STAR WARS: EPISODE X – EDGE OF THE GALAXY

by Matthew Holmes

The Star Wars saga continues in Episode X of my fan fiction trilogy, set 20 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….

STAR WARS

Episode X
EDGE OF THE GALAXY

THE GRAND REPUBLIC is restored and rapidly growing since the decisive victory over the Imperialist FINAL ORDER and the destruction of Emperor Palpatine.

With new expansion into the Unknown Regions, numerous Republic ships have recently gone missing, fueling rumors and fears of a new threat, prompting THE GRAND REPUBLIC to send a fleet to the mysterious region.

At the edge of the known galaxy, a scout ship piloted by Rey Skywalker is flying out ahead of this fleet. Surrounded by the vast darkness of space, the Jedi Master does not sense anything unusual in the Force….

STAR WARS: EDGE OF THE GALAXY

56 ABY: 56 Years After The Battle of Yavin

The Unknown Regions

“Alright, let’s make sure we have our game faces on for this mission. If there’s any truth to these rumors, I’m not about to get sucked up into darkness while making jokes about it,” says Jedi Master Rey Skywalker. “Oh, c’mon Rey, we all know the best way to go is with a fun sense of humor,” replies Captain Bridgewater. Rey smiles, “yeah, sure,” says the one in a big cruiser, not leaving the galaxy.” “You’ve got me there,” Bridgewater concedes. Rey’s ship is out ahead of the Grand Republic Fleet. Bridgewater had agreed to go on the mission because she believes in the Jedi and specifically Rey herself. As their heart-to-heart conversation ends, Rey Skywalker’s tiny scout ship disappears from the Republic Fleet’s view, and they lose contact.

Several massive crafts appear where Rey’s scout ship had just disappeared from their point of view. The odd-looking unknown crafts are slowly closing in on the Grand Republic Fleet from a distance. “Rey, are you there? Rey, can you hear me?” Questions Captain Bridgewater on their broadcast. Feeling apprehensive, Lieutenant Claaz reports, “unknown crafts approaching, shall we hold?” Captain Bridgewater answers, “yes, of course. You know the drill, Lieutenant.” Claaz adds, “Captain, we’re scanning these things, and they’re organic?” Bridgewater has a confused reaction, “okay, so these ships are alive? So, did they just eat Master Skywalker?” A confused Claaz says, “Captain, I don’t like this.” Bridgewater agrees, “I know. I don’t know what to do.” She thinks about it deeply while slowing down her breathing. Bridgewater looks out at the menacing crafts and states, “we’re going to make a stand, and we’re not going to leave Skywalker.” She gives the order to Claaz, “send this message to the Chancellor. We have made contact with a group of unknown large crafts. If they’re hostile to us, and we do not survive, prepare the Republic for the worst. End message.” After a short moment of computation, Claaz replies, “message is sent to the closest Republic planet. They’ll hopefully receive it, Captain.”

With no provocation by Captain Bridgewater and the Grand Republic Fleet, one of the unknown large craft shoots a single blast at a Republic ship next to the lead cruiser. Instead of blowing up, it swirls unto itself, breaking apart, separating into different directions as an energized concussion is felt by the entire crew. Captain Bridgewater yells out, “Full alert! These crafts are hostile! All ships fire main guns!” As the Republic firepower hits the hostile crafts, the blasts are absorbed with no damage being inflicted to them. “Nothing, Bridgewater! It did nothing to those crafts!” Captain Darragon from another Republic ship yells out, “we’re getting out of here! All ships retreat!” Captain Bridgewater answers angrily, “we’re not leaving Skywalker, Darragon!” “Yes, we are!” Yells the other fleeing officer. The five remaining Republic ships turn around to make a run for it, yet one by one, they’re being destroyed by the unknown hostile crafts. Once hit, each ship similarly swirls unto themselves, breaking apart into destruction.

Scared for his life, Claaz yells, “Oh no! It’s just us! What do we do!?” Captain Bridgewater calmly gives an order, “sound the alert, Lieutenant. We have no choice. Abandon ship. We must get to the escape pods and save as many of the crew as we can.” Captain Bridgewater messages to all on board, “all personnel, abandon ship! Get to the escape pods!” Bridgewater moves towards her Lieutenant and reaches her hand out, “follow me, Claaz, we gotta get off this ship!” They both run to an escape pod when their ship gets hit by one of the large crafts! The blast throws Bridgewater into the pod, knocking her out, as Claaz holds onto the opening while slamming the button down to close the door. Claaz pulls a lever, and their escape pod blasts away! It gets knocked out of the swirling debris like a rock being thrown out of the wreckage. In the distance, their once large, perfect Republic ship is breaking apart while swirling into destruction. The other escape pods with Republic soldiers in them are being sucked into the swirling energy of the blast. An unconscious Bridgewater, a scared Claaz, in their escape pod and a missing Jedi Master in a scout ship are all that’s left of the Fleet. All other ships and escape pods are being wiped out by the blasts and the vacuum of energy, debris, and destruction of the one-sided battle.

Chandrila: Capital of the Republic

On the planet of Chandrila, the Republic Capital, a young Jedi Knight, Mace Skywalker, is walking in the gardens of the Jedi Temple. A teenager in age but an old soul at heart, Mace enjoyed his young life as a Jedi. His famous parents are an annoyance at times, Finn and Rey, but both inspire him to help continue the long line of Jedi leadership in the Republic. Mace’s close group of friends also happened to be the New Jedi Order, whom his mother Rey had sent out a calling for years earlier during the fall of the First Order. Parents of Force-sensitive children had answered her call and sent their children, as others came on their own to Chandrila in the hope to learn the ways of the Force, serve the galaxy, and defend the Grand Republic from potential threats from the dark side of the Force. Mace is quietly stepping on a path beside plants of all kinds. Deep down in his feelings, he senses danger. This sensation he had never felt before. It’s a tingling of uncertainty that he may never see his mother again. He knew, and the whole galaxy knew of the mission of the Grand Republic to check out the edge of the known galaxy. Everyone thinks it’s a waste of time and just a ghost chase that will turn out to be nothing. Perhaps he and millions of Republic citizens are wrong. Maybe everything just went wrong, but still, it’s just a feeling and a sensation in Mace’s body and mind. “Hey Lew!” As Mace sees Lewbacca up ahead on the path near the Jedi Temple. Lewbacca, who is a Jedi like Mace, but a Wookiee whose lineage is the nephew of the galactic hero Chewbacca, turns and stops, roaring back, “what just happened Mace?” Mace replies to his friend, “I know, Lewbacca, I felt it too. What could have happened? Let’s go get an update because maybe it’s just us.” Yet their feelings were not off. On the Holonet channel, Queen of the Core, the galactic news is reporting that the Republic Fleet led by Captain Bridgewater had messaged Chancellor Cala O’Taz about a large group of unknown crafts that were possibly hostile, but communication was cut off, and now O’Taz believes the Republic Fleet could be lost.

Jedi Master Kyle Phyto, a human male from Sulon and a former First Order stormtrooper like Finn, is sitting in meditation. In order to prove his loyalty, following the fall of the First Order, he and many others performed numerous special missions for the Grand Republic. Whether it was spying, sabotage, or fighting Republic enemies, Phyto always knew he was Force-sensitive, but only with the Grand Republic and help from Rey and Finn had he trained and learned to become a Jedi. These days, he is advanced enough to be a Jedi Master and teaches at the Jedi Temple on Chandrila. As Mace and Chewbacca run in on Kyle, meditating in a small side chamber to tell him the news, his anxiety and struggle become clear to him. There is a new threat in the galaxy. What it is, Kyle can’t put a finger on it, but it’s big and dangerous, and he worries about what to tell the two teens who clearly look scared in front of him after what they had just heard on the Holonet.

Master Kyle Phyto gently and quietly says, “Now, boys, before you start, please know you have interrupted a master by barging in without the manners we teach you. Understood?”Sorry, Master Phyto,” Mace looks down at the floor, embarrassed. Lewbacca roars, “Sorry.” Kyle, sitting quietly and looking at the two, asks without it even sounding like a question, “what has the Chancellor said about the situation out there?” He is the calmest Jedi that Mace ever knew, thinking to himself. Mace says loudly, “Master, the fleet and my mother! They’re all thought to be killed! O’Taz heard that it was a large group of ships, and they were hostile! Then nothing and the Republic Fleet disappeared!” Kyle looks at Mace, suffering, and wants to ease his pain, teaching, “we can only assume two positions, Mace and Lewbacca. One, Master Skywalker, and everyone has become one with the Force, and if so, we should honor them and remember them with our love. Two, your mother and the others are still alive, and they need our help. Don’t overthink every possible thing that could have happened. Understand, my young ones?” Mace, with teary eyes, says, “Yes, sir.” “We understand,” Lewbacca says. Sensing Mace’s anguish, he roars a cry, “What do we do?” Kyle stands up and finishes by saying, “Let’s believe the latter, go fetch Master Finn, and go figure this out ourselves. How does that sound, boys?” Mace and Lewbacca both have big smiles upon hearing him, wiping the tears from their eyes. If Master Phyto has hope, then there’s hope.

The Chancellor’s office is buzzing in Hanna City, near the Jedi Temple on Chandrila. Cala O’Taz has been stressing the importance of today’s event about the edge of the known galaxy, labeling it as “Wild Space,” to the media, his aides, and disillusioned Senators. His warnings are met with skepticism. No one thinks much of it, other than it doesn’t affect them, and nobody knows what to do about it anyway. Luckily for the Chancellor, sitting across his desk, was the determined robed Jedi Master Finn, who still felt Rey’s distant presence since she disappeared from the Republic Fleet. Finn is certain Rey is still alive. As Chancellor O’Taz pauses in thought, Finn is beginning to realize that it’s going to be up to him and his Jedi allies to actually do something about the current events. Yet despite this, Finn continues to be there for O’Taz, as he knows that’s what his wife would want him to do.

Even though the Jedi Knights are mostly young, O’Taz, being from Alderaan, began his service in galactic affairs at an even younger age, so he believes age is irrelevant in many respects and knew the importance of the Jedi Order in preserving peace in the galaxy. In his older years now, Cala O’Taz was elected by his peers as Chancellor, and although the New Republic was decimated from the war with the First Order, his Alderaanian leadership has grown the Grand Republic to power with peaceful commerce. Now, today’s trouble could be an act of war in the Unknown Regions of wild space, having lost their Republic Fleet. O’Taz comments to Jedi Master Finn, “Typical galactic politics, and nothing is done until the enemy is already at our doorstep.” Finn replies, “an enemy we know very little about. You must let us go, Chancellor. This is Jedi business. Our knights are up to the task. Give us the clearance and resources. Rey is still out there, and she needs us.” O’Taz looks somberly at the Jedi Master, thinking things over.

Dantooine

Aboard a large organic living ship as it approaches the planet Dantooine, “Warmaster, what do we do with our prisoners?” says a Chazrach soldier. “Send her back to our home world and keep the other two on board to bargain if need be.” “Yes, Master,” replies the soldier. The Warmaster claims, “These planets are full of species who are abusing life itself. Their machines and waste are destroying the universe. And the evil of all of it, the Jedi.” Another soldier yells out, “Master, we’re coming up on a new planet!” The Warmaster smiles and orders, “start with this pathetic place, and wipe it out. We will take over this region and cleanse it of these species. It’s finally time for the Chazrach to rule this galaxy. Send down our ships. We will conquer all of them.”

“We must surrender,” says the aide of Zaz El, who’s scared for their lives. El is a tribal leader on the farming planet of Dantooine. Their small population with a scarce defense force is a perfect starting point for the Chazrach invasion. “There are massive ships in our skies. Our weapons have no impact on them, so I will go out myself to end this,” says Zaz El. As a large ship approaches the ground, Zaz El approaches it. The mouth of the ship opens up as a party of three, and one Chazrach is clearly a leader. Being dressed more extravagantly than the others, he walks toward the Dantooine leader.

“This is Warmaster Chokar, and you will bow before him or die,” says one of the beastly guards. Zaz El’s aide bows down as El is still standing proudly. He is shaken by this but begins to explain his side of things. “I am here to officially surrender to your forces, Warmaster, so please let us live, and we will lay down our arms.” Chokar smiles upon hearing this and begins to speak in a menacing deep voice, “you will abandon your machines and begin working for me and growing our life. We are now your masters.” Zaz El, in stunned silence, thinks on his words and counters, “what if we don’t follow your subjugation?” “Then you will die,” says the Warmaster. “Very well, and what can we do to help you?” Zaz El asks. Chokar angrily answers, “You will not be helping us with anything. Your subject, who has honored me with bowing to my rule, is now your people’s voice. You have failed to listen to my first order.” With that, the Warmaster walks up to Zaz El and grabs him by his head, picking him up and squeezing his head into itself, crushing him to death. His aide falls down in a stunned reaction of pain and sorrow. “What is your name, young one?” Chokar asks the aide. “I’m Maraz El, and you just, you just murdered my father!” Chokar is satisfied with himself even more. “Would you like to have the same fate as your father, or are you willing to serve me?” asks Chokar. “I will serve you, Warmaster,” Maraz says, trembling on the ground. “Then you will order your people to begin growing our life here immediately,” Chokar says with delight.

Bimmiel

Bimmiel is another planet in the Outer Rim territories of the galaxy with an elliptical orbit around a primary star. As it nears its sun, its ice caps melt, increasing the moisture and plant growth of the planet, and it’s another perfect launch point for Chazrach conquest. They already took Dantooine because it was easy pickings with little resistance, and now Bimmiel is going to be the best place for them to grow their technology in the new galaxy. “Warmaster Shimrach, this is a perfect place for our life,” says a Chazrach soldier to the side of him aboard the lead ship at Bimmiel. “Yes, my brother, we will occupy this world and base our growth here to replenish any losses we may have against these species,” says Shimrach. The Chazrach are taking planet by planet as they spread throughout the Outer Rim. Their forces are so plentiful that they’re in multiple places with Warmasters leading each group with many ships and thousands of Chazrach soldiers. The invasion of the galaxy had begun in full swing.

Due to its distance from the Core Worlds, the galactic Outer Rim lacks the Grand Republic’s control to a large extent. Throughout its history, the Outer Rim had little authority due to the vast expanses of space in the region. Once the Holonet in the Core Worlds broadcast the news that Dantooine, Bimmiel, Ithor, and Dubrillion have been conquered in a matter of hours, it comes to no surprise for many in the galaxy. So, Chancellor O’Taz had not only agreed with Finn but decided to go with him and the Jedi on their mission. They’re already on their way to the Outer Rim to make contact, but the politicians on Chandrila are waiting for an update from the Chancellor, who was correct of the situation that had arisen. The Senate had spun the bad news that the Chancellor did not give them enough information, and he was acting unilaterally with the Jedi in an ill-advised attempt at peace. How quickly politicians in the galaxy flip-flopped is stunning to those who knew how against they were fighting a war earlier in the same day. The Holonet continues to broadcast how one by one the Outer Rim planets had fallen to the hands of the Chazrach, who are super strong beings from the Unknown Regions of wild space and are now clearly hostile to the Grand Republic. They resemble humans in form, although they are much larger and have reptilian features. The Chazrach are religious fanatics worshiping a power from wherever they come from and are brilliant at building organic and genetically engineered ships, weapons, and creatures. Yet for all of the Chazrach’s technological advances, they view all other species of beings who aren’t them as blasphemous and weak, which must be either wiped out or ruled over forever.

