STAR WARS: EPISODE XI – THE NEW JEDI KNIGHTS

by Matthew Holmes

The Star Wars saga continues in Episode XI of my fan fiction trilogy, set 21 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 XI
THE NEW JEDI KNIGHTS

The CHAZRACH and SITH have been defeated, while Lord Tyro remains locked up on the planet Coruscant for his crimes. Despite these events, several systems of THE GRAND REPUBLIC are collapsing due to the devastation and battles lost in the war.

One of the systems hardest hit is the Five Brother Worlds, including the major shipyard planet of Corellia, but THE GRAND REPUBLIC has elected not to rebuild its fleet there for political reasons.

From this fallout, along with feeling sympathetic to Lord Tyro’s pleas on the HoloNet, a group of Corellians is on a secret mission to break him out of prison. Onboard a disguised light freighter, they are approaching Coruscant from space with the aim of shifting the balance of power in the galaxy….

STAR WARS: THE NEW JEDI KNIGHTS

1 Year Later, 57 ABY: Years After The Battle of Yavin

“How can we trust these Jedi?” Ailyn Vel asks aloud to her group of mercenaries aboard the disguised modified freighter, the Aggressor. She is the daughter of the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett, so Ailyn was taught to be cautious in trusting anyone. “You can trust them because one of them is from Corellia and the other can’t stand their masters,” comments an armored soldier wearing a helmet. “How the hell do you know anything about this?” An angry Ailyn protests. “Because I’m not just a soldier,” says the figure, taking off his helmet, revealing Thrackan Sal, the Head of State of Corellia. “Sorry, sir, I had no idea that this mission was of this magnitude,” Ailyn immediately apologizes. “That’s alright, Vel, and as for our mission, I want to make sure I am the first to greet our new Co-Head of State,” Thrackan explains. Making sure Ailyn Vel and her group are going to the right place, Thrackan set up a meeting with two of their conspirators in a cantina on Coruscant. The two had already sent Thrackan a message in good faith that Lord Tyro of the Sith was being held at the Grand Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center. “Follow the coordinates to the Lost City cantina, and we will land nearby,” Thrackan orders Makin Marec, the pilot of the Aggressor. “Yes, sir,” he replies as their ship enters the endless skyline city of Coruscant. Both Ailyn and Makin want a relationship together, but being bounty hunters didn’t leave a lot of time for love and settling down. Besides, they need the credits to put fuel in their ship, food on the table, and to build up enough savings to eventually retire. Ailyn, thinking about their future life together, is focused as ever to get the job done right, saying, “you know the plan except now our Head of State will join Makin and I to make contact with these two Jedi. The rest of you stay on board until we hear what they have to say. If we’re lucky with these two wild cards, the assault on this detention center could be easier than we thought,” Ailyn tells the group with determination in her eyes.

Coruscant: Capital of the Grand Republic

The Lost Cantina is a dump in the eyes of many, but to the two bounty hunters and Thrackan it is the perfect place to not be bothered and discreet so the Republic officers won’t think twice to be looking there for enemies of the state. At a table in the corner are two Jedi Knights. Raef Seinna and Forisa Mis disguised in moderate clothing, and both are wearing a neck wrap around half the bottom of their faces. Thrackan, Ailyn, and Makin sit down opposite of them, and Thrackan is the first one to speak. “I assume you know who I am?” he questions. “Yes sir, it’s nice to see you on Coruscant in person,” Forisa answers. “Can you vouch for your friend here?” Thrackan asks. “Of course he’s with me, and he’s ready to prove himself,” Forisa speaks in a casual way. “Good,” says Thrackan. “So how can we help pull off this little job?” Forisa asks. Ailyn speaks for the first time saying “to prove your loyalty to the cause we were hoping you’d run point for us and we will take care of a diversion to help you out. To be honest, we’re leaving it up to you and our fearless leader here to meet him.” “Very well,” answers Forisa. A droid approaches the table. “Can I get any of you a drink?” “We’re just leaving,” Makin says. The group gets up and walks out into a crowd on a bustling run down street. “Getting in is the easy part, but getting out will be the hard part,” Raef quietly tells the group. Thrackan explains in a hushed voice, “we’ll have our ship standing by to pick him up. All you have to do is take this communicator, ” he hands it to Raef,”and tell us what floor you’re going to be coming out of, and that’s it. We fly out of here before anyone knows where to look because they won’t be expecting a sky extraction. My hope is that you will not betray me.” Raef smiles and says,”The only obstacle we may face is one of our own. He likes to look after the prisoner because he feels it’s his responsibility. Nevertheless, Forisa and I will get the job done, and you will be safe with us.” Forisa puts her hand on Thrackan’s shoulder and assures him saying “it’s time for Corellia to take back its power, ” and he smiles back, feeling better about the mission. Forisa then adds, “and you need to change your clothes, sir. I have just the outfit for you.”

