Calenhad nervously tapped his foot against the floor of the Lambda class shuttle. Clan Naga Sadow had begun their assault on the Collective world of Ruuria and he was late! Battlemaster DarkHawk would not be pleased if he found out his apprentice was late. He despised inefficiency, especially within the Sith Empire. ‘I better hurry up and make myself useful then’ Calenhad thought. The Shuttle began its descent toward the planet. Fire burned in pockets throughout numerous buildings, structures that once stood as tall monuments to the power of the Collective were now reduced to rubble by the awesome might of Clan Naga Sadow. The Sadow Legion marched among the destruction, a sea of white armor garnished by dirt and blood. The Lambda shuttle touched down and Calenhad was on his feet in a moment. The ramp lowered and Calenhad bolted out of the shuttle. Calenhad ran past the mass of white until a glint of color caught his eye. He turned toward the source to see a shining captain insignia upon a soldier’s pauldron. The soldier snapped to attention and saluted Calenhad upon his arrival. “Soldier, where was Battlemaster DarkHawk last seen?” The soldier paused for a moment. “The Battlemaster went in pursuit of the enemy special forces known as the Shikari sir.” Calenhad wracked his brain for any mention of these so called Shikari. He remembered something about a group of female soldiers said to be excellent shots and stealthy combatants. Nothing more seemed to come to him so he decided to get moving. “Carry on soldier.” Calenhad walked away in pursuit of his Master. As he walked Calenhad slipped his hand into his robe and pulled out his communicator. “Heard that we get to hunt the hunters today master. Where should I meet you?” Calenhad spoke into the device. There was a moment of silence before the device cranked to life. “You will not be joining me today Calenhad. I have another assignment for you. The seniority of Clan Naga Sadow are split between the pursuit of the retreating forces as well as the search for the Shikari. I need you to work together with our military forces to keep order in what remains of the city. Am I understood?” “Of course master.” Calenhad replied. With a deep sigh Calenhad returned his communicator to his robe. He began to retrace his steps back toward the captain. As he walked he breathed deeply as the force filled him with the pain and suffering of those around him. He face remained blank but there seemed to be a little more pep to his step. “Captain” he called out as he walked toward the Sadow soldiers. “Is there a problem sir?” The captain asked, face indistinguishable under his helmet. “I’ve been reassigned to aid you in the pacification of the city.” Calenhad said. “Is there a specific area that is giving your men trouble?”
“Yes sir” the Captain said “We have encountered resistance from remnants of technocratic soldiers near the western side of town. They are holed up in a building across from the bridge and have heavy weapons in the form of an E-web sir.”
“I see” Calenhad stated. He remembered learning about the use of E-Webs during the Battle of Hoth. The Imperial Army utilizes the E-Web to suppress rebels in the trenches and allow their men to storm Rebel fortifications. The E-Web possessed an incredible rate of fire and even one shot could be deadly. It was no wonder that the Sadow troops were unable to cross the bridge into the western part of town. “Gather your men Captain, we are going to deal with that E-Web.” Calenhad and the Sadow soldiers walked toward the western edge of town. As they walked Calenhad saw medics tending to wounded Sadow soldiers. Despite his medical training, Calenhad forced himself not to aid these men. His mentor had begun to impart a dislike of wasteful activity, especially in terms of human life. The best way to end the pain of these men would be to stop the cause in the first place-the E-Web turret would have to be removed. Finally the bridge came into view. Smoking craters lined the surface of the bridge, at least the surfaces not covered by bodies in white armor. Calenhad could see the glint of metal from the building at the far end of the bridge. However he was unable to see how many men were operating the E-Web. Calenhad immersed himself in the Force. It ripples and spread all around him. He could feel the Sadow troops behind him and the lifeless bodies on the bridge. He could also feel 3 new presences, likely members of the Collective. Calenhad focused on the feeling of those men and unclipped his lightsaber from his robe. He burned the location of these men into his mind before throwing his saber low to the ground. Calenhad guided the saber with the Force, keeping it parallel to the ground and hard to detect. As it grew closer to the presences he wrenched the blade upward and into the E-Web. The time for subtlety was over. Calenhad pulled the lightsaber back into his hand using the Force. He proceeded to step forward but faltered and grimaced when he felt the exhaustion of exercising such control over the Force. Calenhad knelt down and immersed himself in the Dark Side of the Force. He could feel the lives of soldiers across Ruria being cut short during combat. The screams of wounded soldiers echoed in his ears and resonated as a twisted symphony. Calenhad stood back up, exhaustion forgotten in the suffering that was to come. Calenhad stepped forward onto the bridge. The remaining 2 Collective soldiers opened fire on Calenhad and the men advancing around him. Each shot was intercepted by a swing of Calenhad’s lightsaber and thrown harmlessly to the side. The Sadow soldiers returned fire and quickly overwhelmed the 2 sharpshooters. The Captain and his men formed a line by the door. The Captain raised his white boot and kicked out towards the door. There was a loud noise followed by a flash of light. When the light vanished there was no trace of the Captain of his men. “Ambush” a voice called out from behind Calenhad. A group of tan women with dreadlocks approached from all sides. “Shikari” Calenhad growled as the women continued to close in on the remaining Sadow soldiers. Calenhad gripped his saber tightly with both hands and prepared for the fight of his life.