Hyperspace on the way to Obroa-Skai

Aboard the Chancellor’s personal ship, there’s a disagreement about who’s to be the pilots, but Chancellor O’Taz wouldn’t have it any other way. “I have the two best pilots in the galaxy,” O’Taz claims. Dash Raksen and Tycho Raksen are brothers from Obroa-Skai, and they have outperformed the very best the Grand Republic has to offer in talent. Both had been assigned to the Chancellor as an honor of their skills. Kyle still argues against a ship full of Jedi being piloted by two non-Force sensitives. “Dash and Tycho will be up for the job, Master Phyto,” asserts O’Taz. “We won’t let you down, Chancellor,” Dash answers. His brother Tycho checks the mapping, following up with “we’re coming up on Obroa-Skai and we grew up there, so we know it better than anyone. You can trust us, Master Jedi.” The Raksens were making sense, and Kyle knew to trust the Force. It could not be mere coincidence that the very pilots they have were from the planet they’re now approaching. By the Force, whatever is ahead of them, they may need their knowledge of the planet to survive the day.

Meanwhile, in the galley of the ship, Mace, Lewbacca, Corran, Raef, Chase, Temiri, Hal, Azuree, Soles, Anna, and Forisa are arguing, while Finn is listening in silence. The boys are explaining to the girls how to build a lightsaber and which colors are the best. The girls disagree wholeheartedly, arguing that just because a lightsaber is pink or purple doesn’t mean it’s a weaker weapon. The one to break up the argument is Mace. “Now listen, everyone, there was a Jedi by the name of Jedi Master Mace Windu. I’m named after him, you know,” Mace shares. “We know,” interrupts Raef. Mace looks at him and continues, “he had a purple lightsaber, and he was one of the strongest members the Jedi ever had. He was on the Jedi Council and was a warrior like no other. There is nothing wrong with what color a lightsaber is, so stop being jerks,” Mace says. Finn smiles in pride at his son’s reasoning but says nothing. Everyone else stops and pauses in thought. Hal says, “Mace is right. He’s named after a Jedi that has a purple lightsaber. That explains everything!” The boys laugh, and the girls even chuckle and smirk, except for one of the girls, Soles. She looks at Mace fondly and says, “I think it’s really cool that you’re named after Master Windu. I read about him in one of our classes. Everything is true about him.” Mace felt the warmth radiating from Soles’s words, as she had always comforted him. Smiling, he is about to say something to her, but Master Phyto walks in with a worried look on his face. Finn stares at Kyle, and they nod to each other.

Signaling for them to be quiet, Kyle begins speaking in a soft, gentle voice. “We are at Obroa-Skai, but we’re surrounded.” The group of Jedi all look at their masters in terror. “It’s okay,” Kyle soothes, whispering, “Stay calm because this ship has a brand new cloaking device and new technology to hide our life signatures. All of these surrounding ships do not know we are among them.” Master Phyto continues very softly, “you all stay where you are and don’t make a sound. Practice your meditations, but do not reach out from yourself. I’m going back to the front and will update you when need be, and may the Force be with us. Finn, can you come up to the cockpit with me?” Finn nods, and they leave the Knights. The teens look at one another with a new sense of companionship as their lives are now in danger together. This was their first test. None of them thought meditating was going to be how they started their war careers serving the galaxy, but they followed Master Phyto’s commands and sat down, focusing to stay within themselves as instructed. Back in the cockpit of the ship, Chancellor O’Taz is finishing up a message to the Senate on Chandrila, whispering, “and once this Declaration is official, please send the order for all Republic ships to gather where you are at Chandrila. You must defend the Republic Capital at all costs, but send our Fleet to attack if you think you have a shot at stopping the invasion. This is Chancellor O’Taz signing off.” “Nice speech,” Finn says quietly, chuckling, “you really brought the fire on that one.” “Very funny,” a smiling O’Taz says. One of the pilots, Dash, turns back and whispers, “I thought it was inspiring, especially not sending the Republic Fleet to save us part.” Kyle looks at all of them in concern. Dash is right. They have to figure out what to do and how to do it fast. This is a dangerous situation, and he knows they could use help to pull off whatever they’re about to face. At least what they have going for them is a strategic advantage of Dash and Tycho knowing their home planet of Obrai-Skai.

Obroa-Skai

Obroa-Skai is famous for its libraries and wealth of galactic history. It’s also populated with many Republic citizens and large buildings and structures reaching tall heights. The Jedi mission is already changing because Dash and Tycho are pleading to go to their homes in an attempt to save their families and friends. Then, if possible, make a run to the Celebratus Archive to save galactic historic records. Kyle and Finn agree with the pilots’ reasoning to put people’s lives ahead of the archive records. Their small cloaked ship makes its way towards the surface ahead of the incoming force of slower, larger invading Chazrach ships. Upon landing on Obroa-Skai, the two Jedi Masters order the group to stay on the ship as Dash and Tycho run past them and down the ramp to their neighborhood in a medical facility area of the planet. Chase is the youngest of the teens at thirteen years old, so when he says, “I’m fine being on the ship,” the others agree and laugh at the truth that Chase isn’t the only one who’s apprehensive. Meanwhile, in the plaza, there are digital screens of leaders issuing an evacuation to the Celebratus Archive. This is the very place the brothers had argued to go to second after this rescue effort of their family and friends. Frustrated and hurt, they begin running back to the ship while in the skies above, numerous transports are taking off in an attempt to escape the Chazrach invasion.

At the bottom of the landing ramp, Kyle and Finn watch a desperate scene unfold in front of their eyes as ship after ship is being hit with blasts of energy they have never seen before from the large invading craft. The impact of the blasts is troubling too because the mechanical fleeing transports are not blowing up but being sucked into themselves, breaking apart in a swirl of debris, a certain death sentence to all on board. Dash and Tycho make it back to them without anyone. “We gotta get to the Celebratus Archive! The evacuation order needs to be there! There is no one here! We messed up,” yells Tycho. The four scared adults run past the confused group of teens in the ship, and Kyle quickly explains what is going on more loudly than usual. “We’re heading to the library where we think the most civilians are! There is no one here to help! Stay put for now because we’re taking off! Get ready for our next landing!” “Yes, Master,” says Mace as the others are shocked at Master Phyto commanding so loudly and frantically for the first time. This was war, and lots of things could happen. Soles thought to herself as Azuree comments, “I love libraries, but I never thought I’d be fighting a war in one.” Forisa answers, “if all else fails, we can study for our tests!” Not even Master Phyto could be calm about things, yelling out the plan, but Raef, Hal, and Corran are convinced that they’re being deliberately misled. After Forisa’s joke, Raef says to the group, “First, they tell us to meditate on the way here, and now we land in a place empty of people. What’s going to happen to us next?” Hal agrees, continuing Raef’s line of thought, “if it were up to me, we would be getting out of this mess.” Then Corran tops it off, saying, “I’ve got a bad feeling about what’s going to happen to us.” The others don’t say a word, not wanting to argue at a time like this. They all know Raef, Hal, and Corran like to stir things up and question their Masters’ decisions. The ship makes its way to the library as fast as it can fly low and lands at the plaza in front of the main entrance.

At the Celebratus Archive on Obroa-Skai, the doors are opened by Kyle using the Force, along with Finn and the others who enter the building with him. Following closely behind the group is Chancellor O’Taz, with Dash and Tycho, now in position as bodyguards. “They left us!” Yells a woman who is running towards them in the library. She runs into Kyle’s arms, weeping and frantically saying, “they left us! They left us!” Kyle embraces her and asks, “Who left you?” The woman steps back from him, wiping the tears from her eyes, and explains, “everyone left us, from our council to our leaders to our defense forces. They took the only ships that we had in this entire sector of the planet. We have nowhere to go!” A puzzled Kyle questions, “who is ‘we’?” The woman signals them to follow her, “I’ll show you this way.” As the group walks down staircase after staircase, going further into the massive structure that was this library, Kyle and Finn could feel an enormous amount of fear and confusion below them. Finn looks back at Mace and Lewbacca. “I feel it too, Dad,” says Mace, and Lewbacca moans, “so much suffering. What is going on?” Finn looks at the Wookiee, saying, “I don’t know, Lewbacca. There’s something not right here.” They finally get to the underground level the woman was leading them to, and upon her opening a large secured door, an open auditorium as big as a large hall or temple appears before them. The space was massive, but that was not the shocking part because it was completely full of thousands of Republic civilians.

After the initial shock of seeing the refugees, they walk through the crowd of people that are gathered. They ask questions and listen intently. One man says, “we saw the broadcast to come here immediately and not leave the planet on our own. We thought we were going to be evacuated and not stuck down here.” Another woman asks Soles and Anna, “What is coming for us? Monsters from an unknown galaxy? What do we do?” The two teens don’t have an answer, but Anna assures her, “we’re going to do everything we can to help.” Soles talks to the woman’s little boys, asking light questions about the library to help keep their minds off things. “Do you have a favorite animal?” One of the boys answers, “I like tauntauns.” Soles said, “I bet your mom can find you lots of tauntaun books upstairs in the library once you and everyone here are safe.” The little boy says, “Okay, that would be fun,” and he smiles, feeling better. Soles looks at the boy’s mother as they smile and nod together. Chancellor O’Taz is busy talking to Kyle, Finn, and the woman who’s clearly the leader of the refugees. O’Taz states to them, “this is where we make our stand. I don’t like it, but we can’t abandon these people and the rest of the planet. There is too much to lose here in life and history.” “Agreed,” said Kyle. “Thank you, Chancellor. These people will hopefully be backing your next election if we survive to do so,” says the woman with a smile. “So what can I do to help?” O’Taz pauses and then asks, “Would you happen to know where the communication station is in this library to get a message out to the galaxy?” “I’m the Head Curator of Celebratus, Marieene Arista. Of course, I do. It’s on the main level, but I’ve already tried so many times, and nobody has answered my pleas for help.” O’Taz answers, “Hmmmm… this invasion must be worse than we thought. Who knows how many planets and systems are falling as we speak.”

“Admiral Dameron, you’re a hard man to find these days, but it’s reassuring to hear your voice,” says Chancellor O’Taz at the communications monitor on the main floor with Marieene listening at his side. “I know, Chancellor. My Fleet has been tied up at Bastion cleaning up the last of the First Order Remnant as the Senate had decided some time ago. It proved to be more difficult than we thought, but with current events, it all seems irrelevant now,” Poe sadly replies. “The past is the past, Poe, and now the stakes could not be any higher, so where are you currently?” O’Taz somberly asks. “We’re now at Chandrila following the orders of the Senate,” Poe answers. “The Senate has been pushing me to stay here and defend them, obviously,” Poe says with a chuckle, then switches to a more serious tone. “I really wanted to hear from you personally, and I am relieved that you are okay at the moment.” O’Taz knew they didn’t have much time where he and the refugees would be okay, as Poe put it, so he began to explain the situation. “I am among thousands of refugees hidden on Obroa-Skai at the Celebratus Archive, and who knows how many more are hiding around the planet. The invasion is here now, and we don’t have much time. Please show the video clip I’m sending to you to the Senate. My hope is they see that Obroa-Skai is where we have to make our stand. The Grand Republic is bigger than one planet, and everyone who lives in the galaxy matters. We have already lost and given up so many planets and people falling to these menaces, and it’s time we do some saving.” There is a pause on the other end as Poe Dameron is taking in the stunning situation the Chancellor is facing and says, “I’m with you one hundred percent, O’Taz. I will do what I can to convince the Senate to send us to you. If approved, I’ll bring everything I have.” Grateful and satisfied with Poe’s answer, O’Taz says, “thank you, Admiral. We must save the people here at all costs. May the Force be with you.” Poe ends the message with, “may the Force be with you, Chancellor. Admiral Dameron out.”

Supreme Overlord Chazra walks off his personal, organically living craft on the surface of Obroa-Skai and says, “This planet has a lot to offer us.” He is larger than the other Chazrach and similar in appearance, but has black spikes protruding out of his body. “There are structures here and places of trade. What a large society of species, but no one is left here,” speaking to his subordinates. One being Warmaster Loor, as he follows up with, “we must have destroyed all the species here in their desperate escape attempt, my Lord.” Chazra smiles and instructs them on his plans, saying, “begin connecting our ships to the buildings and the Obroa-Skai surface.” The organic growth moves like a virus from the ships, spreading out and turning everything into green and orange vines and dark plant life that is living and deadly. In a matter of minutes, the area is unrecognizable as being a city and looking more like the forests of Endor. Chazrach soldiers are also marching off of the ships and beginning to search for any survivors that could still be on the planet. All Chazrach, who are taking over planet after planet, are fulfilling Supreme Overlord Chazra’s strategic invasion orders.

Chancellor O’Taz and Marieene make their way back to the underground level where the Jedi and refugees are waiting for their report. “The Grand Republic is going to send what they can,” O’Taz says, telling a half lie to keep the crowds calm. At times like this, comfort and hope mean more than telling the truth that there may be no help coming at all, rationalizes O’Taz in his mind. Marieene nods at O’Taz in agreement and says to the crowd, “we’re going to stay here, but we need to get supplies. I’m asking for volunteers to go with me across the plaza to the local market.” Kyle smiles at her in delight. Marieene is an impressive leader for being a librarian, he thought. It seems like maybe things could go somewhere if it wasn’t for the invasion of an enemy from another galaxy raining down on them. As Kyle drifts away in thought, the Chancellor stands silently in command as Marieene gathers a search party for supplies. The youngest Jedi, Temiri from Canto Bight, speaks out loudly, “What if we surrender to them!?” The crowd noise hushes to a sudden halt. They all look at Temiri as he gulps and continues, “so we can meet with their leader. It would only be us Jedi to go out and surrender and say nobody is here but us. Then, if we can get close to their command, maybe we can put a stop to the invasion at least here and now to save everyone.” Faces in the crowd seem to agree with him, and the other Jedi like the sound of his proposal. In Temiri’s utter amazement, Finn walks up to him and nods in approval, saying, “Temiri, I think that’s the best thing we’ve heard all day. You are wise beyond your years, young one, and I am very proud to be you.” Kyle nods in agreement and turns to Chancellor O’Taz, commenting, “What do you think, Chancellor?” O’Taz has a big smile on his face and nods as the crowd of refugees cheer and come over to hug and high-five Temiri and the young Jedi Knights. “Hey, this hero stuff I can get used to,” says Hal. “Oh, this is the easy part of being a hero. The hard part is sacrificing your life,” cracks Corran as people hug them, shake their hands, and thank them.

