You're naive if you think there's anything you can do to hurt them."

    "I may have lost the Mindspear, but that is a minor setback," Atha Prime said. "I can still use them. I can still shape him into what he was meant to be."

    Brisha laughed at this. "I'm sorry, but I can't decide if that's either funny or just really sad."

    A low growl emitted from the armor as it moved closer to her. "Your dismissive attitude hides your fear."

    "Really? News to me." She smirked at the entity. "I'm not afraid of you, Atha."

    "You should be," the armor said as it started to wrap itself around Brisha. "You will be. Everyone shall be afraid of me when I lay down my vengeance upon the galaxy and--"

    "Tell me, Atha," Brisha interjected, the armor having fully encased her with the helmet only a few centimeters away from her head. "Have you ever possessed a master of the dark side before?"

    Atha Prime said nothing. When the realization finally set in and the armor started to peel away, it was already too late. Lightning released from Brisha's body and went into the armor's systems.

    Atha Prime shrieked in agony while Brisha simply closed her eyes and prepared for the fate that awaited them both. She let the lightning run its course before darkness finally consumed her.

*  *  *

    Varon's breath caught in his throat as he stumbled back, nearly falling over the edge of the roof. One of the workers caught him by the arm, saving him.

    "Easy, pal," the older man grunted. "You feelin' all right?"

    "Yeah," Varon lied, panting slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... nerves, is all. Heights make me uneasy sometimes."

    "You should get down and get some rest," the worker said. "Don't worry; me and the other guys can handle this."

    Varon nodded his thanks before climbing down the ladder. Once he had touched ground, Lysira was at his side, grabbing him by the arm.

    "I felt it too," she whispered.

    Varon frowned as he turned to face her. "What do you think happened?"

    "I don't know. It...." Lysira paused to think for a moment. "It didn't feel like natural causes. It... it felt like...."

    "A sacrifice," Varon finished for her. "Like she was dying to protect us from some threat."

    "But what?" Lysira murmured, pulling him closer to her. "What could that threat have been?"

    Before Varon could answer, he heard their son say, "Mama? Papa?"

    The couple looked down at their son, who was looking back at them in concern. "Is everything all right?" he asked, sounding slightly perturbed.

    Varon exchanged a look with his wife. Already their son's sensitivity to the Force was showing, indicated by his increased sense of empathy. Varon then bent down to pick up his son, holding him up to his shoulders.

    "Yes, buddy," he said with a smile. "Everything's okay."

    The boy's eyes brightened. "Is Papa happy?"

    Varon's grin only grew wider as he wrapped an arm around Lysira, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

    "Yes, Kalon. I couldn't be happier."

THE END

----

Whelp, this is it. The conclusion to not only Endgame but also the Destiny Trilogy. I hope anyone who's read this enjoyed it.

Note that this isn't the end to my Star Wars stories, just the one I set out to write involving my character Toah Jarsan and others that came along the way (such as Kadar, Shadow, and Wallen Nix). There will be more, specifically one centered on what Salvan Tai's been up to since joining Sidon Ithano's crew, as well as others. Think of this as less of an ending and more of a new beginning.

Or something cheesy like that.

Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Chapter Forty

CHAPTER FORTY

--Mandalore--

    The Battle of Mandalore was over. The Resistance had won its first victory.

    Yet Leia Organa felt anything but victorious.

    Moments after the Millennium Falcon had flown out of the Resurgent, the Star Destroyer had gone down in flames, plummeting towards the planet below. According to Admiral Ackbar and other eyewitnesses, the Imperial flagship had been fired upon by a Mandalorian vessel, which give the Resistance the edge they needed.

    As far as she knew, Ben had still been on the ship when it went down. For all intents and purposes, he was more than likely dead.

    But he wasn't. Leia could feel it. Her son was still out there-- beyond her reach perhaps, but still alive. She would find him, and no matter the cost, she would bring him back to the light.

    If her brother had been willing to sacrifice everything to bring their father back, then she would do the same for her son.

    Leia sighed as she leaned against her husband's shoulder, staring wistfully at the rising sun. Although the battle had been won, there were still things to be done: rogue Mandalorians to catch, escaped Sith to track down, not to mention explaining all of this to the Alliance and tidying up the messes Taral had made in both the Alliance and Imperial Remnant.

    There was a long day ahead for all of them. The sun could take all the time it needed to rise.

    Leia did not mind waiting.

--Concord Dawn--

    "I think this'll do nicely."

    "You sure?" Bedo squinted as he looked towards the horizon, shielding his beady eyes from the rising sun. "I see a lake down there. Wouldn't that be a better...?"

    Vessin shook her head, smiling. "No. This is perfect."

    Bedo shrugged. "If you say so."

    Producing a power-shovel, the Ortolan set to work, digging up a hole in the ground. Once he was finished, he stepped aside as Wiskin came froward carrying a lifeless body covered in white armor. He gently laid it in the hole Bedo had made before helping him covering it up. After they were done, Vessin approached the gravesite and dropped a large stone over it, the name Kadar carved into it.

    The three of them all stepped back to admire their handiwork. Bedo then looked at Vessin, rubbing the back of his head. "Think we should say something?"

    She shrugged. "You can if you want."

    "Well, I mean, he's your dad...."

    "I've already paid my tribute to him, Bedo. You can have this one."

    Bedo huffed through his nose. "Okay...." He gestured with pudgy blue fingers at the burial. "Here lies Kadar. He was... a Mandalorian. And a bounty hunter. And my friend's dad. He killed some people, but they were bad, so it's okay. He sounded like a pretty cool guy. Wish I knew him. The end."

    The Ortolan fell silent as he looked to his two companions. They both stared at him for a moment until Vessin nodded slowly.

    "Honestly? That was probably the most apt eulogy you could have given."

    Bedo beamed at her. "Thanks." 

    The three of them then turned and headed back for the Renegade, which was parked several feet away from Kadar's burial. Waiting by the boarding ramp was a man in his late forties, dressed in smuggler attire with a metal band around his midsection. A smirk crossed his scarred face as Vessin and the other two arrived.

    "About time you three got back. Kyla was just about ready to leave you three here."

    "That's rich," Bedo snorted. "Where else is she going to find a handsome Ortolan chef like me?"