Knight Joe Durham has always relished his time away from battle, for the Twelfth Great Jedi War had taken its toll on himself and Clan Taldryan; both on their numbers and the very tenets the Clan stands upon. He has meditated on ways to keep the true spirit of the clan intact during such times, but his fear for the well being of Taldryan constantly lingers in his mind. He opens his eyes from his meditation sensing the approach of someone outside his quarters.

"You may enter," he says rising to his feet.

"We have passed through the atmosphere of Chyron sir.” Joe is informed by an ensign aboard the Nebulon B Frigate Merach’s Vein.

"Very good, is Augur Rian ready to depart?" Joe questions the young naval officer.

"Yes sir, all we require is your presence in the hanger and we can depart for the surface," the ensign replies, as he and Joe exit the quarters and proceed to the lift. They arrive in the hanger which is a buzz with movement as it always is, and Joe sees Rian standing alongside a transport flanked by troopers.

"Hello Master," Joe says bowing his head.

"Hello Knight Durham, or should I say for the purposes of your mission, Detective Durham." He said with a smile.

"Are you ready to depart for the surface?" Joe asks, and Rian nods his head before they walk up the ramp into the transport.

"Let’s go." Joe says as the shuttle departs the ship under the escort of two troop transports. They fly toward the swamp portion on the surface of the planet, which unlike the vast urban regions, is covered in mist.

"Do you think that this planet may aid us in our goal?" Rian asks Joe.

"Any systems we can persuade to join Taldryan will aid us my master and any one of them could be the stone that causes the flow of history to change," Joe answered.

"All I have read of the people in this swamp point to them being a non violent species who have kept to themselves for as long as planetary records go back," Rian said.

"Well I fear that our enemies will soon be at their doorstep, and they will not be as diplomatic as us," Joe explained. "This planet would be a prime location for a Taldryan base and outpost, but at the very least we must inform these people of the danger that will soon cast a shadow over this planet, and at least…" he says before pausing, unable to ignore a feeling growing in his mind, growing like ripples through the Force.

"What is it?" Rian questioned, feeling Joe’s unease.

"Something is wrong here," Joe said looking to the window and looking out upon the terrain, the feeling growing stronger in his mind.

"You sense the darkness, Joe?" Rian asked with a concerned voice, fear beginning to etch itself upon his face.

"No not darkness master, but I sense that something is out of place here," Joe said as they passed over one last range of hills and glide over an open green field of long grass, patches of wildflowers, and scattered dwarf trees. Behind it is a city of huge buildings resting upon a plateau in the shadow of a set of hills.