The Grand Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center was a high-security prison. There are multiple levels, cell blocks, a workout area, guard stations, and an open mess hall. The more dangerous inhabitants are kept separate from the population as the Sith Lord, Tyro, is the prison’s number one galactic criminal. Forisa and Raef know the drill to get to him because they had practiced visiting the prison as two of the Jedi Knights who were responsible for locking him up a year ago. In essence, the guards knew them and trusted their actions to be just and part of the Republic defense forces. It is a perfect setup to easily infiltrate their own system. They enter the prison and are being cleared one station after the next as Thrackan is alongside them disguised as a Republic official. Before he knows it, they’re up six stories of the prison and enter the floor where Tyro is being held. There are a dozen armed guards, and they’re playing a makeshift card game of sabacc on the floor. There is one Jedi Knight sitting in the corner watching the game, and he looks up at the three entering the chamber. “Hi, Chase,” Forisa says. “Hi, Forisa, what are you two doing here?” Chase asks, who was the youngest of the Jedi Knights now at fourteen years old, who gained his fame by taking down Tyro in front of the HoloNet broadcast. “We want to talk to Tyro,” Forisa comments. Just then, Thrackan pulls out a side blaster and begins to gun down the guards who are scrambling from the shots. Chase ignites his lightsaber and yells, “What are you doing!?” Thrackan shoots the last couple of guards and says, “like Forisa said, we want to talk to Tyro.” Raef walks up to Chase and sternly says, “turn your weapon off, Chase.” The young Jedi doesn’t know what to do, so he turns off his lightsaber, asking, “What is going on, Raef? Why are you going along with this traitor?” Raef explains, “the only traitors are going along with this government that controls the galaxy. It’s time for a shake-up, kid.” Chase defiantly states, “not on my life, Raef.” Chase ignites his lightsaber, pointing at Raef, but he dodges it and grabs the young Jedi by his hand that is holding his lightsaber. Raef squeezes his hand so hard it breaks, dropping the weapon. Chase struggles in pain and looks to Forisa, saying, “Don’t let him do this, Forisa. You are better than this!” She looks down and begins to walk away towards Tyro’s cell. Thrackan looks to Raef and says, “For the Free Order, Raef.” He grabs Chase’s arm and takes out his own lightsaber. “What are you doing, Raef? Let me go! Please stop it! Don’t go down this path!” With determination yet struggling on Raef’s face, he ignites his lightsaber into Chase’s chest and quickly turns it off. The young brave Jedi drops softly onto Raef, and he catches him to slowly set him down on the floor.

“It had to be done. He was going to sound the alarm for sure,” Thrackan comments. Raef looks down at Chase, realizing he just murdered his friend, but for some reason, it felt good to him: a release of the past and the control the Jedi had over him for most of his life. There was no going back now. “Quickly, we have to get to our Lord. Come on, Raef,” Thrackan continued. Forisa is already at the empty guard station and opens up Tyro’s cell. He walks out of it and turns to see Thrackan looking at him in an official Republic uniform. “Looks like the Republic is about to lose another one of its commanders,” Lord Tyro comments. “I’m not with the Grand Republic. I’m disguised and here to break you out,” Thrackan argues. “Is that so?” Questions, Tyro. “Yes, that is so,” Forisa says, walking out of the guard’s station. “I suppose you’re the one who just opened my cell up, and your friend killed the guards along with the young Jedi. Interesting,” Tyro states. “Yeah, interesting. Tyro, let’s get out of here,” Raef angrily comments as he walks up to them. Tyro smiles in delight, feeling the dark side energy emanating off of Raef and says, “Where are we going?” Thrackan answers, “Corellia, and I’m Head of State Thrackan Sal. I wanted to be the first one to welcome you to your new Free Order, and we are currently six planets strong and growing in size as I speak.” Tyro smiles, satisfied with what is coming to fruition. His plans are working.