    While Bedo and Wiskin headed onto the ship, Vessin stopped before the man. Once her crewmates were out of sight, she threw her arms around the man and hugged him.

    "I love you, dad," she said quietly.

    "I love you too, Ves," the man said softly, hugging her back. "You sure you don't want to stay here a bit longer? Say your goodbyes to Uncle Tral and the others?"

    "Please," Vessin laughed, sniffling slightly. "I love my uncle but his ego is still grating. I've heard he's calling himself Mandalore the Exonerated now."

    "Oh, for crying out...." Her father sighed as he shook his head. "Some things never change, I suppose."

    "But some things can." Vessin smiled up at him. "Come on. We really shouldn't keep Kyla waiting. Trust me, I know her."

    The man once known as Kadar returned the smile before boarding the ship with his daughter. The ramp raised up behind them, sealing them off from an old life as they stepped into a new one.

--The Vanguard--

    It was generally considered to be unwise to even consider navigating the region known as the Maw. Filled with black holes in any direction, one would have to be a fool to attempt at flying through the labyrinthine cluster.

    Admiral Vin Borgas was no fool. He was simply doing a fool's job.

    He had no idea what significance the planet before him had or why its destruction was necessary. But he could not ignore orders that came from high up the ladder and thus had risked neck in making it through the Maw to fulfill his duties.

    The sound of the door behind him opening distracted Borgas from the bombardment and he was mildly surprised to see the Sith Rion Scorpius storming onto the bridge, followed by five others.

    "Lord Scorpius," Borgas greeted the infuriated Sith. "This is an unexpected visit. I thought you were at Mandalore with--"

    Scorpius silenced him with a raise of the hand, seizing the admiral's throat with the Force. "What is going on here?" the Sith snarled. "What do you think you're doing?"

    "Just... following... orders," Borgas choked out.

    "Whose orders? That's Abeloth's planet! She is vital to our plans!"

    "Wasn't... told. Supreme... Leader... wanted--"

    Scorpius' eyes went wide as he released Borgas. "The Supreme Leader? He ordered this?"

    Unable to speak as he coughed, the admiral simply nodded.

    The Sith looked amongst themselves in shock. "But... why?"

    "Because of you, Scorpius."

    All six Sith turned to see a masked man standing in the doorway. Scorpius' eyes narrowed instantly.

    "Kylo Ren," he growled. "I hope you have enough evidence to back your accusations."

    "Darth Taral has failed," the Knight of Ren replied. "How's that for evidence?"

    Karis stared at him in shock. "What do you mean he's failed?"

    "Thanks to your betrayal, Taral essentially gave up on everything he had built and fled from his flagship, letting everything fall to pieces. As such, the Supreme Leader wishes to be rid of any loose threads."

    "But... Abeloth's power is great!" Scorpius said. "The Supreme Leader could use someone like her!"

    "Yes, but with Taral out of the picture, she is no longer indebted to him for freeing her," Kylo said. "She now feels free to do as she pleases. And that is something the Supreme Leader simply cannot have. Besides...."

    Kylo made a sharp motion with his and a rolled up scroll came flying out of Scorpius' cloak and into the Knight of Ren's hand.

    "This, I think, will make for a sufficient replacement."

    "You don't even know what's on there," Scorpius murmured.

    "I do, actually. Your friend isn't very good at keeping secrets."

    Before Scorpius could inquire Ren, he got his answer in the form of a lightsaber impaling him from the back. As he gasped in pain, he craned his head and met cold gold eyes.

    "Karis?" he croaked. "Why?"

    "Because I knew what fate would await us if we went straight to Snoke," Karis said grimly. "Unlike you and Taral, I have a remarkable sense of foresight."

    Scorpius gritted his teeth as he started to cough up blood. "How is this... better than what you saw?"

    "Because the Knights of Ren are mere mortals. Snoke is so much more and would have offered us a fate far worse than death."

    With that, she pulled the blade out of Scorpius' back and allowed him to crumple lifelessly to the deck. Before the other Sith could attack her for her treachery, black-clad beings armed with blasters, staffs, and other weapons emerged from the pits of the bridge, striking down the caught-off-guard Sith.

    In mere moments, all of the Sith lay dead on the bridge... save for Karis. Surprised that she had been spared, the S'kytri stared at Kylo Ren, who slowly approached her.

    "If it were anyone but me standing here, you would be dead as well," Kylo said. "But I sense great potential in you, Karis. You are clever and wise-- traits worthy of a Knight of Ren." He extended a hand to her. "Come with us. We can teach you things the Sith never could-- things the Sith only wish they knew. Join us, Karis, and we can make you a true master of the dark side."

    Karis regarded the proffered hand for a moment before lowering herself to her knees, bowing her head.

    "I am yours to teach... Master."

--Kursid--

    "Natia Dorn, you have been blessed by His Darkness Valtheran and been marked his disciple."

    Zarin Kal watched in despair as the old Iktotchi Sith dropped a pair of arthropods onto Natia, who let the bugs etch out black markings all across her skin. He winced as she screamed in pain.

    "Fear is our fuel," chanted the gathered Sith, an assortment of Marked Ones and those of the Lost Tribe. "Anger is our conduit."

    The screams slowly came to a stop as Natia seemed to embrace the pain. Zarin looked away, unable to look at what his fellow Jedi had become.

    "Hate is our weapon."

    Finished with their journey, the bugs returned to the Iktotchi's hand while Xiana came forward with a black robe, which Natia clothed herself with.

    "And through suffering...."

    Behind him, Zarin felt Lokai push him forward while another Sith moved the former Lord Kallus forth.

    "We are one."

    Zarin swallowed the bile building up in his throat as he was brought before the Iktotchi, who grinned widely as he held up the two arthropods.

    "We are the Marked."

Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Chapter Thirty-Nine

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

--Jakku--

    "End of the road, Atha," Toah Jarsan said as he, Jacen Solo, and Xemer disembarked from Shadow's Mandallian Giant form and landed before Atha Prime, Jaden Korr, and Rey. "Whatever it is you're up to, it stops now."

    "Why, Toah," Atha said in mock defensiveness. "I am hurt that you think I would do anything of malicious intent."

    "Then explain this." Jacen gestured at the device behind Atha.

    "Oh, this?" Atha patted the rotund surface with a crimson-clad hand. "I was just about to summon some friends of mine. No harm in a little get-together, is there?"