"Set down just outside of the city." Joe said as the transport landed.

"Commander, I need to borrow one of the transports, and a pilot," Joe said to the leader of the troops who had accompanied them, before reaching the end of the ramp.

"Do you need me to accompany you sir?"
Commander Raylen said saluting.

"No, I do not believe we are in danger, please escort master Rian to the city.’’Obi-Wan said.

“Understood sir.” Raylen said nodding.

"What could be of such importance that you would not accompany me to the city?" Rian questioned.

"The Force master, it draws me to something upon the world, and the will of the Force should not and cannot be ignored," Joe said walking to one of the troop transports, as Commander Raylen motioned for two of his men to accompany him.

"I will return soon, but do not keep their leaders waiting," Joe said as he stepped onto the transport and it lifted slowly from the ground climbing into the air high enough to pass over the hills, and flying back toward the swamps.

"There, land in that clearing," Joe said, pointing out the side of the transport.

"Yes sir." the pilot replied with a nod of his helmet, as he descended slowly and hovered over the swamp, dropping delicately down through the hole in the foliage and settling on patch of solid ground.

"We will accompany you sir." one of the soldiers said stepping off the transport holding a blaster rifle.

"No, I will be fine, stay here." Joe ordered holding out his hand, as he vanished into the mists of the swamp.

Several Hours later

"It can't be!" Joe said to himself as he pressed even deeper into the swamp until he came upon another small clearing hidden underneath a tight ceiling of foliage blocking out all but a few thin strands of sunlight. There was a small structure at the back of the clearing snuggled between two trees, the smoke of a fire still floating upon the air.

"Hello, is anybody…" but before he could complete his sentence he found himself reaching for one of his lightsabers and turned his eyes up to the trees where a cloaked form fell from the boughs, one of the few strands of sunlight gleaming off the red blade of its lightsaber. Joe rolled out of the way and rose to his feet just in time to parry the forms strike, before he extended his hand and reached through the Force to push the form away, at the same time blowing the hood from its head.

"That’s impossible!" Joe said in disbelief, lowering his green lightsaber to his side.

"Master, but it cannot be, I killed you!" he mumbled continuing to stare upon his former master and nemesis.

"But yet here I stand." Said Kromtal.

“How, I felt you die!” Joe said anger rising in his voice.

"That is of no concern of yours Durham; the only question that matters is how did you find me here, why can’t you just leave me alone?!" He demanded as he drew another lightsaber from inside his cloak.

"Wait Kromtal, I do not wish to fight you, I am only here on a diplomatic mission to seize control of this system for Clan Taldryan" Joe explained.

"Finding you here was the will of the Force!"
He said dodging a lightsaber swing aimed for his head.
He parried another strike with his lightsaber then jumped back.

“LISTEN TO ME!” He exclaimed, desperation in his voice. “Aren’t you tired of this back and forth, of constantly being on the run, homeless, despised by the entire Brotherhood.” Joe said, his voice beginning to strain. “ While you’ve been busy trying to dismantle the Brotherhood, Taldryan’s numbers have been depleted, the Clan on the brink of annihilation, Barely clinging to life!” Joe explained, his voice cold enough to send chills down the spine of a krayt dragon.

“ Enough give up this charade, Rian is willing to accept you back with open arms. Once a brother always a brother.” Joe explained, putting away his lightsaber.

"Then in spite of everything I have done, the things I had hoped to leave behind have found me.” Kromtal said, falling to his knees.

"The Force, the Brotherhood, the Clan, I only seek to be as far away as possible from you all, and still you find me," he said turning his gaze to him; one that was once was full of animus and hate, now somber and fearful, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"You cannot run from that which your destiny and fate are intertwined," Joe said, offering a hand to his former master.