Finn walks over to Mace and Lewbacca because he notices they’re being quieter than usual. Finn assumes Mace is worrying about Rey as he is, too. Lewbacca is standing quietly beside Mace in solidarity with his friend. “Mace and Lewbacca, I have some good news and some bad news,” says Finn. “What is it, Master?” Roars, Lewbacca. Finn exclaims, “The good news is we’re going as a group to face these invaders. The bad news is if something happens to me and I don’t make it out, you two will need to follow Master Phyto’s orders. Is that understood?” They nod in silence. Finn hugs his son Mace as Kyle shouts out to the group, “Let’s move out! May the Force be with us! Chancellor, you stay here with the civilians and stay in touch with the Grand Republic. We’ll take care of these invaders.” They begin to leave the auditorium to go to the main surface level, and while they depart, the crowd cheers and claps for them as heroes of the Republic. Every Jedi waves, smiles, grins, or wipes happy proud tears from their eyes. It’s an emotionally moving moment where the refugees of Obroa-Skai give the Jedi some real hope.

The Jedi leave the library building and are now out in the open plaza of the city. In the distance, there are Chazrach ships that have landed on buildings and a growth of unrecognizable vegetation in green and orange colors spreading out from their massive crafts all over the cityscape. Kyle looks around, and there are landspeeders parked in an area adjacent to the library that the refugees had come in on, so he signals for them to go to the vehicles. “We’re going to take the fight to them as Temiri said,” Master Finn says out loud to the group, and he continues to instruct, “we’ll take two of these speeders. I just hope we can get enough distance away from here so the invaders don’t know where we are coming from.” Master Phyto adds, “I’ll pilot one. Finn has the other.” Half of the Jedi pile in the speeder following his lead, and the other half follows Finn getting in the other speeder. “Are we ready?” asks Master Finn. “Ready and willing,” Mace says upon sitting down in the front passenger seat next to him. Everyone holds on as the two landspeeders take off at a fast speed and begin making their way down the streets of Obroa-Skai towards the impending doom of the Chazrach. Finn and Kyle weave around abandoned vehicles and debris, driving fast.

The speeders come to a stop as Chazrach soldiers surround them. Kyle steps out and puts his hands up in the air. “We surrender. No one has to die here,” he calls out to the large-sized invaders with weapons ranging from odd-shaped blasters to thick, strong staff. “We are the Chazrach, and you will bow before us,” says a lead soldier, walking up to them. Kyle plays the part of a defeated civilian, kneels in submission, and bows his head. “Of course, my new masters,” Kyle calmly says. “Get out of your mechanical abominations,” another Chazrach soldier orders. Finn and the young Jedi follow Kyle’s lead and slowly exit out of the landspeeders, and all kneel down and bow their heads in similar submission. The Chazrach soldiers check the group for weapons, finding lightsabers on all of them. “They’re Jedi!” One yells out. “Jedi filth!” another yells. They take the lightsabers angrily and hold onto them. “Aha, so there are Jedi here, excellent, take them to our Supreme Overlord, he will want to see this,” the lead soldier orders with a big smile on his face. Finn smiles back as they are grabbed and picked up. “I’ve got my eyes on you, Jedi!” A Chazrach soldier comments to Finn. The Chazrach walked them closer and closer to the large ships and growing life that had been taking over the buildings all around the area. So far, so good, the two Jedi Masters thought. Temiri’s idea was working.

“Why do you bring these children before me?” Asks Supreme Overlord Chazra. “Can’t you see I’m busy?” The lead soldier who brought the group to him answers, “I present a gift to you, my Supreme Overlord: The Jedi.” Chazra is surprised looking at Kyle and Finn and says, “and I suppose these older ones are the Jedi Masters?” Chazra stares at Master Phyto. “What is your name, Jedi?” Kyle states proudly, no longer acting submissive. “I am Master Kyle Phyto of the Jedi Order, and you have made a grave mistake.” Chazra angrily says, “Oh, have I, Jedi? This galaxy is now mine. Did you think you were going to stop me? These children are all that is left of your order,” chuckles Chazra, and the Chazrach soldiers all around him laugh in delight. One soldier hands Chazra Kyle’s lightsaber. Chazra explains, “we have known about these for quite some time. Powerful in the right hands but merely a light show for all others. They are no match for our Chazrach staff.” “We’ll see about that,” answers Finn. “Children of the Jedi, you may say your final goodbye to your Jedi Masters,” Supreme Overlord Chazra menacingly says. “No!” yells Soles. Mace follows with, “You won’t win! My Mom is strong!” “Ah, so you are the Jedi family of the other Jedi Master,” says Chazra, looking at them. “I can assure you she will be taken care of in due time.” “So, Rey is alive,” thought Finn, but then his feelings change back to dread as Chazra ignites Master Phylo’s green-bladed lightsaber. The Chazrach soldiers grab Kyle and knock him down in front of their Supreme Overlord. “This has turned out easier than I thought,” Chazra says while lifting his arm up with the ignited saber in his hand, preparing to strike down Master Phyto. Master Finn puts up his hand, about to use the Force to save his friend, when from above loud booming sounds in the sky.

From a sky filled only with large Chazrach crafts to a sky full of the entire Grand Republic Fleet, Chazra and the Chazrach soldiers all look up in shock. They take their eyes off their captives, and the Jedi reach out with the Force, grabbing their lightsabers from the hands of the soldiers as the unlit Jedi weapons fly through the air and into their hands. Kyle’s Force grab is so strong that it turns off his lightsaber in Chazra’s hand and flips into Kyle’s hand, igniting as he catches it! “For, the Republic!” Yells Kyle. He swings at Chazra, chopping off the Supreme Overlord’s hand! The large Chazrach looks back down at him fast enough and spins to Kyle’s side, grabbing his left arm and ripping it off. In excruciating pain, he yells and falls down. The other Jedi, seeing their Master hurt so brutally, ignite their lightsabers as colors of blue, green, yellow, and white knock the soldiers back in surprise and fear. Finn runs at the Supreme Overlord with his blue lightsaber lit, attacking him so he can no longer go after his badly injured friend on the ground. The other Jedi fight the Chazrach soldiers, swinging away. The Chazrach, with their staff weapons, clash with them as their blaster fire is blocked by their lightsabers. “At least the firing weapons could be blocked,” thought Finn. Mace runs at one of the Chazrach leaders, jumping and swiping. “Ah, Jedi. How exciting to finally face one!” Warmaster Loor says. He blocks Mace’s move, and they clash saber to staff. All the Jedi and Chazrach soldiers are in similar close combat fights. The teens are faster and smaller, using acrobatic moves to dodge and maneuver, yet the Chazrach are larger and stronger. It is a large ground battle that no one has been winning yet. Above in the skies of Obroa-Skai, Grand Admiral Poe Dameron is leading the command, yelling, “Fire everything we have at everything! Send out all squadrons! I want maximum air attacks on their ground forces!” Poe gets a flurry of replies, “yes, Admiral!” This time, there is so much firepower at the Chazrach organic ships that they begin to falter and separate, having to use all of their energy to self-repair to avoid destruction.

Back on the surface, Lewbacca takes out three Chazrach in a row by throwing his green bladed lightsaber at them. It spins in the air, connecting to each one differently but with similar consequences. Mace finally gets the upper hand on Warmaster Loor and strikes him down. Soles crouches down against her adversary and spins to the side, chopping off the legs of the Chazrach with her yellow bladed lightsaber. Screeching in pain and upon dying, the soldier aims his weapon and fires, hitting her shoulder. Soles winces but does not fall and starts to fight another enemy soldier. Lewbacca faces off against the largest Chazrach soldier they’ve seen yet. The soldier knocks Lewbacca’s lightsaber out of his hand and knocks him down with a blow to the head. As Lewbacca hits the ground on his knees and hands, a pulse of energy goes out from him, and the Chazrach growth vegetation lights up like a spark. In a circle around Lewbacca, the growth turns colors from green and orange to blue and yellow as the vines begin flowing in the air gently. Finn sees this as he’s still fighting the Supreme Overlord in close combat.

“Combine the Force!” Yells Finn. While on the ground lying in pain, he saw what Lewbacca had done by changing the Chazrach growth back to normalcy around himself.

The rest of the Jedi hear Finn and see what Lewbacca did to the growth.. Mace, Soles, Forisa, Temiri, and Anna are the closest to Lewbacca and turn off their lightsabers, dropping to their knees, putting their hands to the ground, and focusing their energy into the Chazrach growth. Their bursts of energy spark up and connect like lightning, and the other Jedi follow until all are on their knees, pushing their Force powers into the unstable menacing growth. The surrounding Chazrach get blown off their feet by the outburst and get entangled in the electrically lit up growth as it turns blue and yellow in color. The plant life floats in peace and then follows with attacking the Chazrach.

Finn gets up and into an attack stance to Force push Chazra away from the knights so he can’t interfere. The overlord gets knocked to the ground by the swift attack. He gets up, knowing he’s lost this battle, and runs away from the growth. A mechanical black and red painted First Order ship flies down from the sky overhead. Finn wants to pursue Chazra to find Rey, but Kyle is suffering in pain, having lost his arm. Finn decides to go to his aid instead. The other Jedi watch in awe at what is going on around them. The Chazrach growth is taking care of the Chazrach soldiers, swallowing them up in the vines and plants, and the Republic Fleet has wrecked the Chazrach ships enough where they’re now slowly descending from the skies in defeat. Some of the large crafts were already crashing into buildings and the surface. Chazra scurries into the First Order mechanical ship and takes off, leaving behind the remaining Chazrach invasion force. The Grand Republic Fleet lands all over the city as Republic soldiers take the remaining Chazrach soldiers into custody. Grand Admiral Poe Dameron’s Cruiser lands at the plaza of the Celebratus Archive. Poe walks towards the library and is greeted by a relieved Chancellor O’Taz. “I knew you’d come, Grand Admiral,” O’Taz says. Poe jokingly says, “Well, the Senate thought it would be best to save their Chancellor this time around.” O’Taz pokes fun at this, replying, “now we shall rule the galaxy!” Poe, looking startled, says back, “I think we’ve had enough people wanting to rule the galaxy for a lifetime, Chancellor.” O’Taz goes back to being serious, “agreed Poe. Thank you for saving the refugees here.” After the Chancellor says this, the refugees led by Marieene begin to exit the library through the main doors and spill out onto the plaza. Murmurs and talking in the crowd about the Jedi leaving to battle the Chazrach are going around, and it’s making Poe and O’Taz nervous about what could have happened to their friends.

Two far away landspeeders make their way to the library plaza. Masters’ Finn and Mace are driving the two speeders with the Jedi partying aboard, with their hands in the air, singing songs together. Master Phyto is in the passenger seat, bandaged up in pain but with a smile on his face. The New Jedi Order had survived the battle! All of them! It was quite a sight to see for everyone. The Jedi pull up in the speeders and get out to cheers and hugs from the refugees and Republic soldiers, rejoicing for a long time, visiting with one another, and chants of “Jedi Knights” ring out from the plaza. The Battle of Obroa-Skai had been won, and the possible turning point of ending the Chazrach invasion.

There is great news on the Holonet on Chandrila and around the galaxy, as two other Republic Fleets had made their way to Dantooine and Bimmiel, and chased away the Chazrach who had lost the upper hand in those battles. The news reports are that the Chazrach are currently retreating back to the Unknown Regions of Wild Space. Senators from the Core Worlds are calling for restraint, but the Senators from the Outer and Mid Rim Worlds are pleading for an invasion of the Chazrach galaxy to take the fight to them and end it. Meanwhile, the Chazrach growth is being burned off everywhere with fire on the affected planets. Most galactic happenings are getting back to normal other than a new debate on what to do about the Chazrach themselves. Also, the heroic stand at Obroa-Skai was making the teen Jedi into new heroes. At such a young age, some of the Jedi are enjoying the glory of being famous and liked, while others are taking the time to see Master Phyto recovering in a medical center and being present at the Jedi Temple on Chandrila.

Hanna City, Chandrila

Mace is sitting next to a laid-out Kyle Phyto in a bright white medcenter room in Hanna City on Chandrila. Jedi Master Phyto had lost his entire left arm in the battle against Supreme Overlord Chazra. Lewbacca and Soles are sitting in seats alongside the wall as they had spent the night with the Jedi Master. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I can’t stay here much longer,” says a concerned Mace. “I hope you can understand us going into the unknown galaxy to search for my Mom.” Kyle opens his eyes and answers, “I called an old friend to be here when you arrived to see me. He could be another volunteer to go with you and your father to find Rey.” Mace stands up in surprise, wondering who it could be. Kyle presses a button with his remaining hand, and the door is opened to the room as Poe Dameron walks in with a big smile on his face. Mace smiles back and says to Poe, “I know she’s still alive. I can feel it. We’re going to save her.” Poe answers, “all of us together.” Kyle, Poe, Lewbacca, and Soles smile at one another as Poe hugs Mace. Noticing his old jacket that Finn passed down to Mace, he says, “Nice jacket, kid. It suits you too.” They smile as the group of Jedi with Poe are together talking about their mission to the unknown as their friendship and love is as strong as ever.

The newly modified and updated Millennium Falcon is streaking through hyperspace towards the Unknown Regions, where Rey and the large Republic Fleet had disappeared just days ago.

Poe Dameron, the Grand Admiral of the Grand Republic, decided to give his lofty title a break as he’s now piloting the famous ship that helped overthrow the Empire along with the First and Final Orders, years ago. He wasn’t sure what Han, Leia, and Luke would think about all of this, but he felt their presence on board in a comforting way since they left Chandrila. Another friendly reminder of the past was sitting next to Poe in the co-pilot’s chair. C-3PO, the human cyborg relations, hadn’t stopped talking about all the modifications that R2-D2, BB-8, and he made while Poe was away fighting the First Order Remnant on Bastion. “Admiral Dameron, I’m pleased to tell you we have made it to the edge of uncharted space. The navigation computer is at its maximum reach,” C-3PO explains. Poe is wearing his old grey jacket from his days in the Resistance and looks over at his droid friend and says casually, “3PO, you can stop calling me Admiral for now. It’s just Poe, alright, buddy?” The droid legend, with a surprised tone in his voice, answers, “yes, Admiral Poe. I mean, yes, Master Poe.” Poe chuckles and says, “There’s nothing out here,” while at the same time thinking to himself that he’s getting too big for his old jacket as it’s uncomfortably tight. He tries to stretch it by moving his arms around to no avail. He asks 3PO to pilot the Falcon and to keep it steady. Poe then makes his way to the main cargo hold where the group of Jedi are anxiously awaiting an update.