    "Depends on who these 'friends' of yours are," Toah said grimly. "And if the reputations of past Athas are anything to go by, I doubt they're the kind I wish to meet."

    "But Toah, I'm not anything like the past Athas. I'm still the sweet and kind Mammon Hoole you know."

    "Then explain why you knocked me and the others out cold," Xemer said. "Explain why you lashed out at me back on Coruscant. Explain why you've been muttering names to yourself, chanting things like 'I am Mammon Hoole.' Explain why you've been a total nutcase since Toah got us to work."

    "A nutcase?" Atha repeated, sounding genuinely affronted by the remark. "I beg to differ. If anything, I am more of a genius -- a mastermind that's been working behind the scenes from day one."

    "What do you mean?" Jacen asked.

    Atha did not answer him, instead turning to Jaden Korr, who was watching everything in bemusement. "You. Tell us, why are you here? What interest do you have in this girl?"

    Jaden hesitated to respond, looking between Atha, Rey, and the others. He then exhaled loudly as he bowed his head. "Because Abeloth sent me."

    Toah's brow furrowed. "Who's Abeloth?"

    Atha waved a dismissive hand. "An accomplice. She fancies herself a deity but she's nothing more than a tool for me to utilize." He then turned back to Jaden. "Tell me, what did she offer you in return for your services?"

    Again Jaden seemed to stall in answering, his eyes briefly meeting Toah's, before sighing. "She said she had the answers to who I was, where I came from... whether or not I was a clone of Darth Vorath."

    Toah and the others all stared at him in shock while Atha threw his head back and laughed maniacally.

    "Is that all? How disappointing -- I was hoping for a more compelling reason. No matter...." Atha reached into his armor and produced a small device -- an open handle with two prongs on either side. "Do you know what this is?"

    "It's a Mindspear," Xemer murmured. "An ancient Rakatan device."

    "Correct. It allows one to transfer the memories from one being into another. A very useful tool when you're trying to preserve the life of a Dark Lord of the Sith."

    "Vorath," Toah muttered.

    "Very perceptive." Atha chuckled darkly. "You see, for all his grandeur and boastfulness, Lord Vorath was still aware of his own mortality and crafted a contingency plan should he be vanquished. I was one of the only ones aware of this and he entrusted me in overseeing it.

    "The first thing he required was an heir. Since he himself was too old to conceive a child, he instead created a clone of himself that would then father a child with Lumiya, a Dark Side Adept of Sidious'. That child, once of age, would then serve as a new vessel for Vorath's consciousness.

    "In the meantime however, Vorath needed a more immediate option should he be prematurely vanquished. Luckily, it was by this time that word got around of the Jedi who had prevented the second coming of Marka Ragnos. Vorath instantly took an interest to Jaden Korr and had me monitor his growth as a Jedi Knight."

    Jaden blew out his breath. "So I'm not his clone or something like that."

    "Now I didn't say that," Atha said. "You could very well be another clone he created at some point. All I know is that the Empire had an interest in you for as long as you've been alive. But none of that matters now. You're here and I have everything that makes up Darth Vorath here in my hands. All I need you to do is hold still."

    The snap-hiss of three lightsabers activating preluded the room being filled with blue, green, and yellow light.

    Atha looked from one Jedi to the other. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I say 'turn on all of your lightsabers in a threatening manner?' Must've been a slip of the tongue."

    "We can't let you to do this, Atha," Toah said sternly.

    "Oh yes, you can," Atha said, fiddling with his right gauntlet. "Here, I'll make it easy for you."

    From the gauntlet, Atha released a gas and directed it at Toah, Jacen, Xemer, and Shadow. The three of them recoiled and fell to their knees as drowsiness started to overcome them.

    Pivoting on his feet, Atha then whirled around and struck Jaden across the face with the back of his hand, knocking him down. His lightsaber loose in his hand, Atha kicked his arm to send it flying before wrapping an arm around his neck.

    "This may hurt a lot," Atha said softly as he started to place the Mindspear over Jaden's head. "I'll forgive you if you scream."

    However, before he could properly slide the device into place, something struck him across the back of his head, disorienting him as he dropped the Mindspear. Atha turned around to see Rey standing before him, staff readily in hand.

    "Ah, I had forgotten about you," he said. "Decided to take a shot at being the hero?"

    Rey's eyes blazed at him. "I don't know who any of you are, but I know a bad person when I see one."

    "Good. I'm pleased that you are more perceptive of people than most." Atha raised his right arm again, preparing another dose of his sedative. "But right now, I need you to get some rest."

    Just as he was about to release the dosage, Jaden lunged at him from behind, lightsaber flaring, and slashed him across the back. Crying out, Atha spun around and seized Jaden by the neck, hoisting the Jedi off his feet. The yellow lightsaber fell from Jaden's hand and clattered at Atha's foot. He kicked it away without a second thought.

    "You know, I won't refrain from killing you if you push me far enough," Atha growled. "I can always find another vessel for Vorath. Just about anyone in this room would suffice: Jarsan, Solo...."

    The hiss of a lightsaber igniting came from behind him. Atha looked over his shoulder to see Rey standing with Jaden's saber in her hands, shaking slightly as his eyes fell on her.

    "...The girl."

    Absent-mindedly, he released Jaden from his grip and turned to fully face Rey, staring at her with a look of fascination.

    "It would appear Abeloth was not wrong about you," he murmured. "Indeed you are as powerful as she had foreseen."

    "What are you talking about?" Rey asked, her voice shaking.

    Atha said nothing as he walked past her and up to the Ravager's device. Rey remained rooted in place, finding herself unable to move, while Jaden laid where he was, weakened by Atha's hold on him.

    "I suppose now is good a time as any to summon them," Atha murmured, entering a hailing code into the computer. "They will take care of you and the others while I handle Korr. Soon, Darth Vorath shall rise again, the Prophets of the Dark Side shall reign supreme, and--"

    The mad scientist went silent as the computer screen went red, its light reflecting off his masked face. His eyes dimmed as they read the words displayed before them.

    Invalid frequency. Please try again.

    Atha's breathing quickened as he reentered the code. The same message was returned. He tried it again. Same message.

    Again. Same.

    Again. Same.

    Gloved hands rolled up into fists. Shoulders shook with building rage. Heavy breathing emitted from a crimson mask.