The mercenaries in the Aggressor who are waiting for orders didn’t have to go far because Forisa messages to fly to the sixth floor and wait for them in mid-air. Raef walks up to the wall at the end of the cell block and ignites his lightsaber. He sticks it into the wall and starts slicing it in a large circular pattern. Before long, the prison opens up to the outside, and the debris falls off the building to the ground below. “I see you have planned this escape out for some time,” a pleased Tyro comments. “Of course, my Lord, you’re a very big deal to us,” says Thrackan to him directly. The Aggressor flies to the opening and opens its landing ramp. The group quickly hops into the ship, and they fly away from Coruscant with no one in pursuit. The prison alarms do not sound until it’s too late. Once the prison is exposed by Raef’s lightsaber job, all personnel are ordered to the sixth level, but the escape had already been achieved by the criminals. Tyro is gone. What the guards and Republic security forces can’t fully grasp is how there are markings of lightsabers everywhere from the dead Jedi Knight’s body to the cutting open of the prison wall.

“What say you Master Phyto?” Yoda’s force ghost asks Jedi Master Kyle Phyto, who’s in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant in a meditation chamber. “I’m saying although we have won and our Jedi Knights have restored peace and order to the galaxy as you once achieved, I still feel a distant disturbance in the Force.” Yoda looks at Kyle fondly and tells him “visions of a possible future you see. At these things do not look too far ahead. The present moment. Your attention. This needs. Careful you must be of young ones. They know not what to always do as do all beings. May the Force be with you, Kyle.” Yoda’s force ghost disappears, leaving Kyle to think on what Master Yoda had said to him. Mace and Lewbacca barge in on Kyle as he is quietly sitting in contemplation. Mace is one of the young Jedi Knights and Finn and Rey’s son. Kyle disapprovingly says “boys what did I say about manners? You do know that a year ago, you did exactly the same thing.” Mace apologizes, “I’m sorry Master Phyto, but we bring more bad news.” “What is the bad news?” Kyle questions. Lewbacca, a Jedi Knight Wookiee who is Chewbacca’s nephew, roars in his own language Shyriiwook, “Tyro has escaped!” Kyle looks at them in shock.

Barab I in The Outer Rim

On the planet of Barab I in the Outer Rim territories, the Chazrach invasion had driven the natives of the planet, the Barabel, underground. Barabel were a species of sentient reptilians and were avoided by many for their reputation of violence. Their world was left in ruins by the Chazrach invasion, and it was already a dark and murky place that had its own climate problems. Barab I had been liberated from the First Order by the New Republic, yet the Barabel avoided any galactic alliance with anyone. A young Barabel in her twenties had led the fight against the Chazrach invaders and lost all that she loved. Her family, friends, and most of her fellow warriors were slaughtered by the beings of the unknown. Saba Sebatyne is strong in the Force, and that’s how she survived the brief war with the Chazrach, but fashioning her own green-bladed lightsaber to defend her planet had come at a cost. The blade had accidentally turned on and flashed next to her face, blinding her in one eye, but that had not deterred her from following the ways of the Jedi and becoming the greatest warrior among the Barabel. No one knew of her power besides those on her planet and her close friends among the stars. She lives to keep it that way, too. Spending her l in low-tech communities above and underground, and with a radiation climate that kills everything in its path, there certainly isn’t any reason for anyone to want to come to Barab I.

Bothawui

The planet of Bothawui is a Mid Rim planet and the homeworld of the Bothans. A major center for information gathering, they have the best spying apparatus in the galaxy. Many Bothans sacrificed themselves for the greater good years earlier, stealing Imperial plans for the Death Star II and helping out behind the scenes in many galactic events. They are long-time supporters of the Rebel Alliance, the New Republic, and the Grand Republic. Bothans are a furry mammalian species, with an extremely smart and power-hungry ideology, and are largely represented in the current Senate and have great political clout across the galaxy. That’s why when word of Tyro’s escape gets around, it isn’t the only shocking HoloNet story of the day. The Bothan government formally renounces the Grand Republic in a political maneuver, pledging their allegiance to the Five Brother Worlds of Corellia, Selonia, Drall, Tralus, and Talus.