Master Kyle Phyto, a bearded, average-built man in his older years, is in a one-sleeved green jacket with his lightsaber on his right side. He had lost his entire left arm just days before in battle. A grey and black mechanical arm and hand were in its place, fully exposed, not being covered by anything. Poe looks to the two Jedi Masters, Phyto and Finn, and gives an update: “3PO says we are currently passing into the Unknown Regions of wild space. I think that we need to all be on high alert and ready for anything.” He looks around at everyone staring at him. Poe defensively says, “I want to save Rey more than anyone else in the galaxy. She is our family, but we have to take care of ourselves.” Poe stares at Finn and continues explaining, “we can’t help her if we’re dead. So, I want to take precautions.” Mace answers first, “Poe, nice and slow, might be too late. We have already taken so much time just getting to this point. I don’t want to lose our chance!” Mace, wearing his father’s jacket, which was once Poe’s, slumps over in sorrow with tears running down his face. Finn walks over to his son and puts his arm around him. “We’re going to find her, okay,” reassuring Mace. Kyle and Poe didn’t know what else to say. Neither of them had a plan or knew what was ahead. The other Jedi Knights who didn’t make the trip elected to stay back to defend Chandrila in case of an attack. In reality, it was because there was a lack of a plan going forward. Soles Sarkin walks over to Mace and Finn and sits down next to them. She speaks up to the group, “What if the planet or place we choose to go to is not the planet Master Skywalker is on? Or what if it’s a trap? There are a lot of questions we don’t have answers to, but at some point, we need to have a real plan.” Mace looks up to his side at the beautiful young woman who is dressed in black robes with flowing colorful hair and is amazed by her concern and care but also her practicality. He likes the way she thinks, rationalizes, and is an honest person, too.

Another Jedi Knight, Azuree Minzler, is a muscular, strong, and built young woman with short hair. She is wearing a blue top Jedi robe and says to the group, “Soles is right, but I say we let the Force guide us on our mission. I have a feeling we will find answers soon enough.” Master Phyto takes a moment to ponder her words and follows with, “then may the Force be with us.” They all nod and voice their agreement. Poe then tells the group he is heading back to the cockpit to be on the lookout. In the co-pilot’s chair, C-3PO had seen a distant speck of something in the very far distance as Poe entered. 3PO says, “There is something out there, Admiral Dameron, far off ahead of us.” Poe corrects him, “it’s just Poe, 3PO,” then he agrees, saying, “it’s small, but I see it too.” As the Millennium Falcon approaches this new mysterious green planet, Chase Brakniss and R2-D2 are working on the latest modification to the Falcon. “No, R2, it goes there,” says Chase, who is the youngest of the Jedi with messy hair at thirteen years old. He loves the color orange, as his Jedi shoulder wrap robes are orange and brown. R2-D2, the famous white and blue Astromech droid who once belonged to the galactic legend Luke Skywalker, beeps back at Chase an affirmative, and Chase answers with, “yes, perfect. I think our chances of blending in should be improved.” Poe’s favorite droid is also on board as BB-8 watches the two work. The small orange and white ball with a free-moving domed head is curious about just about everything. BB-8 beeps happily at Chase with the work finished. “Yeah, it was hard for you too, wasn’t it, BB-8,” Chase says jokingly.

Also, a Jedi Knight on the mission is Corran Tian. He’s one of the older knights who wears a white, blue, and black vest. His hair is slicked to the side in a stylish haircut. Corran got the worst news of his life when they returned to Chandrila from winning the Battle of Obroa-Skai. His long-time boyfriend Dazan had been killed during the invasion of Chazrach on their home planet of Dantooine. The funeral plans had not begun due to there being so many civilian deaths from the uprising against the invasion, and the Chazrach growth destroying the planet is another obstacle. The authorities and everyone on Dantooine can only do so much in organizing anything. So Corran, feeling pain, sorrow, and anger, pleaded to go on the mission to get payback for what the Chazrach had done to his family. Kyle had his reservations but agreed that Corran was free to make his own decision on the matter. Corran is still feeling unsettled about everything, leaves his friends in the main cargo hold, and goes to see Poe and C-3PO. “Hi Poe,” Corran says. “Oh hi, Corran,” Poe replies. They’re looking out at a large green planet with no Chazrach ships around it, and Corran comments, “I see we already found a planet. That was fast.” Poe tells him, “You should probably sit down and buckle up. I’m going to take us to the surface.” So, this was it. Corran thought it was time to bring justice to this new galaxy and its murderous inhabitants. Poe notifies the others through the Falcon they are making the descent to the planet surface as C-3PO, Corran, and himself are watching in amazement at the slow-moving thick Chazrach growth as far as the eye could see. “I didn’t know there could be so much Chazrach life in one place,” says Corran. Poe comments, “Yeah, but besides all of this stuff, I don’t see any signs of the Chazrach themselves. This isn’t making any sense. I don’t even know where to land.” C-3PO speaks up, “may I suggest we find anything out of the ordinary, and if not, we leave this dreadful looking place.” Poe comments, “I’m going to fly us low and you two keep on the lookout for anything, but we’re not leaving this planet until we find out if anyone or anything is here besides all this green and orange growth.” Corran then reassures the concerned droid, “it will be okay. 3PO we have a team on board whose specialty is Chazrach growth extermination.”

The Millennium Falcon flies low over the surface for a long time until, in the distance, a constructed complex comes into view. “Okay, now we’re talking. It could be a Chazrach outpost,” Poe says and then adds, “it’s time for us to land and check it out, but we need to be far enough away so hopefully they won’t see us.” The Falcon hovers down slowly in a low area covered by tall, plant-like trees and vines with spikes. As the ship touches the surface, it is immediately grabbed by the hostile living growth, and loud bangs and pops start to rock the Falcon, shaking it and everyone on board. Poe jumps out of the pilot’s seat and shouts to 3PO and Corran, “Follow me, we have to get outside!” The group of Jedi are already making their way, running down the ramp onto the surface. They ignite their lightsabers and begin hacking away at the Chazrach growth that is attacking them and now pinning the Falcon to the ground. They’re yelling to one another in desperation, but thankfully, their powerful lightsabers are cutting through the vines with relative ease. Mace yells to his dad, “I should switch my career to flora scientist!” Finn yells back, “I don’t think they’d like your resume of what you’re doing to it, son!” Forisa Mis from Corellia and Lewbacca from Kashyyyk are the other two Jedi Knights who made the journey. They expand out to provide a perimeter for the group. Forisa is dressed in a white tunic with black Jedi robes, but the heat of the planet made her throw off her black robes and leave them to be swallowed up by the Chazrach growth. She senses something in the large plant-like trees and motions for Lewbacca, a Wookiee who is Chewbacca’s nephew and wearing grey and green Jedi robes, to look up to where she was looking. Lewbacca sees large-sized lizard creatures with fangs that are blending into the growth. He roars to Forisa, “This is about to get really bad.” Forisa answers, “if the Chazrach weren’t enough of a foe, now there are Chazrach animals, too? This new galaxy keeps on giving!”

The pack of large lizard creatures, which were bigger in size than the Jedi, with black spots, big eyes, and huge mouths of sharp, pointy teeth, start to descend down the plants and onto the surface where Forisa and Lewbacca are positioned. Standing their ground, the two Jedi Knights get into combat-ready stances and prepare to do battle with the creatures. At the Falcon, the rest of the group is now failing to get the ship released from the vines. The growth is in a continual pattern of growing and wrapping around it. They have to give it up and let the ship be stuck in its place. Poe asks, “Why don’t you all just use your Jedi powers and turn this stuff into happy stuff?” Finn answers, “I wish we could, but we need to stay undercover until we know what we’re up against, and besides, later on, we can free the Falcon.” The group looks out in panic at Forisa and Lewbacca, who are about to do battle with a group of giant lizard monsters and run to their aid. Poe stays back at the ship, not knowing what to do since he doesn’t have a weapon on himself. The lead creature runs at Forisa, roaring in anger. She jumps at it, doing a sideways flip in the air high above and lands on its back facing forward. It angrily tries to turn its head to bite at her. Forisa yells out, “I knew practicing on banthas was time well spent!” She then voices her apologies to the beast and ignites her white-bladed lightsaber into it, and it dies instantly, collapsing to the ground. The other large Chazrach lizards surround Lewbacca, snapping their jaws at him but begin acting confused, seeing a Wookiee for the first time. Lewbacca’s voice scares the lizard monsters, and this delay gives time for the Jedi group to surround them. Now, from all sides, Finn, Kyle, Mace, Soles, Azuree, Corran, Chase, and Lewbacca ignite their lightsabers of all different colors and attack the beasts. Chase gets in trouble first as the least experienced Jedi in the group, getting a slash on his side and goes down in scorching pain, but Soles cuts off the clawed arm of the attacker with her yellow-bladed lightsaber and kills the lizard, saving him. Lewbacca continues to stand surrounded in the middle of the action, not knowing what to do. Mace yells to his Wookiee friend, “Lew, get out of there!” Corran and Azuree team up on another lizard with Corran force pushing it right into Azuree’s blue-bladed lightsaber. Finn runs at another one and slides underneath it, pushing his blue-bladed lightsaber up into its body. He yells, “Four down and one to go!” Mace sees an opening to get to Lewbacca and gets to him just in time to take down the last of the deadly creatures with their combined purple and green-bladed lightsabers, slashing at its legs and body, killing it quickly without harm to themselves.

“Phew, that was a lot of close calls,” Master Phyto says as he watches the action, still struggling with being one-armed. “Chase!” Yells Mace as he goes over to him and Soles. She takes out bandages and a small bottle of liquid from her pocket to apply to Chase’s side, as the claw marks are not life-threatening but are deep enough to cause bleeding and pain. Mace asks, “Is there anything you need, buddy?” Chase answers, “I could use a snack. I’m getting hungry.” The group laughs out loud and agrees with his assessment of the situation. “Jedi have to eat too, not just save the galaxy,” Chase continues to reason with them jokingly. Poe had been watching from a distance in awe of the New Jedi Knights in action and couldn’t believe it. The group is making its way back to the ship, and Poe says to them, “You all are amazing. I was going to get my blaster, but I couldn’t stop watching you cut down those beasts like they were nothing. The Republic would be so proud of you.” Kyle answers, “our Knights can get the job done with or without the Grand Republic’s respect.” Poe answers, “yeah, I’ll say, wow.” Everyone comes to the realization they’re all hungry as Chase got the group thinking about food with his earlier comments. Luckily, the Chazrach growth had stopped attacking them around the ship because it seemed satisfied with being wrapped around it in every way imaginable. So, their plan before heading to the complex is scarfing down Nerf steak sticks and washing it down with cups of caf and hot chocolate. Afterward, Master Phyto asks, “Are we ready, Knights?” “Ready, Master,” says a happy and full-of-hot-chocolate Chase. “Ready and willing, Kyle,” Poe chimes in. “Let’s go find Rey,” says a confident Finn. “I just hope she’s here,” cautions Soles, looking at Mace. He looks back at her and nods. The group sets out to the complex, besides the three droids C-3PO, R2-D2, and BB-8, who Poe orders to stay on the ship to message him if anything else happens around it. The sunlight had started to fade, and before they knew it, they were traveling by moonlight in the dangerous growth that wanted to grab them at every turn. As they hike, the Jedi realize if they focus their energy from the Force in their hands, they can grab an incoming attacking vine and turn it into a neutral blue and yellow-colored vine, like they did on a much grander scale on Obroa-Skai.

After hiking for a while, they approach a battle station that is large and clearly a structure of significance above the thick Chazrach jungle growth. The group of Jedi and Poe immediately noticed a large monster chained up outside the entrance. “A bull rancor, and I didn’t know they would be anywhere other than Felucia and Dathomir,” Forisa explains to the group. Azuree adds, “Yeah, but look at its coloring. Green like the Chazrach growth, but it has thin orange stripes.” Lewbacca asks what they should do about the rancor because it was going to give their element of surprise away. “We’re going to have to go another direction to get inside,” Kyle comments. The group takes their time and moves quietly around the beast, hiding in the tall growth that wasn’t causing them hardly any problems anymore to the back entrance. “I don’t sense anything or anyone guarding this side,” a relieved Finn says. “Let’s check it out and be on the ready,” Kyle says as they make their way into the structure. “There is nothing here,” a surprised and frustrated Forisa says. Inside the building, it looked like nothing had been there besides the structure being built itself. A stumped and confused Kyle tells everyone, “I think our best course of action is to stay here until the sunlight comes back and then we make our way back to the Falcon when it’s safer and get out of here.” Forisa frustratingly says, “this planet has been nothing but trouble,” and walks away from the group. Mace and Lewbacca tell the others they’re going to keep an eye on the bull rancor. Poe and Chase volunteer for guard duty at the back entrance, leaving Soles, Azuree, Finn, and Kyle to the central part of the complex.

Finn volunteers to do a sweep of the area around the complex. Kyle tells Soles and Azuree he’s going to check out a side passage, and the two Jedi women sit down next to one another on the floor to take a break. “So, here we are,” Soles says and then asks Azuree, “How are you feeling?” Azuree answers, “I could be better, you know?” Soles replies, “yeah, things are hard for us, Jedi,” as she thoughtfully looks over at her friend. Azuree continues, “When I became a Jedi, I left behind my girlfriend, Kashi, on Coruscant. We met at a party and have been together ever since. She understands my decision to serve the galaxy, but we’ve had to endure a long-distance relationship, and since this war broke out, I worry about not being there for her.” Kyle walks out of a faraway passage, having detected nothing and makes his way to the two women. He asks if he could sit down and join them, not wanting to intrude. Azuree answers, “Of course, the more the merrier.” Kyle smiles and says, “Thank you, Azuree,” sitting down across from them. “So, what’s up?” Kyle asks. Azuree shares, “I was just telling Soles that I miss my partner and that I’ve been worried about her since this whole Chazrach thing.” Kyle says with a smile on his face, “Oh, to be young again.” Soles looks at Kyle and follows up with, “if we can make it out of here, I think we could all use some family time off. What about your family, Master Phyto?” Kyle thinks on it and replies, “Oh, for me, I don’t have what you all have. Once you’re my age, you lose more than you gain. Being a Jedi Master, you don’t always end up with a family like what Finn, Rey, and Mace have. I know it’s never too late, but with everything going on, I don’t know.” After Kyle’s remarks, the three sit in a quiet, somber silence, thinking about many things and are tired from everything they’ve been through already.

Jedi Master Finn had been walking around the perimeter when he heard a faint, distant voice calling out to him from beyond the growth. Whispers saying, “Bring the balance,” and “Trust the Force,” he keeps hearing the repeating phrases slowly with pauses. Finn is curious and open to it, so he follows the voice and comes across a stream of water. It’s echoing off it, becoming louder and louder as he follows the voice down the stream. He’s now a ways away from the structure as it leads him to a clearing of the growth on a cliff with a waterfall. Standing at the edge of the waterfall is a Force Ghost of a Jedi Master with his arms crossed, staring at Finn. It’s Jedi Master Mace Windu of the Republic Jedi Council. “You’re not alone, Finn. Out here in the Chazrach galaxy beyond our galaxy’s edge.” Finn is staring back in shock and surprise. Finn replies, “Master Windu. It’s an honor, sir.” Mace Windu answers, “the honor is mine, Finn. I’ve been watching you for some time. That’s a strong boy you have raised alongside Rey and with a strong name too,” Mace Windu’s smile turns to concern as he continues. “You must bring balance as the galaxy requires it.” Finn says, “I don’t understand how?” Mace Windu says, “trust the Force, and the galaxy can be saved. You must use your best judgment no matter the cost. The Force is diminished out here, but not your spirit. Do not give into fear or the dark side. I’m proud of you, Finn. May the Force be with you….” As Mace Windu’s Force Ghost nods and disappears, he leaves Finn alone on the cliff of the waterfall to ponder what was just said to him by his Jedi hero.