    "He changed it. That blasted fool changed it."

    Atha slammed down hard on the device, creating a huge dent in its surface. Growing frantic, he scanned the floor for the Mindspear. Even if he couldn't summon his allies, he could still bring back Vorath and--

    "Looking for this?"

    The scientist froze, slowly turning around to see Shadow standing before him, having returned to his natural state, holding the Mindspear. Shocked, Atha began to sputter profusely.

    "How did--? You--? The gas--!"

    "Didn't last long," Shadow said, shrugging. "Might want to work on that. Maybe make it work better on Shi'ido."

    Atha no longer had any words to convey how he felt. Instead, he let out a feral yell as he lunged at Shadow, diving for the Mindspear....

    ...Then a blue blade appeared from nowhere and cleaved through his forearms.

    "And Jedi."

    Atha stared in silent fury as his hands landed at his feet, wires and cauterized flesh exposed to him. He then turned to see Toah Jarsan putting away his weapon before putting a hand on Atha's shoulder.

    "That'll do, friend," Toah said softly. "That'll do."

    Defeated, Atha Prime dropped down to the floor, staring at empty space. Rey mimicked him, dropping Jaden's saber as she sat with her knees to her chest.

    "I really want to go home now."

Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Chapter Thirty-Eight

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

--Jakku--

    "This is it."

    Rey panted, bending to her knees, as she finally caught up with Atha. While it was hardly her first time in exploring the wreck of a ship, she had never before had to follow someone who did not at all convey that he knew where he was going. All that grappling up, swinging left, grappling down, swinging right... all while her companion moved at a speed too fast to keep up with.

    Once she had caught her breath, she straightened up and glowered at Atha. "Why did you even need my help in the first place if you could jump around like that?"

    "I needed to conserve energy," Atha said without looking at her. He approached the object of his interest-- a rotund table with monitors and buttons all around it -- and set about turning it on. To Rey's surprise, the controls all lit up properly with no issue.

    "I didn't think anything worked on these ships," she murmured in awe.

    Atha merely grunted in response as he got to work, pressing and flipping various switches. While Rey watched him, she heard a sound come from behind her. Instinctively, she drew her staff and turned around, expecting it to be Bar'derro and his gang or some other scavenger.

    Instead, it was a man she had never seen before standing in front of her. Approximately in his forties, he had brown hair and forlorn gray eyes, which were fixed on Rey. Behind her, Atha looked up from his work.

    "Ah. Well isn't this a pleasant surprise." Atha chuckled softly. "How nice of you to join us, Jaden Korr."

    "Atha Prime," the man replied. "What are you doing here?"

    "An excellent question -- one I must ask of you as well. I wouldn't think a forgotten Star Destroyer would be of interest to you."

    "It's not." Jaden nodded to Rey. "She is."

    "What?" Rey took a step back, giving the man a suspicious look. "Why me? I'm just a scavenger."

    Jaden shook his head. "No, you are far more than that." He then looked back at Atha. "What is she doing here with you?"

    Before Atha could answer, the three of them heard another sound and all looked up to see the ceiling being torn open by a pair of claws. A chunk of metal went flying into the air as a large Mandallian Giant peered into the Ravager.

    Rey groaned to herself. "I would really like to wake up now."

--Mandalore--

    "So, you must be the man I've heard so much about."

    Kadar glared up at the gold and red-clad man before him, fists clenched in anger. "Atinar. Do you have any idea what you're--"

    "That's Mandalore the Vengeful to you," Atinar snarled, positioning his war droid to aim its guns at Kadar. "You would do well to remember that, dar'manda, unless you desire your death be much sooner."

    "You're repeating the mistakes of your predecessor by siding with these Sith!" Kadar gestured to the battle surrounding them. "All of this... this is them exploiting you for their needs!"

    "No," Atinar growled. "This is them helping us remake Mandalore in a better, stronger image."

    Kadar sighed, shaking his head. "That's what they want you to think. They needed you to so that you would do their bidding. But in truth, they don't care about your desires at all."

    "It doesn't matter!" Atinar retorted. "Let the Sith believe what they want. When the day comes that they ask us to do something we see as against our values, we will have the numbers to drive them straight to dar'yaim."

    While Atinar went on, Kadar felt Tral inch closer to him, putting something in his closed fist. Feeling the object in his hand, Kadar recognized it to be a hilt. He did not dare look at it and instead kept his gaze on Atinar.

    "Bold words, Cabur, but they mean nothing," he said to the Mandalore. "Because when that day does come, you will be too fearful of the Sith to even dare stand up against them. You will be putty in their hands. Mindless pawns of their game. Is that how you want to be remembered, Atinar? As Mandalore the Pawn?"

    "How dare you." The barrels of the Basilisk started to glow as Atinar charged up its guns. "History shall remember me, Kadar, whereas you shall be buried beneath the sands of time, forgotten."

    "Honestly, I'd prefer it that way," Kadar muttered. "I don't deserve to be remembered for anything I've done. In fact, I would love nothing more than to fade back into obscurity; just another face in the crowd."

    Atinar grunted. "Then I will make sure you die as you lived: alone and broken."

    "You and me both, pal."

    With that, Kadar kicked on his jetpacks and jumped up into the air, igniting the Darksaber in his hands. Atinar quickly reoriented his Basilisk's guns to aim at Kadar and fired. The blast went into Kadar's abdomen just as the white Mandalorian dropped down and drove the ebony blade into Atinar's chest. The Mandalore screamed in pain as he and Kadar fell off the Basilisk.

    The last thing Kadar thought of before everything went black was Vessin.

    I'm sorry, he thought as darkness consumed him.

--The Resurgent--

    All around him, things were falling apart.

    It was something he should have foreseen from the beginning. If not when he rallied his followers, then he should have when he enlisted the Marked Ones and Kylo Ren. Betrayal was simply par of the course for dark side users, whether they were Sith or not. Why did he think it would be different for him?

    Because he was a fool, that's why.

    Darth Taral finally reached his destination and stepped into the lab. He nearly lost his balance as the Star Destroyer shook again but he quickly recomposed himself and made his way over to the solitary stasis tube in the room. After operating the control panel to open the tube, he stepped back as the cylindrical tube raised and Darth Sedriss stumbled out from behind the steam.