Coruscant

“I can’t believe all of this has been created by Tyro. It’s ridiculous!” Soles says as she watches the HoloNet with Azuree and her wife, Kashi, at their place on Coruscant. Soles has been staying with the couple for the past year due to her and Mace being so busy that they haven’t committed yet to a full live-in relationship. “Looks like you two need to get to the Jedi Temple,” Kashi comments. Both are wearing street clothes, so they change into their traditional Jedi robes. As they leave, Azuree hugs and kisses Kashi goodbye. Azuree and Soles go out into the hallway and wait to meet up with their Jedi Knight friends who live a few doors down.

Hal, Corran, and Temiri are three young men in the Jedi Knight group and live in the same building just down the hall from the women. Chase is also their roommate, but he spent most of his time at the Jedi Temple or at the prison helping to guard Tyro. They are in a similar situation with the news on casually hanging out in casual clothes. It’s only when the emergency broadcast begins that Hal and Temiri know the protocol to change into Jedi robes and get to the Jedi Temple as fast as possible. C-3PO, BB-8, and R2-D2, who are three of the galaxy’s most famous droids, are staying with the Knights for the time being. The youngest Jedi Knight, Chase, had been upgrading them with parts and programs. Soles, Azuree, Hal, Corran, Anna, and Temiri meet in the hallway with worried looks on their faces. Anna is the first to ask, “Where’s Chase?” Hal answers, “the last I knew, he’s at the prison for another overnight watch, so I think he could have been present when the breakout happened. He certainly could have helped with an escape if he wanted to.” Soles asks, “so, you think that all of a sudden he could be a traitor? Is that what you’re actually saying?” Temiri added, “we don’t know anything yet, and speculation isn’t going to get us anywhere.” Azuree said, “Temiri’s right, so let’s all get to the Jedi Temple and see what the Masters have to say.”

The new small meeting hall of the Jedi Temple is already occupied by Master Rey Skywalker, Master Finn, Master Phyto, Lewbacca, and Mace. Rey begins the meeting to say, “First, how much should we get involved in this new political war as peacekeepers? We are not soldiers or pawns to be manipulated by politicians. The Jedi made that mistake decades ago, and I intend not to make the same one. Secondly, if we participate in this potential war, what should our mission and priorities entail? Third and most importantly, we need to have a plan to recapture or stop Tyro from destroying our galaxy. He is manipulative and smart, and with his dark side powers, I sense great danger in what he could do to us.”

The open discussion begins as Finn, Mace, and Lewbacca agree with Rey that the path is clouded and confusing. Kyle walks up to Rey and Finn, motioning for them to follow him to the side of the room away from the others. “I have something to tell you both. I found out something terrible moments ago from our new Chief of State, Fyzo Rodron, who sent me a message,” Kyle explains. “Why didn’t we get any message?” Finn asks. “What happened that it has to be so secretive?” Rey questions. Kyle moves closer to Rey and Finn and quietly whispers, “Chase was killed by a lightsaber attack at the prison. Rodron says they aren’t making it public in fear of what this could mean for our position in the Grand Republic. We need to get over there and find out what happened.” The Jedi Masters are heartbroken and feel terrible about losing a member of their Jedi family and the youngest Knight. Rey quietly says back to Kyle, “we shouldn’t tell the group until we know more facts. We don’t need rogue Jedi hunting down ghosts.”

At this moment, six of the Jedi Knights enter as Soles, Azure, Hal, Corran, Anna, and Temiri make their way to the other side of the hall. The consensus is that nobody should make any predictions or spring into action until the Jedi Masters assess the situation at the prison.