"What destiny, what fate?!" Kromtal questioned, slapping away Joe’s hand.

"I have betrayed and killed those closest to me, and I have slain too many brothers and sisters to ever even consider the possibility of forgiveness!" He said, his face a deep abyss of darkness and despair.

"You belong in the Brotherhood, Taldryan is your home, Sith Bloodfyre would never have wanted the path of a traitor placed you upon, nor would he want you living in solitude when you could be so much more," Joe explained, trying to mask his sorrow for his former master, as he felt the turmoil going on inside his once enemy.

"Forget it Durham, I am evil, it is all I will ever be," Kromtal said dropping his head.

"It is all I have ever known, even before I set upon this path." He said rubbing his fingers over his temples.

"I bear the marks to prove it," He said looking up into the boughs of the trees, a single strand of golden sunlight falling upon his face.

"I am worshiped as the God of Death among these savages, because that is all that I have known, all I have brought to this galaxy," He says somberly, a tear streaming down his face before he turned away.

"Then become something more, become what your former master would have wanted you to be!" Joe all but begged, but Kromtal only turned to him, his face wearing a wide grin.

"A member of the Brotherhood?," He said shaking his head.

"The Brotherhood would never allow me within a parsec of Antei!" He blurted.

"You would not be the first Dark Jedi who was brought back Kromtal."

"There is nothing to be brought back to Joe, no good deeds, no acts of selflessness, there is nothing but evil in my past,” He said.

"You told me to protect the the clan from the darkness, you said that perhaps I was right about you, and I still believe that I am." Joe said sincerely as he held out his hand to him.

"Your history is only full of dark deeds because you chose to make it that way by to living here in exile," he explains to Kromtal. "Write yourself a new history."

"Why do you care so much, I have tried to take your life on more than one occasion, why would you trust me, why is this so important to you," Kromtal questioned him, his eyes yearning for a something to hold on to, something real.

"Because I know that there is still good in you; I know you can do great things if you can only get past your guilt, your feelings of betrayal, you can be more than you ever were." Joe said as Kromtal dropped his head.

"It would be nice to be something more than a mere assassin or an exiled failure," Kromtal said, and Joe could feel Kromtal’s thoughts and feelings conceding to his words, but not for all the reasons that he would’ve liked.

"I do owe you for relieving me of my hatred and malice," Kromtal said sincerely.

"Then you will leave this place of solitude and return with me to the clan?" Joe questioned.

"If you can convince the Brotherhood to accept and welcome me, then such a miracle would convince me to stay and see what I can become under your guidance."Kromtal answered, as Joe finally approached him.

"But if not, you must agree to let me go, and never seek me out again," He said, as Joe nodded his head.

"Then I will return with you."
Kromtal said and they made their way back to the transport.