    "I-- what...?" The Dark Lady of the Sith took a moment to recover her senses before looking around the room. Her eyes then fell on Taral and they narrowed. "You?"

    "Lysira, wait." Taral raised his hands to his helmet and removed it from his head, meeting the woman's eyes with his own. "I mean you no harm."

    Sedriss scoffed. "What, like you meant no harm on Dromund Kaas? I'm not falling for any more tricks, Varon."

    "I assure you that this is not a trick." Setting his helmet down, he took her hands in his own. Before she could retreat her hands, he said to her, "I know about Kalon."

    She froze, her eyes widening. "You...? How?"

    "Brisha told me." He tightened his grip on her hands. "Lysira... I don't want this anymore. The Sith, the First Order... they don't do anything for me. They were never mine to begin with."

    He sighed before pulling her closer to him, looking deep into her eyes. "My first and greatest mistake was leaving you. I want to rectify that. I want to make up for my betrayal.

    "I love you, Lysira. Know that, despite all that I have done, that has never changed."

    Lysira said nothing at first, her eyes boring deep into Varon's. Then, slowly, she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips.

    "I'm going to hold you to that," she said quietly. 

    Varon simply nodded, enjoying the closeness that the two of them were sharing. However, the enjoyment was short-lived, for the Resurgent shook again and he was reminded of the reality of the situation.

    "We should probably leave," he said.

    "Yes," Lysira murmured. "That would be most wise."

    Hand in hand, the couple ran out of the chamber, as everything that had been of Darth Taral fell apart around them.

Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Chapter Thirty-Seven

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

--Mandalore--

    Kadar stared as his brother landed before him, wielding the weapon that was their clan's heirloom. Brandishing the Darksaber's ebony blade, Tral Vizsla started to circle Kadar, who did the same to him.

    "I'm surprise you came," Tral said darkly. "I always had you pegged as someone who ran from the responsibilities of life."

    "You weren't entirely wrong," Kadar admitted. "But I'm no longer the man you once knew. I have changed, Tral, and for the better."

    "I see." Tral paused in his pacing for a moment, as if considering something. "You know... it doesn't have to end like this. There's still time for you to join our cause."

    "I can say the same to you," Kadar replied. "What has Atinar and his cause done for you, Tral? What has it done for anyone?"

    "It's created a better world for Mandalorians."

    "Has it?" Kadar gestured at the battle happening all around them, Mandalorians firing upon each other. "Is this really the world you want? The world he promised you?"

    "It... once we win, it will be," Tral retorted, although he hardly sounded sure of what he said.

    "Win what? This display of bloodshed? This slaughtering of your own people -- your brothers and sisters? This is the world you want?"

    Tral did not reply. Kadar pressed on, gesturing this time at the sky.

    "And what about the Sith? After so much history of the Sith using us as pawns -- Exar Kun, Vitiate, Darth Maul -- you continue to side with them? Do you not see what game they're playing at? That they are deceiving you?"

    The silence persisted. Tral's gaze no longer seemed to even be on Kadar, who was not sure if his brother was even listening.

    Kadar sighed. "Look, if you want to keep fighting for what you believe is right, then I won't try to persuade you not to. But please -- only do it if you truly believe in it."

    "Oh, I'm sure he does, Kadar."

    The white Mandalorian spun on his feet and swore under his breath. Hovering before him was a Basilisk war droid and mounted atop of it was Atinar Cabur, clad head to toe in gold and red armor, with a scarlet cape cascading from his back. Brandishing an axe, the ruler of Mandalore glared down upon Kadar.

    "The question is: do you?"

--The Resurgent--

    "You cannot hide forever, Taral!"

    Kylo Ren's voice echoed as he reached the end of the corridor he had followed the Sith down, coming to a set of three doors. Behind his mask, the Knight of Ren scowled as he swung his blade at the air, scratching the ceiling.

    "Coward! Come out and face me! Prove to me that you're the Dark Lord! Prove to me your worthy of the mantle!"

    No response. Kylo breathed heavily with anger, his face feeling hot within his mask. His body was screaming at him to take it off but his mind refused. He could not take it off, for the face it concealed was of a man who did not exist. A man he had destroyed.

    Suddenly his head snapped up, the pace of his heart quickening. Someone was behind him. Someone he knew, or at least recognized the presence of. But it couldn't be... how could she be here?

    Why would she be here?

    "Ben?"

    All around him, time seemed to freeze. It felt like forever as the Knight of Ren slowly turned on his heel, coming face to face with a visage he never thought he would ever see again.

    Never wanted to see again.

    "Mother?" he spoke, immediately hating himself for doing so. He sounded so weak. So pitiful.

    Leia Solo inhaled sharply at the sound of his voice. Although amplified by his mask, she clearly recognized it -- even though it had been over thirty years since she last heard it.

    "Ben," she said again, her difficulty in saying the name plain to him. "What's happened to you....?"

    "Ben Solo is dead." Kylo found the words remarkably easy to say. "I destroyed him."

    Leia opened her mouth to say something until another voice came from behind her. Another voice Kylo knew....

    "Leia? What's going on? What have you--"

    Han Solo appeared from behind Leia, accompanied by four others: Starkiller, a Wookiee Kylo felt familiar with, and two Jedi he remembered encountering on Ossus. Upon seeing Ren, Solo froze as he stared at the masked man.

    "Ben," he started to say, only for Kylo to cut him off sharply.

    "That is no longer who I am. Your son died when you abandoned him all those years ago."

    "Abandoned you?" Leia repeated, incredulous. "Ben, we never--"

    "Don't lie to me!" Kylo roared. "You know full well what you did. A true parent would have never lost sight of their child."

    "Ben...." Leia was starting to choke on her words. "We would never...."

    Han stepped forward, his eyes staring hard at Kylo. "We searched everywhere for you. We went planet to planet, system to system. We even had the entire fleet scouring the galaxy for you, capturing Imperial vessels thinking they had kidnapped you."

    "But you stopped," Kylo said, his voice low. "You must have, for you would have found me had you kept searching."

    Han let out a long sigh. "Because we did find you. We found a boy that looked just like you. The doctors confirmed it was you. And your mother could no longer feel you in the Force."

    "Lies," Kylo snarled. "You expect me to believe something like that?"