Kyle and Marieene, who married a year ago, are talking via hologram on Kyle’s backseat ride over to the detention center with Finn driving and Rey in the passenger seat. Marieene is now the head curator at the Bureau of Ships and Services Heritage Museum on Coruscant. She had taken the new position upon leaving the Celebratus Archive on Obroa-Skai to be with her husband on Coruscant. “They’re saying this is going to be an all-out war, Kyle,” Marieene explains to him. Kyle reassures her, “I know, and I’m going to do all I can to stay out of it. We’re heading to the prison now because one of the knights has been killed and two more are missing. Duty calls, but I miss you already.” Marieene comments, smiling, “Don’t forget you are loved by more than yourself, so stay safe.” Kyle smiles back at her and says, “I will, and you the same. If Coruscant becomes a battlefield, we can always retire to Obroa-Skai, right?” Marieene answers, “Yes, I’d like that very much. I love you, Kyle.” “I love you too,” Kyle says as they both end the message together.

Finn is first to comment on Kyle and Marieene’s message “I didn’t know Jedi Masters retire? Did you get what he just said, Rey?” Rey looks at Finn disapprovingly and back at Kyle and comments further, “we’re all getting old, Finn. That’s why our Jedi Knights are so important. They will be Masters in the future.” Finn replies, “we must keep the balance. Whatever the cost.” Rey and Kyle look at Finn as he sighs deeply as they pull up to the damaged Grand Republic detention center. The awkward moment ends with them seeing debris on the ground everywhere. They exit their craft and look up at a large circular hole cut out of the side of the building. “It was a flying ship extraction,” Rey says. “That explains how they got out of there so quickly,” Kyle adds.

They walk up to the entrance of the prison, and Rey says, “Luckily, we have clearance for this mess because we were given the credit for locking Tyro up in the first place. We should meet up with the security team who is in charge here. I also want us to look at the crime scene for ourselves.” The prison is full of criminals and anti-government terrorists. Many of them are cheering, roaring obscenities, and repeatedly chanting “THE FREE ORDER!” The security guards are explaining the hostility while alongside them, Rey, Finn, and Kyle make their way to the sixth floor where Tyro had been kept. Once there, on a carted stretcher, lay Chase’s body under a blanket as the three check to identify him. “That’s our Chase Brakiss,” Kyle sadly states on the record to a Grand Republic official. Rey is looking closer at Chase and comments, “That’s a lightsaber stabbing right into his chest. Do you see how the wound went through him cleanly?” Finn says, “Clearly Tyro stole Chase’s lightsaber and used it on him and also sliced open the wall, escaping quickly and easily. I would say the case is closed.” A Grand Republic official walks towards them from down the hall, saying, “If only that were so. Tyro had two visitors, and we have surveillance proof of what happened here.”

Corellia

Meanwhile, on Corellia, plans are already underway to build ships for the upcoming conflict they are hoping to have with Coruscant. The Bothan Government and the four other brother worlds of Selonia, Drall, Tralus, and Talus joined the fifth brother world of Corellia to gain their freedom by ending the Grand Republic. The Bothans had also switched tactics, building smaller and faster frigates instead of the Republic’s slower star destroyers. The other worlds were following this line of thought. The idea was they could build smaller ships quicker, and in combat, the quantity could overwhelm the large Grand Republic fleet, but none of these tactics had been tested yet. Overlooking the main Corellian shipyard with the Aggressor nearby, Lord Tyro stands in his new black, dark blue, and red colored robes with Head of State Thrackan Sal behind him. The group who had rescued him, including the two renounced Jedi Raef and Forisa, are waiting down below from the two leaders. Tyro didn’t have his lightsaber because the Republic destroyed it when he was captured. He knew it was his top priority after he established his role as the secret leader of the six planets to build a new one. Tyro’s Free Order was a nice cover title he had thought up to exploit his subjects and rule the galaxy by his own rules, making a lawless and ungoverned galaxy. Everyone would be forced to follow his orders, fight his wars, and look to him for support and protection. He liked the idea of becoming the next great Emperor as Grand Lord became a galactic joke since he lost his Sith Sabers a year ago. When he was in prison, he heard the guards gossip and chatter about things like that.