Upon the desolate world of Iktoch the symbol of the Republic sat engraved into the sandy ground. It had been carved by early Iktochi millennia ago as a beacon to the early Republic. The Iktochi race served the Jedi order well, excellent seers and pilots who could not only predict the future, but work to change it. This rich history of his mighty people surrounded Calenhad as he knelt by the engraved symbol. Truthfully, Calenhad had other things to do right now. The last thing Calenhad desired was to enrage his master. Battlemaster DarkHawk was already a fearsome training partner without excess anger fueling him. Calenhad felt a shiver travel down his spine as he remembered the pain his master could inflict. Calenhad had been younger then, perhaps around age 14, and enamored with the power the Force could grant him. He had attempted a foolish frontal assault against an opponent who could crush him in an instant-which he had no problem doing. As Calenhad charged toward his opponent, saber held high and the Dark Side flowing to his legs, DarkHawk seemed completely at ease. With barely any effort used he raised his right hand and aimed it toward Calenhad. Lightning shot forth and slammed into Calenhad’s advancing form. “Augh” Calenhad screamed out as his nerves burned from the electricity. DarkHawk lowered his hand a moment later, mercifully allowing Calenhad to collapse to the floor. “It is beyond foolish to charge head on against an opponent who is clearly stronger than you. You must test his defenses and find his weakness before he can utterly destroy you. It is a task easier said than done, but you are still young. I am confident that with time you will learn. If not, then you will die for making me waste my time. Am I understood?” DarkHawk watched his apprentice stand on shaking legs with yellow eyes blazing in anger. “Yes, my master” Calenhad said with teeth grinding against each other. DarkHawk then drew his lightsaber and ignited the brilliant blue blade. “Now we shall test your skill with a saber. Rest assured I shall not electrocute you this time.”
Calenhad drew his focus back to the present when he heard the whine of a ship’s engine. Perhaps this is why the Force had demanded he come to his home world. It had sent him a vision after all. Two blurry figures wielded blue and red lightsabers which crashed against each other. The carving of the Republic symbol glowed before the vision ended. ‘I must stop getting distracted so easily’ Calenhad thought to himself as he felt a presence in the Force coming closer. The presence reeked of the light side and seemed to almost overpower Calenhad’s senses. “Jedi” Calenhad growled as he stood up and grabbed his lightsaber from his belt. The presence grew closer and closer until Calenhad could see the outline of a feminine figure. The figure walked even closer and revealed light green skin with lidless eyes and tendrils hanging from her head. It was the woman who killed his family and kidnapped his brother! “Rargh” Calenhad yelled in rage as he ignited his saber and charged toward the woman. The Dark Side purred in pleasure as hate fueled his charge. The woman reacted instantly, igniting her lightsaber and catching Calenhad’s blow with one hand. “Have we met before?” She asked curiously. “Where is my brother?!” Calenhad shouted, practically frothing in rage. “You’ll have to be more clear than that. I’ve killed many Sith over the years.” She said condescendingly. Calenhad broke the saber lock and brought his blade up for another strike. “Where is Mordred!” He screamed as he swung with all of his power. Once again the blow was easily deflected by the Jedi. She began to chuckle as she said “Little Mordred had a brother this entire time, how quaint.” Calenhad growled as he threw his lightsaber towards his opponent. The blade spun, forming a disc of red energy which hurtled toward the Jedi. The Jedi raised her hand and enveloped the blade with the Force. The blade’s speed began to slow until it fell harmlessly into the sand. The Jedi glanced back toward Calenhad only to see a cloud of black smoke. “Petty tricks will not help you” She smugly said, as she remained standing in place. The Force warned her of an incoming threat so the Jedi threw herself to the left. A throwing knife flew past where her head was. “Getting better now but you still haven’t put a scratch on me.” The smoke cleared to reveal Calenhad charging toward her position. “My my, you still haven’t learned a thing” She said, while shaking her head in exasperation. Then Calenhad’s form began to blur. ‘He’s an illusion’ she thought in horror. ‘Behind’ the Force screamed as the Jedi spun to confront her foe. Calenhad’s vibroblade was swung downward with a vengeance, but it never met its foe. The Jedi swung her lightsaber faster than the eye could track, it arced upward into Calenhad’s face, narrowly missing his left eye. “Augh” Calenhad screamed in pain as he fell to his knees. The Jedi walked forward and kicked the vibroblade away with contemptuous ease. “I guess there is a reason the Force guided me to your brother after all. You are far too weak to have been chosen as my apprentice.” The Jedi then noticed Calenhad getting back to his feet. The Jedi threw her left leg into a textbook sidekick, which smashed into Calenhad’s right knee. The bone shattered and Calenhad collapsed screaming in pain. “Now now, you shouldn’t be so loud, some unsavory person may hear you and come to finish the job.” The Jedi looked down at her broken foe. “I suppose as an apology for what happened to your family I shall spare you this one time. If we happen to cross paths again that will not be the case.” The Jedi turned on her heel and walked away, leaving the injured Sith to his fate.