    "Yes, we do." The male Jedi Kylo recognized from Ossus stepped up from behind Han and Leia, staring at the dark warrior. "Search your feelings, Ben. You know it to be--"

    "You." Kylo pointed his saber at him, glaring furiously behind his mask. "Who are you? What are you doing with them?"

    The man opened his mouth to speak but Leia cut him off. "Don't," she said sternly. "Don't tell him."

    The man frowned at her. "He has to know, Mom. He--" 

    "What," Kylo growled, "did you just call her?"

    The Jedi's face went white as realization dawned on him. He turned back towards Kylo and gazed into the Knight of Ren's black visor. Swallowing, he answered him.

    "My name is Anakin Solo. I... I am your brother." He then gestured to the female Jedi he was with. "This is Jaina Solo. Your sister."

    Kylo stared at the both of them in silence. Emotions waged within him, unsure of which one he should act on.

    After a moment, Leia took a small step forward and looked at him steadily. Taking in a deep breath, she said, "Ben, take off that mask. You don't need it."

    "You don't know that," he bit back.

    "I do. Please... look at us with your own eyes."

    Every part of Kylo's mind screamed at him not to remove the mask. Somehow that didn't stop him from putting away his lightsaber and raising his hands to his helmet, undoing the front clasp of his mask. Pulling it off, he almost felt liberated, feeling the fresh air -- or as fresh as air could get on a starship -- on his face and filling his lungs. He took in a deep breath, just to enjoy it for only a second, before laying his dark eyes on those who stood before him.

    He let the mask fall from his hands. It landed with a resounding thud.

    His parents nearly gasped as they gazed upon the narrow face of their lost son. Anakin and Jaina stared in shock as well while Chewbacca made a soft, rumbling sound. Starkiller simply remained silent.

    The Star Destroyer shook from attacks outside but no one payed any heed. After a moment, Leia spoke, her voice no louder than a whisper.

    "Come with us," she said. "Come back to the light. It's not too late to turn away from this path you've gone down."

    "It is for me," Kylo said softly. "It is much, much too late."

    He paused, unsure of whether to say what he was about to. He didn't know if the words were coming from him or from the minuscule trace of Ben Solo that was still within him. Regardless, he said them anyway.

    "Please... go. It's... it's too dangerous for you to stay here. Leave now while you still have a chance."

    Leia shook her head. "No," she said firmly, taking Han's hand in her own. "We're not leaving you. Not this time."

    Kylo gazed at his family before slowly inhaling. "Then you will die."

    With a snap-hiss, his lightsaber came back to life and he started to slowly stride towards his family. The four Solos remained in place, prepared for what was to come. They would not fight him. They had no desire to bring harm to someone of their bloodline.

    Starkiller did not have such reservations.

    The former Sith jumped out in front of the Solos and unleashed a barrage of lightning from his fingertips. Kylo raised his blade to block the attack, although it was still strong enough to send him back a few steps.

    Looking over his shoulder at the others, Starkiller shouted, "Go! I can only hold him off for so long!"

    "We're not leaving him!" Han protested.

    "You have no choice! If you stay here, you'll all die!"

    "If he dies, so do we," Leia said defiantly.

    Starkiller closed his eyes and sighed. "He won't die. I promise. Now go."

    At first it seemed like none of the Solos would comply. Then, Anakin sighed.

    "He's right. We should leave. There'll be another time."

    His parents looked reluctant at first, until another blast from outside shook the ship even harder than before. Without any other options, the four Solos and Chewbacca turned to head back the way they had came. Leia looked one last time at her son, meeting his eyes through the blue storm of lightning.

    "I love you," she said quietly before following the rest of her family back down the corridor.

    Kylo Ren watched her leave, not realizing he had answered her. Once the lightning had ceased, Starkiller stared at him inquisitively.

    "What did you say?"

    Kylo was silent as he stared back at the former apprentice of Vader. Then, in a low voice he said, "I know."

    Starkiller slowly nodded, the ghost of a smile on his face. "So he's not truly dead then. Somewhere in there, Ben Solo still lives."

    Kylo snarled as he raised his blade. "Not for long."

    Starkiller laughed. "We shall see," he said as the blade came down. "We shall see...."

Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Chapter Thirty-Six

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

--Jakku--

    "Well, here you are."

    Atha Prime climbed off of Rey's speeder and stared at the wreck of the Ravager. Most if it was buried beneath the sand, with only its port sticking out from the ground, exposed to the heat of the desert. Its rear thrusters gaped like caves and Rey could see the movement of critters deep within.

    She waited for Atha to move or say something. When he did not, she cleared her throat. "Well, I did what you asked. If you don't mind, I'll be leav--"

    "Wait."

    Rey shook her head. "No, sorry. There's nothing else I can do for you. You asked me to bring you here and I did, so--"

    "No. Listen."

    Rey frowned but did as told, raising a hand to her ear. Sure enough, she soon heard the low rumble of landspeeders coming from the distance.

    "Could be Bar'derro's gang. They usually travel in speeders, and the Graveyard is a major hot spot of their's. They don't take to others visiting their territory well."

    Atha stared off in the direction from which the speeder sounds were coming from. He then tilted his head back towards Rey. "I have no means of defending myself."

    "That's too bad," Rey said, revving the engine of her speeder. "You should have thought about that before asking to be taken here. A lot of scavengers here are complete savages."

    Atha gazed at her with his tiny red lights for eyes. "And just how would leaving me to my death reflect on your character?"

    Rey stopped to look at him, her foot centimeters from the accelerator. "What?"

    "What would people think? That a young woman who had every means of warding off assailants left a defenseless old man to his fate out in the middle of nowhere."

    Rey sighed, closing her eyes as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Right. You're right. I'm sorry. It's just that... it's getting dark and...."

    "Do you have someone waiting for you?"

    "No; I'm the one waiting. For my family." Rey let out a wistful sigh. "They left me here when I was very young."

    "And you think they will return?"

    "They will," Rey said, looking up hopefully at the sky. "I know they will."

    Atha did not speak for a moment, looking deep in thought. Then he said, "Perhaps I can help bring them back."

    Rey looked back at him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Really?"

    "There is a device on the Ravager that can send out signals, summoning other ships to its position. It doesn't matter where in the galaxy they are, it will reach them. Do you happen to have their hailing frequency?"

    Rey shook her head, still unsure if Atha was being truthful. "No, I don't. If I did, I would have tried it ages ago."