“This all looks very well, Thrackan, but I want assurances you will follow through with our cause,” Tyro says to Head of State Thrackan Sal, who is standing behind him, overlooking the largest shipyard on Corellia. “There is no reason for us to be doing all of this with spending our resources and credits if we were not going to carry out the attack, my Lord,” Thrackan answers Tyro accordingly. “Good,” says Tyro and further explains, “As for your title, I want you to keep it and be the ruler here. The Jedi won’t come after you if we keep this a political and multiple planetary struggle for only your rights and freedoms. I will make my way to another brother world and base my operations there secretly. I will also take my two new Jedi and build up my forces to fight any problem the other Jedi or the Republic might give you. Soon, they will fear the Free Order as all who have power do. Goodbye, Thrackan.” Tyro walks down the open stairs that lead to the surface where the Aggressor crew is waiting. The Captain of the ship, Ailyn, is in her Mandalorian armor with a blaster, guarding it, and alongside her is Makin and two other armor-covered mercenaries. Lord Tyro walks up to the group and asks with a smile, “You’re my bodyguard now?” Ailyn answers him through the speaker in her helmet, “that’s right. According to our boss,” she looks up at Thrackan, “you’re the most valuable man in the galaxy, and we intend to keep it that way.” Tyro asks, “where are my Jedi?” Makin answers through his helmet, “well, they’re both on board waiting for your love and guidance. I think they are two lost porgs without their Mommy, if you ask me.”

Coruscant

“Like I was saying, it was two of your young Jedi,” says the Republic official to Rey, Finn, and Kyle, and continues explaining, “also, Corellia’s Head of State, Thrackan Sal, had made the trip shown here as a disguised Republic official. We now know it was the Corellians who were responsible for the prison escape. It’s an indirect act of war, according to Chief of State Rodron, but at the moment, our Grand Republic forces are being held back from attacking Corellia.” The group continues to watch the scene unfold from the guard’s room camera, and Rey is heartbroken over losing her youngest Jedi Knight, Chase, by his friends killing him. Rey sadly states, “This is terrible. I had no idea Raef and Forisa were capable of carrying out murder. It’s more than this political conflict and Forisa being from Corellia. The dark side has pulled them into an allegiance with Tyro, and now we must stop them from hurting anyone else.” Kyle comments, “I should have seen this coming. Master Yoda had warned me to look after our young Jedi with care, and our disagreements have now led us down a darker path than I ever thought was possible.” The Republic official answers, “this footage will be destroyed, and I have orders from the top to keep this under wraps. Your secret is safe with us, Master Jedi. All we ask is you take care of these rogue Jedi of yours and bring them to justice on Coruscant. We will then have to make this story public, but we will be able to get a better handle on the situation when they are no longer a threat.” Finn looks at the officer and says, “You just make sure there are no leaks and give us plenty of time to find them. You got that?” The Republic official stands at attention, saying, “Yes, Master Jedi.”

The three are leaving the prison, and Admiral Connix messages Finn, needing his immediate help. He has to get on a shuttle to reach the Grand Fleet above Coruscant. Finn says his goodbye to Kyle, saying, “may the Force be with you, my friend.” He then hugs and kisses Rey, saying, “Rey, I’m sorry, but I have to do this. Take care of the Knights. We have to restore the balance in this brewing conflict and that of the dark side.” Rey replies, “I’ll be okay, but don’t save the galaxy on your own. We’re a team. If you need anything, you reach out to me.” Finn smiles, hugging his fellow Jedi wife again, and turns to leave, saying goodbye, and hops into the shuttle, taking off for the nearest spaceport. Kyle looks over to Rey, staring at Finn leaving, and says, “I know we’ve lost so much today. Surely, the Force won’t be any more cruel than it’s been. Let’s get something to eat and then get back to the Jedi Temple and regroup.” Rey answers, “I’m not hungry, Kyle. All I know is we have to get a team immediately prepared to go after Tyro, Raef, and Forisa. Let’s regroup back at the temple and eat on the way to Corellia.”

Sadrus Koyan, who is the Chief of State of the Five Brother world of Tralus, welcomes Lord Tyro and the group disembarking from the ship the Aggressor. Koyan introduces himself, saying, “Welcome, my Lord. I am Koyan, and I am the leader here, but with your arrival, I relinquish my title, and I assure you we are all faithful to the cause of the Free Order. My resources and army are at your disposal.” Tyro answers, “excellent, Koyan, and we shall take the galaxy back in the name of freedom. I don’t want myself to be known here, so you will be keeping your leadership title. The Jedi can not find out that we are here. Also, my Free Order will need warriors, and so I’m looking to you to provide us with kyber crystals for our lightsabers.” A surprised Koyan says, “Of course, my Lord. Anything you want, we shall be of service to you.” Raef and Forisa look to Tyro, and he says, “Follow me, young Jedi. We have a war to plan, lightsaber construction, your new titles, and Force training. You will be more powerful than any Jedi, including your old, dim-witted masters.” Raef smiles and says to Forisa, “Now we’re talking.” Forisa is hesitant about dark side powers but knows her allegiance is to Corellia, and whatever she has to do to win, she is going to have to change herself and train for the inevitable upcoming confrontation.