Back at the complex, Mace and Lewbacca decide to approach the bull rancor, and the animal is not happy about this at all. It isn’t roaring, but it’s trying to swipe at them with its large claws. “What do we do, Lew!?” yells, Mace. Lewbacca begins to answer him when the rancor takes an interest in his roaring voice. The animal stops swiping at them and sits down in sudden interest in Lewbacca. “Oh wow, Lew, this thing likes you! It’s amazing!” Mace shouts out to him. Lewbacca calls out to the rancor to put its arms up high in the air and on command the beast does it. Lewbacca then calls out to wave its hands, and then the rancor begins to wave its hands. “This is awesome!” Mace calls out happily. Back in the abandoned battle station, Corran catches up with Forisa and asks, “What is wrong?” Forisa answers, “I don’t know, Corran. We’re on a wild bantha chase for Master Skywalker, and we don’t know where she is or if she’s even alive. I feel lost on this planet.” Corran adds, “and we’re in an entirely new galaxy, too.” Forisa laughs in agreement, “yeah, it’s crazy.” She then asks, “How are you holding up, Corran?” There is a pause, and he says honestly, “not so great. Since I found out about Dazan being killed during the invasion, all I’ve wanted to do is kill every last Chazrach on sight for the rest of my life. I want the nickname Chazrach Hunter.” Forisa, feeling sad for Corran, says, “I’m sorry about you losing him. I can’t imagine what it feels like.” She pauses in thought and continues, “it’s a cool title, Chazrach Hunter. Are you sure I can’t have it?” He answers, “Nope, it’s already taken. You’re going to have to come up with your own war name.” Forisa chuckles, feeling better about things despite what this new war was taking from their lives.

Aboard the Millennium Falcon, C-3PO was making sure the Chazrach growth hadn’t sucked up the ship any more than it already had, but 3PO honestly didn’t know what to do if it did. His only idea was messaging out to Poe with his hand-held radio comlink if there was a problem. The first incident happened in the middle of the night when 3PO least expected it. R2-D2 was stubborn about keeping the Falcon locked down where no droid went in or out, but BB-8 had other plans. The curious little ball droid found the top hatch and proceeded to exit the ship, being almost swept away by the vines that were wrapped around it. If it wasn’t for R2’s practical thinking of following the mischievous droid wherever it went like an overattentive babysitter, the astromech droid wouldn’t have been there to burn back the vines with fire using the side rockets, saving the smaller ball droid. 3PO was scared out of his mind upon hearing the rockets blasting on top of the Falcon and BB-8 beeping up a storm, so he picked up his hand-held comlink and called out to Poe in desperation. Poe and Chase are keeping watch to protect the group from any surprise attacks from the entrance they entered in earlier as Poe is calmly explaining to 3PO over the comlink, “it’s okay, 3PO. Let R2 handle it, and I’m sure they’re fine. I’ll make my way back if anyone goes missing, okay? Just keep me informed, buddy. Poe, out.” Listening in on 3PO freaking out over the comlink, Chase adds, “that droid is always stressed out. Does he run only on caf and hot chocolate for his energy source?” Poe chuckles, saying, “perhaps, Chase, and that would explain a lot. So, things look fine out here. Let’s go back inside with the group.” The Jedi are back together in the center part of the complex, listening to Mace talk about how Lewbacca tamed the bull rancor outside by being his Wookiee self. The others were surprised and relieved, asking what they could do with the animal. “If we let it go, it could come after all of us who aren’t Lew,” Forisa reasons. “Forisa is right. We need to be careful about this,” Azuree says, contemplating what to do. Lewbacca gives his answer, “I will take the rancor into the jungle far enough away from here and command it to run away from the direction of the Falcon as you all are making your way to the ship. I’ll then get back to you all, and we can leave this place.” Kyle says, “Lewbacca, are you sure you want to do all of that for us and the rancor?” “Yes, I’m sure,” Lewbacca confirms. “You’re the best of us, Lew,” says Mace, patting his friend’s furry shoulder.

Finn returns, not telling anyone about the Force Ghost encounter, and the group agrees they need to rest. Everyone besides Master Phyto gets set up to sleep on the floor. Kyle takes the first watch, guarding the group by keeping a lookout while they get as much rest as they can. Several hours later, Finn switches with Kyle, and he continues guard duty so Kyle can get some sleep. The sunlight comes fast, and the group is slow to get up. “I guess there really are no Chazrach on this planet,” Kyle comments. “It’s not what I was expecting this galaxy to be,” Poe says, confused. “Same here,” Finn adds. The group shakes off their soreness by stretching out as a couple complain about being hungry, and then Soles says, “I guess we get out of here? What do you say, guys?” Mace smiles and nods. The group also agrees with her sentiments. They begin to follow Soles as she takes the point position. Kyle looks to Lewbacca. “Are you up for this, Jedi Knight?” Lewbacca answers, “yes, Master.” Kyle replies, “then may the Force be with you and your rancor. We’ll be waiting for you at the Falcon and be careful.” “Admiral Dameron! Admiral Dameron!” C-3PO is heard by everyone yelling out from Poe’s radio comlink. “What, 3PO!?” Poe asks loudly. “Chazraaaach! Chazraaaach! They’re approaching the ship! We need your help!” Poe is stunned at the second incident with the droids because this time it’s a full-blown emergency. With shocked faces, Finn yells for them to run, and Poe yells, “we gotta get to the Falcon! The Chazrach are here! We were wrong! We were so wrong!” They all begin in a sprint as the Jedi focus their Force powers to run faster as they go. Lewbacca hears the yelling and running as he’s leading the rancor in the opposite direction from the group and gets an idea of what he can do to help. Mace and Corran are side by side in the back of the group, running hard as Mace says, “I can’t keep up! I’m too fond of sweets and cakes!” Corran laughs out loud then yells, “Mace, there are more sweet things in the galaxy than food!” Mace questions, “who, me!?” Corran laughs more and answers, “You’re not my type, Mace, but Soles likes you!” As he smiles big at his friend as they continue to run side by side together, keeping up with the group ahead of them.

The Chazrach had already surrounded the Falcon when the Jedi arrived with their weapons drawn and looked very angry. The droids had resolved to hide with everything turned off and locked down. It almost seemed too easy, and Kyle couldn’t believe it, saying to the group, “surround the Chazrach just as we did the lizard beasts to take advantage and win the battle.” They branch off and make a large circle around the intruders and the Falcon and begin to close in, ready to fight. “Hey Jedi!” A Chazrach yells out at them. “Yeah, we see you,” says another Chazrach, continuing with, “come out of the growth. We have a proposition for you.” The Jedi Masters and Knights are confused and look at one another. “It’s most certainly a trap,” whispers Soles. “I second that,” Azuree quietly says. “There is no such thing as neutrality with the Chazrach,” Corran comments. Finn is thinking about what the three Knights closest to him said and decides to take the chance, explaining, “I’m going to go alone and see what they have to say. You all can back me up. If something bad happens to me, you attack them with everything you’ve got and then get out of here by freeing the Falcon by combining your Force powers again, understood?” They give him disapproving stares. “Okay, I’m taking that as a yes, master,” Finn awkwardly says and motions the group to not continue with him. Kyle puts his hand on Finn’s shoulder and wishes him luck. Finn nods and walks towards the Chazrach, feeling apprehensive but open about what Mace Windu had told him and what he can do to bring balance. “Well, here I am,” said Finn, walking out of the thick growth and now completely exposed to the small group of six Chazrach.

One of the Chazrach speaks up, “Thank you for your bravery and gesture of peace. My name is Gorda, and these are my brothers in arms. We have been here on Zanatarium for most of our lives. The Supreme Overlord left us as a hunting squad to make sure any lost ships and their species were to be destroyed, keeping our galaxy a secret. We have done many awful things to many innocents over our lifetime, but now the Jedi have arrived on our planet, and we have seen what you can do to our life. It is, as you say, peaceful and beautiful.” As Gorda is talking, Lewbacca shows up with the bull rancor ready to do battle and attacks the Chazrach who are responsible for chaining it up. Finn and the Jedi watch helplessly as the rancor steps on a Chazrach and grabs two more by the claws and eats them one by one. Kyle is yelling at Lewbacca to try to help stop the carnage, but the rancor is too occupied to listen when Lewbacca calls out to it. The Jedi and Poe spring into action, and with the igniting of all of their lightsabers and Poe firing a shot at its body, they scare the rancor, and it runs off wildly into the growth, roaring as it disappears. “That is one upset rancor,” Poe comments dryly. “Especially after you shot it,” a frustrated Lewbacca roars at him.

Gorda, having survived the rancor attack, falls in sorrow as he just lost three of his soldiers. “That’s what happens when you chain up an animal, Gorda. It looks like the Force has its ways of evening things out in every galaxy,” Finn comments. Following up with what he says, Corran walks up to Gorda and speaks to him in a mean tone, “you need to give me one good reason why I don’t stick my lightsaber into your gut. Your people killed my partner, and I want justice like the rancor.” Gorda apologizes, “I’m sorry for your loss, Jedi, but I am not at fault for what others have done. I can only be myself in this war among the galaxies.” Corran thinks on this and asks, “So do you know where your Chazrach take high-value prisoners?” Gorda answers, “of course, they go to Rachia, our homeworld. We can come with you and help navigate. We have been abandoned by our leaders here for too long. Let me talk to my two soldiers.” Gorda goes and talks to his two fellow Chazrach, named Borka and Sorla, who survived the rancor attack. They quickly and happily agree to help the Jedi so they may leave Zanatarium behind. The Jedi and their new Chazrach allies begin to walk up the ramp of the Falcon, and Gorda chants and grinds his feet on the ground as the entangled vines begin to loosen and fall away from the ship. Everyone is happy and relieved upon seeing this great turn of events. “Then it’s set. Next stop, Rachia,” Poe says as he waits for Gorda to finish commanding the vines and pats him on the shoulder as they both head up the ramp onto the ship.

The Falcon takes off with ease as Poe is once again in the pilot’s seat, with a worried 3PO in the co-pilot seat and Gorda the Chazrach behind him to help with navigation. Forisa is behind Poe to back him up in case someone else needs to take over piloting. “Go towards the green moon,” says Gorda. Poe calls out, “Roger that, Gorda. Then what?” Gorda answers, “straight out from this direction towards Rachia,” as he points the way and continues, “it will take us around two sleeping cycles to get to Rachia.” Poe goes, “what?” Gorda explains further, “it will take us a very long time for a ship this small.” Poe responds, “then you obviously have never heard of this ship. It’s the Millennium Falcon. This is the ship that made the… Oh wait, you don’t know what Kessel is, do you, Gorda?” The Chazrach answers, “What is Kessel?” Poe and Forisa both chuckle out loud at Gorda’s question, and C-3PO goes into explaining the entire history of Kessel, confusing the Chazrach even more. They’re flying up to the green moon of Zanatarium, pointed in the direction Gorda had instructed, and Poe says, “hold on, Gorda, we’re about to go really fast,” as he pushes the levers to go to lightspeed. The Falcon blasts beyond the moon and into hyperspace! “I’ve never seen anything like this!” Gorda says with wide eyes, looking in awe at the spiraling blue and white lights of his galaxy streaking by. Poe says for everyone to hear, “I’m flying completely blind with no navigation computer or lanes to follow, so we could end up in bits and pieces if we’re not careful. I’m going to stop here and there to see if Gorda can help us out. I’m recording our path so we can get out of here the way we’re going in, so hold on and be ready for anything, Poe out.”

The Jedi and the two other Chazrach were in the main cargo hold, patiently waiting since leaving the planet of Zanatarium. The conversations were few and far between because it was awkward. Soles felt like the atmosphere had turned into a public transport ship, where there were different beings going to different places but were all in the same confined place. Chase manages to ask one of the Chazrach, “So, what are the three of you going to do when we get to Rachia?” The Chazrach Borka answers Chase, “there are places Gorda, Sorla, and myself can go underground and disappear from the powerful in our home world, but we want to help you first for getting us off Zanatarium. Anything is better than being stranded there, don’t you think?” Chase answers, “yeah, I’d have to agree with you on that one.” The Falcon comes out of hyperspace and is met with a faraway greenish asteroid belt with large organic Chazrach ships sprinkled throughout the asteroids. “Looks like I took us out of lightspeed just in time,” comments Poe, feeling pleased with himself and telling the others, “we wouldn’t have made it through this weird-looking asteroid belt, that’s for sure.” Speaking up, Gorda reveals, “this is Rachia.” Poe disagrees, saying, “I don’t think so, Gorda. I mean, sure, there are Chazrach ships, but this is what we call an asteroid belt. You know, big rocks with nothing on them except those ones look green from here. Is everything in your galaxy green?” Gorda answers, “well, yes, it is the color of our growth and life. This is our homeworld, Rachia, and I know where they have kept prisoners for generations.” Forisa comments, “they’re asteroid monsters? Can this get any weirder?” “I think it can get a lot weirder,” Poe says as little flying crafts are taking off from the asteroids, making their way towards the Falcon.

“We’ve got company!” shouts Poe to the main cargo hold. Kyle immediately springs up from meditating, goes to a turret seat to prepare to fire on the incoming crafts, and asks Soles to go to the other turret. Finn, Azuree, and Chase run to the cockpit to see what is going on, while R2-D2, BB-8, and the two Chazrach stay put in the cargo hold, along with the two remaining Jedi Knights, Mace and Lewbacca, who are keeping an eye on them to make sure they don’t do anything to sabotage the mission. Poe flies the ship away from the slower and smaller Chazrach crafts as they begin firing at their ship with small energy blasts that begin to shake and disorient everyone on board. The Falcon pulls ahead, being much quicker than the Chazrach’s, Poe asks, “Okay, Gorda, now for the moment of truth, where would our friends be in all of this Rachia stuff?” Gorda, the Chazrach, stands up and hollers something strange and jumps on Poe, hitting the controls, making them change course, now flying towards the small and large Chazrach crafts and asteroids. It’s a scramble in the cockpit, with Finn trying to pull Gorda off of Poe. C-3PO is flailing his arms and yelling for help, while Forisa is trying to get to the controls. Chase and Azuree are watching the whole thing in disbelief just outside the scramble of bodies in the completely full cockpit. Upon hearing Gorda yelling, the other two Chazrach get up and attack Mace and Lewbacca. It is two scrambles at the same time, with the fate of the ship and the crew on the line. “What are you doing, Gorda!?” Finn yells at him while they are wrestling. Gorda answers, “Your companion must be dead! Chazrach, don’t keep prisoners!” Once Finn pulls Gorda off Poe, the other Jedi drags him out of the cockpit, and Azuree asks, “Why did you lie to us? What’s wrong with you?” The Chazrach replies, “I wanted to get off Zanatarium, and that part is true, but I thought killing you I could be rewarded.” Kyle and Soles are sitting in the gun turrets, and both yell to Poe and everyone that they’re still in trouble. Having regained his composure, Poe sees the danger of running into the asteroids themselves, and an energy blast is fired from one of the large Chazrach ships. Poe steers the ship on its side, banking downward, getting closer to the surface of one. The energy blast misses and hits another large Chazrach ship across the way, and instead of blowing up, it gets swirled unto itself, breaking apart and separating into different directions as the concussion of the power rattles everyone onboard. Those in the group who watch the blast are shocked and scared of what could happen to them. Meanwhile, Forisa, Azuree, and Chase are dragging Gorda to the main cargo hold, where the other two Chazrach are knocked out from Lewbacca, smashing their heads together in the scramble for control of the ship.