    "No matter," Atha said, waving a hand. "We'll find a way. Trust me."

    Rey wasn't sure she did. Regardless, she powered her speeder down before dismounting the vehicle, coming to stand before Atha. She stared at the armored man for a moment before slowly nodding.

    "All right. Let's go."

--Mandalore--

    Kadar awoke at the sound of blaster fire.

    The white Mandalorian carefully got to his feet, his head hurting like heck. Once he had gotten a grip on his senses, he saw that he was standing on the rooftop of a building in Keldabe. Basilisk war droids flew closely overhead and he could see his fellow revolutionaries several feet below him, waging war against Atinar's followers.

    He could not identify anyone from where he stood. He could not tell if Goran, Mirta, or the others had landed safely. He did not know if Vessin was down there.

    He did not know if Vessin was even alive.

    Kadar inhaled sharply at this thought but quickly recomposed himself. No, Vessin was not dead. She couldn't be. He was not going to have her die on him after all his efforts in reconciling with her. He would not have it.

    Vessin is alive.

    Running to the edge of the roof, he prepared his rocket pack and jumped....

*  *  *

    "Tral, he's here!"

    Huddled behind cover, Tral Vizsla raised his head to his fellow Mandalorian Morgot. He then moved his gaze in the direction the Togorian was pointing and saw a white-clad figure descending onto the battlefield from atop a building.

    "Well, I'll be darned," Tral murmured. "I never actually thought I would see him here...."

    "Never mind that," Morgot said, slapping Tral on the shoulder. "Now's your chance to bring him to justice. You have the Darksaber, yes?"

    "Yes," Tral said softly, subconsciously touching the weapon that had been passed down through his clan for generations. He had never once used it in battle. He was not sure he was ready to do so now.

    "Don't worry, we shall provide cover fire," his companion said. "Now go out there and rid our clan of his filth."

    Tral stayed in place for a moment before slowly rising to his feet. Drawing the Darksaber, igniting its black blade, he turned on his jetpack and blasted off into the battlefield, heading straight for his brother.

--The Resurgent--

    "Captain! We've lost our shields!"

    Nadine was in too much silent fury to respond. She could not believe what she was witnessing: a Mandalorian ship firing upon them. As if the unexpected attack from the Resistance wasn't already enough....

    "Divert all power to the turbolasers!" she finally barked. "I want those traitors erased from my vision!"

    While the bridge crew did as ordered, another officer poked her head from her pit station. "Captain, we have intruders in hanger one--"

    Nadine whirled and stormed up to the edge of the pit, leaning down towards the ensign. "Bring me their heads," she snarled.

    The ensign stared at her wide-eyed as she slowly nodded. "Y-yes, captain. Understood."

    Satisfied with this response, Nadine returned to the viewport and huffed. She swore that if something else went wrong in the next five minutes, she was going to lose her mind....

*  *  *

    Alarms blared loudly as stormtroopers rushed down the corridor, white armor clacking as they headed for the hangar bay.

    Tired eyes watched them pass by from the shadows. As soon as the last in the group had passed, Starkiller emerged from where he hid and grabbed the soldier by the arm. A carefully placed Force grip on their throat prevented the stormtrooper from crying out as he pulled them into his secluded corner.

    Keeping his hold on the stormtrooper, Starkiller leaned in and glared menacingly into their visor. "If you so much as scream, I will not hesitate in killing you. Understand?"

    The stormtrooper nodded as best as their present condition would allow. Starkiller then released them only to then pin them against the wall.

    "Where is Kylo Ren?" the former Sith growled.

    "I don't know," the stormtrooper hissed. Starkiller pressed harder onto his shoulders, causing the trooper to grunt in pain. "Really, I don't! I swear to you!"

    Starkiller scowled. "Then do you have any idea on where he could be? Surely someone on this ship knows."

    "He... he could be seeing Darth Taral. I-- I know he's some kind of Sith, so he could be...."

    "Good enough." Starkiller released his hold on the stormtrooper but still stood before him, eyes narrowed. "Of course, I can't exactly just let you go free and have you warn your fellow--"

    The ex-Sith was cut off by the sound of blaster fire, followed shortly by a Wookiee roaring and screaming. Before Starkiller could stop him, the stormtrooper rushed out into the corridor... only to stop and swear.

    "Don't shoot! Please!"

    Starkiller stepped out from where he hid and found the stormtrooper holding his arms up in surrender, while being held at blasterpoint by Han Solo, his wife Leia, their children Anakin and Jaina, the Wookiee Chewbacca, and six Alliance soldiers.

    "Well," Starkiller said. "Looks like things just got a lot more interesting."

Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Chapter Thirty-Five

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

    Zarin Kal awoke with a start, panting heavily. 

    It took a moment for his vision to clear. When it finally did, he found himself face to face with an albino-skinned male, black tattoos adorning his face. Yellow eyes narrowed into slits as the Nagai stared at Zarin.

    "You're awake."

    "You're perceptive," Zarin retorted, glowering at the man.

    The Nagai said nothing as he undid the restraints around Zarin's wrists, releasing him from the interrogation chair he had been resting on. As he rubbed his wrists, Zarin looked around the room he was in, immediately finding that he was not alone. Tethered to similar torture devices were Natia Dorn and Lord Kallus, both motionless.

    Returning his attention to the Nagai Sith, Zarin bared his teeth. "I swear to you, if you've--"

    "They're not dead, in case you're wondering," the Nagai said coldly. "Merely unconscious. You must know that pain is a vital step to becoming a Marked One."

    "I will never become one of you."

    "You will. You've already started down that path." Out of nowhere, the Sith produced a lightsaber hilt and handed it to Zarin. The Kiffar Jedi stared at the weapon for a moment before tentatively taking it. The Sith then turned on his heel and started to head for the door.

    "Come. You are needed on the bridge."

    Zarin scowled. "I take it I have no choice."

    "Correct. Hurry along now."

    Seeing no other option, Zarin walked after the Nagai, holding the lightsaber tightly in his hand....

*  *  *

    "This is beneath me."

    Darth Glovoc stood on the bridge of the Awaud, watching the battle unfold beyond the Mandalorian battleship's viewport. Standing behind him were a few of his fellow Sith, as well as a great deal of Mandalorians. A people whom he had waged war against thousands of years ago and slew many of... and he would do so again if given the urge.