Two of the Jedi, Kyle and Soles, are firing from the gun turrets at the incoming Chazrach ships, and Soles is knocking them out one by one. Soles yells, “These little ships are no match for us!” Kyle yells back, “How are you connecting hits on so many of them? I haven’t shot one down yet!” Soles, with a big smile, answers, “it’s all in the Force, Master!” Also, their legendary speedy ship is so fast that the small crafts can not keep up, yet there are big threats from the larger Chazrach crafts that Gorda had talked about before his failed mutiny attempt. Poe is flying them faster and further into the asteroid belt of planets, getting closer to them. The ship is weaving around each rock that is full of Chazrach’s working, running to their crafts, and firing weapons. Poe continues dodging and spinning the Falcon from large cannon blasts and energy beams being shot at them from the surfaces of the asteroids. “Woohoo, 3PO!” Poe shouts out. “Oh dear, I can’t watch,” says C-3PO. Everything is being hit by everything else besides them! There are explosions and Chazrach being wiped out by their own energy weapons. One of the large crafts’ energy cannons hits an occupied asteroid, and it begins breaking apart, being destroyed. The concussion expands out and knocks into the Chazrach crafts, blowing them far away. “That was way too close,” Poe comments. Up ahead at the end of the asteroid belt, there is a massive storm in space that has energy bursts with clouds of unknown vapors and gas. Poe says out loud, yelling, “What is this storm up ahead!?” The group looks at Gorda. He answers, “it’s the Storms of Chazra. No Chazrach goes in or out besides the Supreme Overlord.” Poe answers, “great, well, we’re going to be the Supreme Falcon today,” and flies towards the storm to get away from the attacking Chazrach. The Millennium Falcon disappears from the Rachian asteroid belt and into the storm. The Chazrach do not pursue because of the same beliefs that Gorda has, that only their Supreme Leader may enter his own named “Storms of Chazra” and that anyone besides him would be destroyed. The group begins to feel the ship shake and rock up and down in the storm. The Falcon is getting pulled in different directions, and there are loud pops and bangs. Then suddenly, a bolt of energy hits the ship, and the lights and instruments turn off. The engines slowly stutter to a stop. Poe is trying to turn things back on as they move forward in a fast floating motion. “I have a really bad feeling about all of this,” Poe says to 3PO, who is still sitting in the co-pilot seat.

R2-D2 plugs into the system in the main cargo hold, trying to figure out the problem, while BB-8 is beeping away, telling R2 what to do. The group joins back together in the middle of the ship. “So, Rachia was not what we expected,” Finn says. Mace follows up with, “These Chazarch are also not what we expected. They tried to stage a mutiny.” The group looks at Gorda, and the two knocked out Chazrach. Just then, Corran walks out of the Captain’s quarters and asks sleepily, having awoken from a nap, “What happened? Are we on Rachia yet?” Everyone turns from looking at the Chazrach to looking at Corran, not impressed. Corran says, “What?” They come out of the other side of the storm still out of power, and the view from the cockpit is a startling one. There is a white moon with both north and south poles in black and a structure of buildings in the middle region. The Falcon is still moving towards it, floating directly at it. “I think we need to check this out. I also don’t think we have much of a choice,” says Poe to 3PO. The Falcon’s power comes back on as R2-D2 reboots the system, and BB-8 beeps happily, taking credit for it. A relieved Poe starts the engines and begins to fly towards the structure. A short time passes, and they are coming up on a large landing pad in front of what looks like a castle with black and red mechanical ships and one large black winged ship. Kyle enters the cockpit to see what’s going on. “This isn’t Chazrach stuff,” he comments. “No, it’s not, and it looks like we have a greeting party,” Finn says as he sees Supreme Overlord Chazra and numerous figures in black hooded robes with Rey and another prisoner on their knees in the custody of the Supreme Overlord and others. The Falcon lands on the elevated surface in front of the large castle structure. “Stay here, 3PO,” Poe says. “Yes, Master Poe,” he replies. Poe, Finn, and Kyle leave the cockpit and go to the main cargo hold where the group is waiting for them. “I have a plan, so be ready, Knights,” Finn tells the group. “This could go south pretty fast, so I’m going to lead us out and start the talking.” Soles, Mace, Azuree, Corran, and Forisa nod in approval of Finn, and Lewbacca roars, “I’ll keep watch of these three Chazrach.” Chase adds, “I’m going with you all.” As they are walking out, Finn tells Mace, “Your Mom is out there, but don’t do anything irrational, okay?” Mace’s eyes widen, and he smiles in relief and nods to his Dad with happiness.

They walk down the landing ramp, and Finn calls out to the group of beings, “we are the Grand Republic’s Jedi Order. I call for a prisoner exchange for the release of your two prisoners you have illegally captured and held for too long.” Supreme Overlord Chazra walks forward towards Finn and laughs loudly, saying, “This is war, Jedi. There are no rules.” Master Kyle Phyto adds, “we have three prisoners from Zanatarium, and we’re willing to trade for your two prisoners.” As Kyle is saying this, the Jedi Knights are walking behind him and Finn. They see Rey and a Republic officer bound up and on their knees. Rey is relieved upon seeing Finn, Mace, and the group alive and okay. Mace has tears in his eyes. He never knew he could miss his mom so much. Chazra answers them with, “There’s no one on Zanatarium worth a trade for these two. I want to demonstrate what we’ll do if you fail to lay down your weapons and surrender.” One of the lead black hooded figures walks towards the Republic officer prisoner, who was Captain Bridgewater, and crouches down in a squat before him. Everyone stops moving in sudden alarm. The Jedi sense the dark side of the Force in the hooded being’s intentions. Finn yells, “What are you doing!? Nobody has to get hurt!” The hooded figure pulls out a small silver weapon and suddenly ignites the red-bladed lightsaber into the chest of Captain Bridgewater. The woman yells in terrorizing pain as the robed figure keeps it stuck in her and then turns it off. The stab painfully kills Bridgewater as she falls over, landing on the hard ground. The black-robed figure stands up and pulls his hood back, unveiling a smiling bald human face with red and black streaks of paint as Grand Lord Tyro states:

“The New Sith Order has begun!”

After a long pause of shock, with the Jedi reeling from the Captain’s death, Finn questions, “A new Sith Order!? Huh. Well, that’s over the top, yet catchy,” igniting his lightsaber at Grand Lord Tyro. The Sith ruler says, “I’m the Grand Lord of this galaxy, and I’ll soon be the ruler of yours.” Kyle chimes in and says, “the only Masters in our galaxy are Jedi, so you’re going to have to start out as a padawan to achieve master status.” Tyro gives Kyle a menacing smile and goes on, saying, “I’ve been growing my Chazrach war machine for a generation. I now finally have what’s left of this Jedi Order in my possession. It’s time to take back what’s rightfully mine. You know what to do, Sabers.” The dozen black-robed hooded figures around the landing pad take off their outer robes and are revealed as Sith warriors with the same red and black streaks of paint on their faces. They ignite their red lightsaber blades, ready to attack. The group of Jedi with Poe Dameron pull out their weapons in front of the Millennium Falcon and prepare to do battle with the Sith. Rey is still bound and kneeling with Grand Lord Tyro next to her in a defensive position. Tyro wants to keep her as a hostage if things were to not go his way, Finn thought. Meanwhile, Kyle has steely eyes staring down Chazra. “What are you going to do this time, Master Jedi? Would you like me to take off your other arm? It’s time for everything to have balance,” quips Chazra as he laughs. “Yeah, everything could use some balance once in a while!” Kyle answers, using the Force to push Chazra high up into the air. He jumps and dives forward in a barrel roll directly under Chazra. The Jedi Master then lets go of the Chazrach ruler with the Force onto his green-bladed lightsaber, skewering right up through him. Chazra screams in terror as the battle breaks out all around them, with Finn and the young Jedi Knights taking on Tyro and the Sith. Poe shoots at Grand Lord Tyro as he blocks the shots with his red-bladed lightsaber while still guarding Rey. Finn runs at Tyro across the landing pad. Mace and Soles see him while they clash with the three Sith attacking them. In the mayhem, Poe runs and slides on his back behind Rey, unhooking her from the bindings, and takes off the wrapping around her neck and mouth. Rey immediately forces Tyro, spilling him onto the ground and sliding him away from Finn. The three of the galaxy’s greatest heroes are together once again! They all smile with one another in relief. Rey and Finn look at their son Mace with pride as he is now fighting Sith. Also, Soles joins Mace in fighting back the Sith Sabers. Rey yells for everyone to retreat to the Falcon! Kyle, having turned off his lightsaber after defeating Supreme Leader Chazra, rolls over on the ground and signals for Azuree and Corran to come towards him as they were defending themselves against Sith Sabers. Lewbacca grabs Chase and starts to make a run for the Falcon as Forisa follows them from behind, keeping the Sith at bay. Everyone is slowly making their way back to the landing ramp of the ship. As Grand Lord Tyro stands up, signaling for the Sith to stop, the battle is at a standstill.

“Get on board. I’ve got this,” Poe tells the entire group. Finn replies, “we’re doing this together, Poe.” Poe firmly states, “You have your family, Finn. My mission is to get you out of here and save the Jedi Order.” Poe looks to them, saying, “My friends, you are Jedi Masters who need to take care of these young ones for the survival of our galaxy.” Grand Lord Tyro, hearing the conversation from a distance, replies across the platform, “how sentimental of you after killing my Supreme Overlord! How about we kill you all!” Poe yells, “Go!” The Jedi Knights run up the ramp with Rey looking at Poe and Finn desperately. She hesitates, looks at the two men, and then finally runs up the ramp to get to the pilot’s seat to get them out of there. All of the Sith Sabers and Tyro are running towards the Millennium Falcon with their lightsabers drawn. Poe shoots his blaster at the landing platform in front of the charging Sith. It fires up debris into the air, hitting and knocking them down onto the ground, making them scream in pain and agony. Tyro dodges the shooting debris, extending his hand out at Poe’s blaster while running at them, focusing on the Force. Finn reaches out at Tyro to block Tyro’s Force grab, but Tyro is too powerful! Rey fires up the Falcon’s engines. The Jedi Knights are yelling for Poe and Finn to get up the ramp as the Falcon is starting to take off. Poe’s blaster turns completely inward on himself. Finn jumps towards Poe, but Poe’s trigger finger already presses in without his control, firing directly into himself. Finn catches Poe in his arms as the blaster falls away. Finn holds him up, falling back into the ship as the ramp closes and they take off. “No! Poe!” Finn is yelling, “somebody get a medpac, Poe’s been hit!” Poe, struggling to breathe, says, “it’s okay, Finn, they’re safe. We did it together.” With tears rolling down Finn’s face, he says, “Stay with me, Poe, we’re a family. You’re family.” Poe smiles and nods, coughing, “you’re my best friend, Finn. I’m glad we got Rey back. Take care of them. Take care…” and passes away gently in his arms.

The Millennium Falcon takes off with Rey piloting, yet Grand Lord Tyro and his Sith Sabers have their own supercharged ship that uses coaxium, giving it more power. This was how they stayed hidden and undercover for so long. The Invincible was a sleek, arrow-winged black ship built for stealth and speed. The dozen Sith and their leader had recovered from their wounds and made their way onto it, preparing to take off. Finn joins Rey in the cockpit and sits down behind a worried C-3PO. “He’s gone, Rey. Poe didn’t make it. He saved us all by firing at all of those Sith or whatever they are,” Finn says with a sad look in his eyes. Rey doesn’t say anything but looks back and takes Finn’s hand, and they have a quiet moment together. Rey turns back and plots the navigation that Poe had made sure to record on their way in so there was a way out. The invincible flies right past them, going even faster, and instead of engaging in a fight, the Sith ship flashes brightly and goes to hyperspace into the storm that divides Tyrania and Rachia. “What the heck was that!” Rey calls out. C-3PO replies, “It appears, Master Rey, that they want to get somewhere faster than us.” Finn chimes in, “yeah, but why?” Rey comments, “I don’t feel good about this.” Kyle joins the group and sits behind Rey quietly.

“That’s crazy,” answers Kyle after the explanation of the Sith flying by them, leaving Tyrania like a mynock out of a cave. “What do we do? Go after them without knowing where they are going, or do we stay here and try to figure this place out while they’re gone?” asks Kyle. The two parents are concerned about their son Mace and the young Jedi Knights not belonging in a place like this. Rey speaks first, saying, “we’ve been here long enough and should let the Grand Republic deal with all of this. We need to get the Jedi back home.” Finn echoes Rey’s words, “Rey’s right. This is no place to be lost forever.” Kyle replies in agreement. The Falcon goes through the storm without any consequence. Coming out of the storm, their view is a partially destroyed Rachia that was now empty of Chazrach ships and soldiers. From the coordinates where Poe had flown them in, Rey and C-3PO push the levers forward to launch them into lightspeed towards Zanatarium.

Meanwhile, in the main cargo hold of the ship, the group of young Jedi Knights, Mace, Soles, Azuree, Corran, Lewbacca, Chase, and Forisa, along with R2-D2 and BB-8, were paying their respects to Poe, with him wrapped up in blankets. Poe’s favorite white and orange ball droid, BB-8, hadn’t stopped sobbing and beeping in distress. R2 was consoling the little droid, explaining that all life passed on and how R2 had lost Luke many years ago. Corran was talking about how much Poe had meant to him, “he made us feel like we could all save the galaxy and fly and fight anything without even needing special powers.”

As the remembrances continued, they came out of lightspeed in front of Zanatarium, and there’s a large Chazrach ship right in front of them. “It looks like we have a welcoming party,” Rey comments. The Chazrach large organic ship turns and heads down towards Zanatarium’s surface. “What do we do with this?” asked Rey. “We follow it because maybe this is the break we need,” Finn answered. “Yeah, hostile or not, we could find out where the Chazrach went and especially those Sith,” Kyle says. Rey was still flying. The Falcon trails the ship to a large clearing as it lands before them. A group of Chazrach are walking out from it and moving towards them. Rey begins the slow landing process, staying cautiously distant. The vines of the Chazrach growth began to grab the ship, pulling it down to the ground. “Here we go again! Everybody out!” yells, Kyle. The Jedi empty out of the Falcon and turn on their lightsabers, ready to cut at the vines when surprisingly, the vines stop and recede backward. The Chazrach are commanding their growth to stop the aggression as they walk towards them. The Jedi turned to face the Chazrach soldiers and prepare for battle. Rey and Finn walk off the ship, ready to back them up, as Kyle is about to call out to the Chazrach when they call out first to them saying, “Jedi, we come to you as new friends of the galaxy.”