    Standing closest to the ancient Sith, a Mandalorian by the name of Bron Vuhar tilted his head towards Glovoc. The Sith could feel his gaze through the visor of his red helmet.

    "What is beneath you?" the commando asked bitterly.

    Glovoc gestured widely at the bridge. "All of this. Being forced to work alongside Mandalorians, sworn enemies of mine."

    Vuhar growled audibly under his breath. "The feeling is mutual, if it's any consolation."

    "Hardly." Glovoc fell silent for a moment as he continued to watch starfighters dogfight out in space. When he spoke again, his voice adopted a more devious tone.

    "You know, I slayed many members of the Vuhar clan during the Mandalorian Wars."

    Vuhar said nothing, although Glovoc could feel the boiling rage exude from the Mandalorian. This was enough for the Sith to press forward.

    "Tell me, have you heard of the Trylos Massacre?"

    Vuhar's shoulders tensed but he remained silent. The smallest of smiles found a way onto Glovoc's face.

    "It was the third year of the Mandalorian Wars, in the midst of the enemy's push to take Duro. I was but a mere Jedi Knight then when Revan sent myself and two others to defend the planet from the Mandalorians. The leader of the opposing force was a man known as Arcos Vuhar.

    "The Vuhars, as I understand it, were some of Mandalore's most fiercest warriors. So it only made sense that he sent so many of them to take such a vital planet. Fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters... it was like one massive family banquet.

    "I lost a great deal of men to them on that day, as well as my fellow Jedi. One of them happened to be my sister." Glovoc let out a wistful sigh. "So, naturally, I returned the favor. I wanted to make Arcos suffer the way I had. I wanted him to feel the same pain I did. So I killed every last Mandalorian on the planet.

    "It was the very first time I had ever embraced the dark side. And believe me, their deaths were the most pleasuring sensation I had ever felt."

    Heated breathing could be heard coming from Vuhar's helmet. He pivoted towards Glovoc, his body trembling with anger....

    ...Then the door to the bridge opened. In strode the Nagai Sith known as Lokai, followed closely by a Kiffar Jedi whom the Sith had captured on Ossus. Glovoc turned to face them, his eyes narrowing.

    "What is he doing here?" the ancient Sith asked.

    Lokai did not answer him. Wordlessly, he stepped to the side, joining his fellow Sith, leaving the Jedi alone to face Darth Glovoc. The Sith Lord stared in bemusement, glancing between the Kiffar and Lokai.

    "What is the meaning of this?"

    "You have well outlived your usefulness, Lord Glovoc," said the Twi'lek Sith Xiana. "I don't think Lord Taral will mind if we did some housecleaning, especially if it is to further advance the future of the Sith."

    Glovoc scowled. "If Taral wanted me gone, he would have gotten rid of me himself."

    "Perhaps he's simply been too busy to attend with such frivolous deeds," said Lokai. "But no matter. Zarin?"

    The Jedi was shaking his head. "No. No, I won't do it. It's not the Jedi way."

    "That's never stopped you before now, has it?" Lokai said with a smirk. "Come now, what's the murder of one Sith going to do? I imagine your fellow Jedi would even praise you for performing the deed."

    Zarin cast his gaze downward, sighing heavily. "No. They wouldn't. Because it would have meant that I gave into the dark side, which I nearly did on Ossus. That... that was a sensation that I never wish to feel again."

    With that, he tossed aside the lightsaber Lokai had given him, letting it roll away.

    "I am a Jedi. Always will be. Nothing you Sith do can change that."

    Darth Glovoc sneered as he drew his own lightsaber, igniting its scarlet blade. "So be it, Jedi."

    The ancient Sith slowly strode towards Zarin, who closed his eyes in acceptance of his fate.

    Those same eyes suddenly snapped back open, wide in shock.

    "Natia," the Jedi murmured.

    Glovoc furrowed his brow in confusion until he too sensed what the Kiffar had. He looked towards the door, as did Lokai and the other Sith, all looking somewhat troubled.

    "It would appear," Lokai muttered, "that we are about to have a visitor."

    Right on cue, a powerful bast of the Force tore through the door. From it emerged a red-haired woman, eyes blazing with pure, unrestrained anger.

    Zarin stepped up to her, eyes deep with concern. "Natia? What are you doing? Why--"

    Natia silenced him with a raise of her hand. Zipping past his hand and into her open palm was the lightsaber Zarin had abandoned. Keeping her eyes on Darth Glovoc, she ignited its scarlet blade.

    Glovoc stared back at her in amusement, his lips twitching into a smirk. "Now this is just adorable. The little Jedi thinks she can take on a Lord of the Sith. How precious."

    He then spread his arms out, chuckling darkly. "What are you waiting for, child? Give in to the darkness."

    Without hesitation, Natia charged at the Sith, ignoring Zarin's protests. Glovoc laughed as he raised his blade, ready to cut down the girl once she came within his range.

    His senses overwhelmed by the power Natia was exuding, Glovoc was not aware of the sharp blade in his side until he felt himself suddenly grow weak, unable to bring his saber down. Then, the scarlet blade of his opponent drove into his chest and he felt no more.

*  *  *

    Vuhar bent down as he carefully pulled the dagger from Darth Glovoc's motionless body. As he wiped the blood from the blade, he looked up at the Sith Lord's murderer. Her expression was a chaotic clash between savage satisfaction and nauseated horror. Her Jedi friend bore only the latter expression while the other Sith simply stared in silence.

    Rising to his feet, Vuhar turned to a Mandalorian manning the ship, who was looking between Vuhar and the deceased Glovoc. Their attention snapped fully to the former when the commando spoke.

    "Tahur, concentrate all fire on the Resurgent."

    Tahur looked up at him in surprise. "What? Vuhar, that's the ship Lord Taral is on."

    "I know," Vuhar growled. "Now do as I say."

    Tahur hesitated only for a second before complying with the command. As the Awaud oriented itself to be in firing range of the Star Destroyer, Vuhar turned to his gathered audience of Jedi and Sith, glaring at them from behind his visor.

    "No longer shall the Mandalorians be pawns of the Sith. No longer shall I stand by and watch my people be thrown away like toys. Today, my kin shall be avenged.

    "Today, the dar'jetii shall fall."