Warmaster Wonar bows and continues, “we have seen for ourselves that our masters wield the same machines as you do, but have used us for a generation as slaves. All I ask is that you leave us in peace here on Zanatarium, and we will tell you all that we know.” A surprised Kyle says to Wonar, “How do we know you’re not just lying to us?” Wonar answers, “because we have abandoned the invasion of your planet to Ord Mantell. Although we were the only deserters, I have told my soldiers we are no longer fighting for false prophets and lords. We want to live free and not kill anymore.” Kyle continues, “Ord Mantell. Who is there?” Wonar answers, “Warmaster Chokar, who is now the Supreme Overlord. He was already the strongest, most powerful Warmaster who wiped out your planet of Dantooine.” Corran, who lost his boyfriend on Dantooine, yells to everyone, “Chokar must pay! We need to go now!” Wonar looks at Corran and says, “Many more will perish under Chokar.” A confused Rey asks, “What about your rulers? How did you find out about them?” Wonar answers, “after your ship wrecked our home world of Rachia, we flew into the storm and saw for ourselves the planet of machines and men who were there the whole time lying to us. We will never again raise our arms against any Jedi. You have shown us the light.” The group of Jedi stare at them in disbelief. Wonar smiles and begins to walk back to his ship with his group of soldiers. He stops and turns to say, “Our living life will be with you.” Soles turns to the group and comments, “did he just say in their words, ‘may the Force be with you’?” The group smirks. Mace replies, “I think so. This trip is getting weirder and weirder.” Chase speaks up, “next stop, Ord Mantell?” Kyle says, “Yes, Chase, let’s get back to the ship and get out of this galaxy once and for all.” Finn follows with, “Yes, and we need to get Poe home as well.” They all gather around the landing ramp and go back up into the ship, all still feeling the loss of their friend and a determination to keep fighting.

Finn and Mace stay next to Poe as the others scatter around to get some much-needed rest. Rey goes back to the cockpit as Soles and Forisa join her, along with C-3PO. The Falcon easily takes off as the Chazrach growth is no longer attacking it. Their trip from Zanatarium back to the Republic galaxy was a smooth one. Rey made sure their course was the same as Poe’s, and before they knew it, their navigation was back up and running to safely arrive in their own galaxy. “Finally, we’re out of the unknown,” Soles says in relief. Then Forisa asks, “Master Skywalker, how long will it take us to get to Ord Mantell?” Rey guesses, “well, the planet is in the Bright Jewel System of the Mid-Rim, so it could take a while. You two should get some sleep.” Soles answers, “I can’t sleep, and certainly not at a time like this when so many lives are at stake, and we have a chance at saving the galaxy.” Forisa adds, “I feel the same.” Rey looks back at two of her Jedi Knights and nods in approval. The coordinates are plugged in, and Rey says, “3PO, are you ready to jump to lightspeed to Ord Mantell?” C-3PO answers, “yes, Master Rey.” Rey says, “let’s do this in 3, 2, 1,” and she pushes the levers forward, and they jump to lightspeed as the blue and white streaking stars come into view flashing by. Hours pass by as the Jedi rest up for another possible battle with the once-again invading Chazrach.

Chancellor Cala O’Taz is sitting in another meeting with his staff and a few Senators, trying to get a handle on what is going on not only in their galaxy, but also in the unknown galaxy of the Chazrach. O’Taz is worried about Poe, the Jedi, and the Republic citizens far away from protection, so he sent out several scout vessels to planets in the Outer Rim to gather any information on another possible invasion. Additionally, he’s hoping for any news about his friends. The Holonet and galactic reports had been absent of any Chazrach trouble since their victory on Obroa-Skai days earlier, with a complete retreat by the menacing foes. The Senators are spending all of their time fighting over recovery spending and how many credits their own planet deserves. The consensus of what to do about the actual Chazrach threat itself is to send the Grand Republic Fleet to wherever the Chazrach show up again, and then achieve a quick and successful victory as the Grand Fleet did above Obroa-Skai. The senators vary in opinions, but most say the Jedi only assisted as ground soldiers and were not the reason for the Republic victory. Re-election is always the most important thing to each senator, and they are not going to give too much glory to the Jedi. To them, calling themselves the war’s heroic leaders is all but guaranteeing their positions of power to continue in the Grand Republic Senate.

The thundering sound of a ship’s engines blasting by the Chancellor’s office stops everyone in their tracks. “What was that!?” O’Taz asks. “It must be a Republic ship flying out of line,” comments an aide. Then, several minutes pass, and the sound comes charging back even louder this time. Flying towards them is the Sith ship, the Invincible. The arrow stealth ship has made it to Chandrila! It begins to circle around and is preparing to land next to the grand office building. “That is not a Republic ship,” answers O’Taz. The group in the Chancellor’s office yells, freaks out, and runs out in fear, leaving O’Taz by himself with thrown about papers, trash, and disheveled furniture. Grand Lord Tyro walks off the Invincible’s landing ramp and sees Chancellor O’Taz staring at him from the large pane windows and begins to make his way towards his office. The guards in place are quickly strangled to death from afar by Tyro’s force chokehold without even getting a shot off. Tyro walks up the one staircase that leads from outside to O’Taz’s office and enters the Chancellor’s trashed room. O’Taz presses a button on the side of his desk, sending out an emergency alert that he and the Republic Capital are under attack. “Hello, I’m Cala O’Taz, Chancellor of the Grand Republic. What can I do for you on this fine day in our beautiful capital?” O’Taz calmly asks, trying to delay enough for more of his soldiers to arrive and wanting to figure out who this intimidating person was in front of him. “My name is Grand Lord Tyro, and you will be stepping down as Chancellor as now I am the galaxy’s new ruler,” Tyro opens up with. A surprised O’Taz says, “it’s not that easy, Tyro. We are a galaxy that votes who’s in power. If I step down, our government will never honor you as its ruler. They don’t even let me be their leader at times, and they’re my friends,” O’Taz answers with an awkward chuckle. “I’m not here to be a part of a government. I’m here to be the only government. Now you will give in to the New Sith Order, and I will have my revenge for the death of my Master, Snoke!” Tyro states. He puts his hand out and pulls O’Taz into the air as he flies right into Tyro’s grasp by his neck. “Time to step down,” Tyro says as he holds a struggling O’Taz straight out from him with one hand. “You will lose, just like Snoke, and this Sith Order will never rule,” answers a muffled but still defiant O’Taz. Tyro walks out of the office to the edge of the staircase, still holding him high in the air. He throws O’Taz down the stairs so hard that the Chancellor hits his head numerous times, tumbling down violently, and his lifeless body hits the hard ground at the bottom of the stairs.

The Millennium Falcon comes out of lightspeed at Ord Mantell. There are large Chazrach ships making their way down to the planet’s surface, but none are out in open space. “Looks like you took out a lot of their forces back there,” Rey comments to Soles and Forisa. “We certainly made our mark in the unknown,” Soles smiles with satisfaction. Forisa says, “Yeah, Soles was hitting everything but a womp rat as Poe flew us through Rachia to get to you.” C-3PO adds, “I had never been so scared in my life.” Rey looks at the droid and warmly smiles, saying, “it will be okay, 3PO,” and then asks her two Jedi knights what they think of the situation. Forisa offers, “we go to the surface and find this Chokar, and if we can stop him, maybe they will give in and retreat like last time.” Soles says, “I agree because we need to save as many civilians as possible down there.” Rey looks back at them and nods, saying, “You got it. Next stop, Chokar on Ord Mantell.”

The Grand Republic Fleet had been patrolling the Core Worlds to protect against Chazrach attacks and was currently above Coruscant because the population was the largest in the Grand Republic. The emergency alert from the Chancellor prompted this Grand Fleet to begin the hyperspace jump to Chandrila. The remaining Jedi Knights who did not take the trip to the unknown with the group were already on Chandrila, spread out at their places of residence when the alert went out. Raef, Hal, Anna, and Temiri all joined up at the Jedi Temple and were deciding what to do. “I think we should get over to the Senate building and the Chancellor’s office to find out what happened,” Anna offers to the other three Jedi. “I agree, but without the others, we could be in over our heads,” Raef concedes. Temiri adds, “I say we go.” Hal looks to his friends and states, “if we do this, I guess we will prove we are more than heroes in name.” They head out of the temple together and make their way to the Capital buildings. Grand Lord Tyro walks back to his ship as his Sith Sabers are waiting for his orders. “Lord Tyro, what is our next move?” asks Sith Saber Donte. The Sith Lord looks to Donte and says to the others, “We’re getting back on the Invincible to destroy this place and its people. I’m certain that once we do this, we wait for the Jedi and destroy them. I will then take my rightful place in this galaxy.” Donte smiles and nods at his Master, and Tyro smiles back. The Sith hurry back into their ship, and the Invincible takes off.

Rey tells Soles to go wake the others from their rest aboard the Millennium Falcon because the Chazrach ships on Ord Mantell have spotted their approach and have begun to move towards them. Forisa moved into the co-pilot’s seat because C-3PO followed Soles to the main cabin area. “What do we do?” asks Forisa. Rey answers, “I’m going to pilot us past these incoming ships and get us planet-side. Then we need to have a team to go after this new Supreme Overlord Chokar. My gut feeling is that he is at Ord Mantell City. So that’s where I’m flying us to.” Soles comes back with Kyle, and they look out at the Chazrach ships with concern. Rey says, “Master Phyto, you should go tell the others to get ready for a bumpy ride, okay?” Kyle adds, “I agree. Good luck, Master Skywalker.” He leaves them to go tell the others, and Soles sits down in the seat behind Forisa and buckles up. Rey stretches out her arms and then closes her eyes, focusing on the Force. “The Force will be with us,” she says out loud. The lead Chazrach ship fires its energy blasts at the Falcon, and Rey opens her eyes and starts to spin the ship at an angle, dodging the blasts. In the main cabin, the group is holding on for their lives, and Mace and Lewbacca are ready to go in the gun turrets to defend the ship.

The Invincible takes off and immediately attacks the buildings around it, but a group of Republic X-wing fighters are flying towards the Sith. Tyro, piloting his ship, switches into a near invisible stealth mode. He fires upon the X-wings. They scatter not knowing where he went, and one by one, Tyro takes each Republic ship out. He turns the Invincible to the Senate building and fires his main cannon at the super structure, hitting the top of the Senate building. It starts to collapse in on itself, crashing to the ground. Those who are inside are killed or buried instantly. “Behold the end of the Grand Republic once and for all,” a pleased Tyro says to his co-pilot Sith Saber Taizon. The young Sith comments, “My Lord, this is your day of victory. The Jedi will fall.” The four Jedi get to the Senate building too late. The building had been destroyed by an unknown attack. Raef, Hal, Anna, and Temiri immediately begin to start looking for survivors in the rubble as many others have already started doing the same. Other survivors around the building are in utter shock, covered in dust and debris, trying to get away from the horrific scene. Grand Lord Tyro and the Sith are now making their way to the middle of the city in their ship. The Invincible, where they know a HoloNet headquarters, is located. Their covert missions in the shadows over the years had taught them a lot about the Republic and how its propaganda was sent out. The Holonet was a large communications system with several channels, and The Queen of the Core network had a large studio on Chandrila. Tyro knew this was where he could convince the galaxy to join him in taking down the Republic government and the Jedi by proclaiming his justified rule to billions of new subjects.

Rey is flying underneath the lead Chazrach ship as it misses every opportunity to hit them from long range. Mace and Lewbacca are firing everything they have at the large organic ship but doing little to no damage to it. “I’m going to swing us around to get in between those two ships,” Rey says to the Jedi women. Soles adds, “When we went through Rachia, Poe’s brilliant flying made their own weapons take one another out!” Forisa continues, “as the saying goes, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!” Rey smiles, thinking of Poe, and puts the Falcon in the line of sight from two Chazrach ships. “Once they fire, I’m turning upwards! This is for you, Poe,” Rey says with confidence. Soles turns behind her and shouts out to the others in the main cabin, “Hold on back there!” The Chazrach blasts away multiple shots at the Falcon, and following this, Rey turns the ship sharply up. The energy blasts go by one another, and the turning Chazrach ships are not fast enough to get out of the way of their own approaching doom. The two ships are hit on their sides and begin to break up in a swirling, crushing implosion. The few remaining Chazrach ships turn and make a run for the surface. “Oh no, you don’t!” yells, Rey. She flies the Falcon towards them in pursuit.

“This is Governor Radsow of Ord Mantell’s Central Authority. We see what you’ve done up there, and on behalf of my people, thank you. Our delegates and I were being held hostage, but when you showed up, Chazrach Supreme Overlord Chokar ran away, and our soldiers are now looking for him. We will take care of the rest of the Chazrach ships. If you don’t already know, the Chancellor has put out an emergency alert that Chandrila is under attack,” says the Republic Governor over the broadcast. “This is Jedi Master Rey Skywalker of the New Jedi Order. My team will help with the search. You’re going to need Jedi to take down this Chazrach. He has a reputation for being mean and strong,” she comments to the governor. “Hi, Master Skywalker. Yes, he has killed many of my soldiers, and we could use the help. Please land at Morro Spaceport as I will send you the coordinates. There’s no time to waste, and I will see you when you land,” Radsow says. Thinking about the alarming situation on Chandrila but the need to help where they are, Rey says to Forisa, “The Sith must be on Chandrila. Take over the controls and get us to the Morro Spaceport as fast as you can. I need to go talk to the group.” Forisa answers, “Sure thing, Master Skywalker.”

Rey enters the main cargo hold where the group has been waiting. “What’s the deal?” Azuree asks first. Rey says to the group, “the deal is Chokar is still on Ord Mantell and has gone into hiding, so we need a team to go after him, but I believe the Sith have made it to Chandrila and are attacking O’Taz and the Senate. My proposal is that we split up and kill two porgs with one stone.” Lewbacca chuckles. “What do you think, Lew?” Rey asks. Lewbacca looks at Rey talking about how his Uncle Chewbacca and Han Solo would want them to think practically about how to split up the group and not get sentimental about things. “Great advice, Lewbacca, and I think we can all agree with that. What do you all think?” Kyle asks Corran, Azuree, Chase, Soles, and Mace, and they agree it’s a sound assessment. Kyle looks over at Finn, who has been taking care of Poe’s body, and asks, “Are you okay, Finn?” He struggles to find the words, having lost his close friend of so many years. “I don’t want to lose anyone else, but I understand we need to put an end to this once and for all,” Finn says proudly and gets up and walks over to Rey and stands by her side. “Who’s going where?”

Rey gives the orders that the search party for Chokar will be Kyle, Corran, Mace, Soles, C-3PO, and R2-D2, with the rest staying on board the ship to make the jump to hyperspace to Chandrila. Rey goes back to the cockpit as Forisa is landing at the spaceport. “We’re dropping off a group to go after Chokar, and we’re heading to Chandrila, okay, Forisa?” Rey says to the Jedi Knight. “Okay, I hope we can get there quickly enough,” Forisa answers. “We’re going to have to hope that there is still a Chandrila left when we get there,” Rey comments. “That bad?” Forisa asks. “Yeah, it could be that bad,” Rey says. The group runs off the ship, and Rey gets back in the pilot seat with Forisa next to her, and they take off for Chandrila.

On Chandrila, the Sith have murdered thousands of lives, and the government has been wiped out. The Chancellor was assassinated by Grand Lord Tyro, and the Senate building was destroyed, killing most of the Republic Senators and many Republic military officials. Meanwhile, the Sith had arrived at the HoloNet headquarters of the Queen of the Core network in the midst of all the chaos. Tyro and his dozen Sith Sabers are making their way into the building. There are only several guards and workers scrambling for their lives, running for the exits. The Sith ignite their red-bladed lightsabers and block the shots of the guards, and cut them down quickly. They make their way to the broadcast room and take over the live feed that had been going on before their arrival. Donte and Taizon, who are two of Tyro’s best Sabers, adjust the setup, and a defiant Tyro stands before the galaxy to begin to tell his tale:

CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC

MY NAME IS TYRO

I HAVE COME TO YOU TODAY AS A MESSENGER

A BRINGER OF PEACE AND STABILITY

NOT AS A RULING GOVERNMENT

NOT AS A CORRUPTER OF RESOURCES

BUT AS YOUR SAVIOR

THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IS UPON US

I WILL BE YOUR LEADER OF JUSTICE

YOU WILL ALL BE FREE

FREE OF BUREAUCRACY

FREE OF RULERS OF YOUR PLANETS

WE SHALL RISE TOGETHER

AS THE FREE ORDER SHALL BE……

The transmission is immediately cut off to billions in the galaxy. Grand Lord Tyro and his twelve Sith Sabers take a direct missile hit from the just-arrived Grand Republic Fleet overhead the HoloNet headquarters. The building crashes down onto the Sith, and explosions ring out in the plaza and city around the area.

Ord Mantell

On the planet of Ord Mantell, the governor tells the Jedi the area where Supreme Overlord Chokar had run off to and left it to them to find the Chazrach leader. The authorities are happy to have the Jedi go after him. They have their hands full, taking out the last of the Chazrach ships and soldiers who landed and scattered upon their arrival. The streets of Worlport are tough going since the city ranges from tourist filled areas to gambling districts. It is the largest city on Ord Mantell, so Chokar could have gone anywhere. Kyle thinks the best approach is to ask around if anyone has seen anything, but they haven’t gotten a lead yet. “There are too many civilians. How are we going to do this without collateral damage?” Soles asks Kyle. He looks down the street they are currently walking on and says, “we’re going to have to be careful Soles. So, if we were Chokar, where would we go?” R2-D2 offers some advice and C-3PO translates.”R2-D2 thinks the best course of action is to let him plug into the government authority’s system and see if anything out of the ordinary has happened.” “That’s the best we got? What about one of the casinos?” Mace questions. “Why would a Chazrach go to a casino?” Corran questions, Mace. “That’s a fair point,” Mace answers. Kyle smiles and comments to Corran. “He wants to improve his odds?” The group laughs. C-3PO says, “I don’t get it.” The group laughs even more.

They walk together along the Path of Coins in Worlport, not knowing what to do since they couldn’t agree on any one plan. The Jedi find a clean and beautiful elaborate staircase to sit down on to take a break. A still-standing C-3PO looks up at the building they’re sitting in front of and comments, “the Lady Fate Casino.” Kyle comments, “There you go, 3PO. You can do all of your odds calculations for the patrons if things ever get back to normal.” C-3PO realizes the joke earlier and says, “the casino has the greater statistical odds, so Chokar going into a casino will not improve his odds! I get it! I understand the joke! It’s very funny, of course.” The group looks at him, and 3PO suddenly stops talking and freezes, besides pointing his arm out at something behind them. “C-3PO stopped talking. Now that’s overcoming a great statistical odd,” Soles jokes. Mace, Corran, and Kyle laugh along with Soles, and they turn to see what 3PO is pointing at. It’s Supreme Overlord Chokar standing behind them up the staircase at the entrance of the Lady Fate Casino, dressed in a dark brown hooded cloak. The laughing turns into panic as they jump up and turn around to face the Chazrach ruler.

Chokar announces, “If it isn’t the Jedi. You have destroyed everything from my home, my soldiers, my ships, my army, and even my galaxy. Everything, and now you hunt me down thinking I will give up and let you destroy me as well? I will end you as I have ended all who have challenged me.” Corran steps up two of the stairs to meet Chokar face to face. Kyle takes one step up the stairs, motioning with his mechanical hand for Mace, Soles, C-3PO, and R2-D2 to stay back. Corran states boldly, “You murdered my partner on Dantooine. He was my family, and you destroyed my life and his. I will get justice, and you will surrender to us now. No one else has to get hurt here.” Kyle takes another step up, so he’s next to Corran and looks at his Jedi Knight with pride, saying, “I’m proud of you, Corran. We’re going to bring in this monster together.” They both look up at Chokar, and The Chazrach says, “You won’t be able to lock me up if you’re dead!” He rushes at Kyle, tackling him down the stairs, and Corran jumps on his back. Chokar throws off Corran, flipping him over and breaking his arm. Corran yells in pain. Then Chokar grabs Kyle’s mechanical arm and rips it off! “Ahhhh, not again!” Kyle yells. The Chazrach ruler laughs, but he doesn’t see the other two Jedi, Soles and Mace, rushing in on him. He was so focused on having Kyle’s mechanical arm in his grasp in delight that he didn’t see they both had already ignited their lightsabers. Mace jumps low through the air and cuts off Chokar’s legs at his knees, thumping him down just head high of Soles’s lightsaber. He has a startled angry look on his face as she winds up and swings hard, chopping his head off. It tumbles away, and Chokar’s body falls over on its side, landing on Kyle, who is still on the ground. Corran yells, “Finally, justice, ow my arm!” Kyle comments, “at least you still have an arm!” C-3PO asks, “Is everybody okay?” R2-D2 is chirping happily. Corran answers, “Define, okay?” Mace and Soles turn off their lightsabers and walk up to one another. “You were great,” Mace tells her. “Thanks for bringing him down to my size,” Soles says warmly to Mace. “Sure thing, Soles, anytime,” Mace answers, smiling. They both hug and embrace one another, having survived so much and bringing an end to the Supreme Overlord of The Chazrach swiftly.

The Millennium Falcon arrives above Chandrila with a shocked crew on board. The Grand Republic Fleet is positioned around the planet in a defensive stance against any possible Chazrach attack. However, what they don’t know is that the remaining Chazrach have been defeated at Ord Mantell. Rey is piloting with Forisa in the co-pilot’s chair, and Azuree and Finn is in the two seats behind them. “This doesn’t look good,” Rey comments as they approach the planet, passing by the Republic Fleet. “Millennium Falcon, this is Admiral Kaydel Ko Connix. How are you all doing?” She asks with hopeful concern. “Hi, Kaydel, this is Rey Skywalker. I was rescued by the Jedi and Poe Dameron, but the Sith turned Poe’s blaster on him. He didn’t make it,” she says sadly. Connix replies in grief, “Poe has been with us for such a long time as our close friend and leader. That is devastating news. I hate to be the bearer of even more sad news, but the Chancellor has been killed by Grand Lord Tyro. “Oh no!” Rey interjects. “He killed O’Taz?” Finn questions. “I’m afraid he did, Master Finn,” Connix says as she explains further, “Tyro also destroyed the Senate building, taking out most of our leaders and countless civilians. “We were too late,” Rey looks down in pain. Connix continues, “we pinpointed his location at the HoloNet Queen of the Core headquarters when he began a transmission out to the galaxy. I followed his lying threats with a missile attack on the building, and ever since, our search party has found nothing but rubble and several Sith bodies, but no Sith Lord. Again, my heart goes out to Poe and you all. Good luck finding Tyro because we can’t find the menace in all the mess he created down there.”

Rey lands the Millennium Falcon on the plaza near what is left of the HoloNet headquarters. Raef, Hal, Temiri, and Anna reunite with the group of Finn, Rey, Lewbacca, Chase, Forisa, Azuree, and BB-8 in front of the ship. There are lots of hugs and concerns as the group of Jedi walk towards the destruction searching for survivors with Republic soldiers and citizen medical workers. “Any sign of Tyro?” Rey asks a soldier. “No Master Jedi,” he answers. They reach the building site where Anna and Raef meet up with them. “It’s great to see you, Master,” Anna says. “We’re sorry we didn’t help rescue you,” Raef apologizes. “No apologies, Jedi Knights. You are always right where you need to be, okay?” After this exchange, Rey answers and looks out at the rubble. She reaches out with the use of the Force, closing her eyes, and several slabs of stone are lifted out of the middle of the rubble. Rey sets the rocks aside and motions for Azuree, Temiri, Forisa, and Chase to follow her, then gives Finn the look. He knew what the look meant, but he’s still concerned. “I’ll be right here with BB-8 and the others,” he says. Rey nods and leads a smaller group of Jedi to the now open hole in the middle of where the building had once stood.

A blackened and burned body of Grand Lord Tyro is at the bottom of the hole. He’s still alive, dragging what is left of his body out of the hole by his hands. Tyro sees Rey and the four Jedi looking down on him, and he stops moving. “You don’t deserve the Force!” Tyro yells in anger and pain. “This galaxy will never learn, but now the Free Order is bigger than me! I have told your galaxy what is possible!” Rey smiles and looks at Chase and says, “Go ahead.” The youngest Jedi Knight walks down to Tyro. He is infuriated and slowly turns over on his side and then onto his back. Tyro yells, “You’re sending a child to kill me!?” Laying on his back, he reaches for his lightsaber, but it’s not there. Chase already has it in his hand as he uses a speedy Force grab as Tyro is struggling to turn himself over. A HoloNet team arrives and begins broadcasting the scene out to the galaxy, peering down on Tyro and Chase. Also, Finn, the other Jedi, Republic soldiers, and rescue workers all move forward to watch what is happening. Chase announces, “In the name of the Grand Republic and the New Jedi Order, you are under arrest for your crimes against all life, the murder of my friends, and countless innocent lives.” Chase ignites his lightsaber, tossing Tyro’s saber hilt in the air and chops it in half, then looks up at the HoloNet camera and says, “may we find peace and justice for all those he’s hurt across the galaxy. May the Force be with us all.” Everyone smiles, cheers, and claps around the rubble as they had beaten Tyro and had achieved victory in the Chazrach War.

TWO DAYS LATER

Chandrila and the Grand Republic had been dealt a severe blow to its infrastructure, and thousands of lives were lost in the brief war with Tyro, the Sith, and Chazrach. Along with the start of building a memorial for the fallen, Chancellor O’Taz and Grand Admiral Poe Dameron were laid to rest at the center of the site. Kyle, Corran, Mace, Soles, C-3PO, and R2-D2 had hitched a ride to Chandrila from Ord Mantell the day before and were present along with the rest of the heroic group that saved the Grand Republic. Jedi Master Rey Skywalker is speaking to a crowd that came to honor the heroes. “Our Grand Republic is more than just a government or Jedi Order. Our citizens are empowered with freedoms, liberties, and economic possibilities across the galaxy. We’re here to serve and protect every Republic citizen, to maintain the peace, and cultivate harmony among all beings. I dedicate this memorial to the fallen and to our lost friends. To every heroic soldier and citizen we have tragically lost in this war: We love you, we remember you, and may the Force be with you, always.” Rey finishes her speech, and there is silence among everyone. She joins Finn, Mace, and the Jedi Knights, standing at the side. Jedi Master Kyle Phyto says quietly, “we’re going to have to move the Republic Capital somewhere else. This needs to be a place of peace and reflection.” Rey and Finn look at Kyle and nod in agreement. The rest of the day and in the weeks following, they assist the Chandrila workers in prepping the grounds for the fallen and help construct monuments. In addition, a decision was made by the new Grand Admiral Kaydel Ko Connix to move the Capital to Coruscant. Also, all Republic planets were given the order to send a representative to Coruscant. Connix and the military had made sure it was an immediate transfer of power back to the new Senate and an eventual Chancellor that had yet to be named. The Grand Republic was going to survive.

CORUSCANT: THE NEW CAPITAL OF THE GRAND REPUBLIC

In the months following the war, Kyle made the trip back to Obroa-Skai to meet up with Marieene Arista, the head curator of the Celebratus Archive. She was happy to see him again, and he gathered the courage to ask her on a date. Before long, their relationship grew to the point where they wanted to get married. On Coruscant, their wedding party is taking place on an open deck overlooking the city planet at night. Everyone who is close to Kyle and Marieene is there: All of the Jedi Knights, Rey, Finn, the three droids, and Marieene’s family and friends from Obroa-Skai, who got to take the trip from their planet to Coruscant aboard the Millennium Falcon. The droids and Jedi Knights are dressed up in formal attire and have gathered around the large table of food. R2-D2 comments with beeps that weddings are his favorite because everyone is so drunk they end up talking to him about their deepest secrets. “R2-D2, that is enough of your silliness. Let them drink in peace,” C-3PO replies. The now fourteen-year-old Chase says, “R2 isn’t going to get any secrets out of me. I love hot chocolate too much to ever get into drinking.” Finn stumbles in on the conversation, “have any of you seen my son?” Azuree answers, “Nope, we haven’t.” Finn looks puzzled but continues his search. Lewbacca, Corran, Forisa, Raef, and Azuree look at one another and smile.

Mace and Soles are kissing inside the hallway of the open deck party when Finn walks up to them. “Are you two going to join the party, or are you going to get married in this hallway?” Finn asks. They stop kissing and look at him. Finn continues, saying, “Come on, you two, we need you for the group photo, okay?” Mace says, “Okay, Dad. We’ll be right there.” Finn walks back to the party. Mace looks at Soles and asks, “I guess we could continue this another time?” Soles answers, “maybe we’ll see where the galaxy takes us.” They both smile and hold hands, walking out to the deck party where the group is gathering for the photo.

Kyle and Marieene are slow dancing to a tune the live band is playing. The music stops to signal it’s time for the photo as the married couple finishes their dance and kiss in happiness. They walk over to the other Jedi Knights who are already in position for the photo. Temiri, Anna, Hal, Lewbacca, Corran, Forisa, Raef, and Azuree are smiling and hugging one another. “Where’s Rey?” asks Finn and says,”My family keeps disappearing on me!” Rey hugs Finn from behind. “I’m right here, big deal.” Finn smiles. “Where’s Mace and Soles?” Questions, Chase. “We’re here!” says Soles as they both run up to the group. “Come on, BB-8, get in front,” says Kyle. The ball droid beeps happily and rolls out in front of the gathering group. C-3PO and R2-D2 make their way alongside Rey and Finn. The Jedi crowd around in front of Kyle and Marieene as everyone is close together. Kyle asks, “Now everyone shout out, Jedi Knights!” They all say the words with big happy smiles, and the photo is taken.

End of Part 1

To be continued with Part 2, Star Wars: Episode XI – The New Jedi Knights