Three red kyber crystals are dispatched to them, and before long, in a workshop in an underground cave, Tyro has fashioned the sabers into working Sith red-bladed lightsabers. They are not flashy or shiny hilts, but they could get the job done. Before long, Raef and Forisa are sparring with them outside the workshop. The flashes of red are reflecting off the walls as the two are highly skilled with a lightsaber. Blow by blow, they block one another and match stroke by stroke. Tyro walks out to meet them with his lightsaber hooked onto his side and says, “impressive. And since now you have your new Sith lightsabers, you are no longer Jedi. You are now Lords of the Sith Order, the true order of things and not this Free Order I keep telling the galaxy about.” Raef is happy to hear this and nods in approval. Forisa questions, “I thought there could only be two Sith at a time?” Tyro laughs, “ahhh, you know about the old ways. The Rule of Two. I have ushered in a new era where there are many Sith. I had an entire Saber group of Sith apprentices before they were murdered by those luck-filled Republic bombs. Do not be duped by the Jedi and their fear-mongering. They do not know the power of the dark side as we all have it inside us. It’s just waiting to be released. Take a knee, my young ones.” Raef and Forisa turn off their lightsabers, hook them onto their side, and kneel before their Sith Lord.

Tyro states, “Raef is a powerful name, but they will soon fear you even more. That is why the galaxy will now know you as Darth Faero. Now my new Lord Faero, how do you feel?” Faero answers, “good, my Lord. Very good. I am ready to do your bidding. The Jedi are weak and will crumble,” as he smiles in satisfaction. Tyro continues, “Forisa is the name of a young woman with strength and desire to protect your home world from invaders. You will keep your promise to Corellia and become more powerful in the ways of the Sith. Henceforth, your new name is Darth Ziyra. Are you pleased with it?” Ziyra answers, “it will do, my Lord.” Tyro says, “then Lady Ziyra, you will be the most powerful woman to ever walk the galaxy, and I encourage you to use your Darth title as well. Do not question Sith titles because you are now one. Not so bad, is it?” Lady Ziyra smiles and says, “I feel less scared of it, like I was always destined for this. Thank you, my Lord.” Tyro tells his new Sith apprentices to stand and feel the Force around them and to welcome all of their passion and feelings Tyro’s dark side energy begins to radiate out as he focuses his powers into them, and his two new Sith apprentices feed off it and feel the raw power of the dark side as electricity begins to spark around the three Force users. The lighting, equipment, and vehicles in the cave begin to turn and flicker on and off as their powers are affecting the whole area around them. “The Sith will take this galaxy back in the name of peace!” Yells out, Tyro. Darth Faero and Lady Ziyra look at one another and smile in delight.

Rey and Kyle each drop to their knees at the same time and hold onto their own chests in front of the Jedi Temple. Rey, catching her breath, says, “something terrible has happened.” Kyle gets back up off the ground and tries to make sense of the surge of energy they felt. “I felt our two lost Jedi,” Kyle says shamefully. Rey doesn’t know what to say. She’s still on the ground in silence. “I’m afraid, Rey. What does this mean for our Jedi Order? We’re exposed as being capable of succumbing to the dark side,” Kyle continues to talk, shaking his head in frustration. “I should have seen this coming. Why didn’t I reach out to Forisa and go see her on Corellia? Then, with Raef, I was always too hard on him. I could have given him more freedom and even promoted him to do greater things,” Kyle says, going on and on with different scenarios playing in his mind. Rey finally gets up off her knees and looks at Kyle saying “there’s nothing you could have done to prevent their path. They chose it themselves, and they have decided not to be Jedi anymore. Not after what Tyro is doing to them. Kyle, you’re going to have to let them go.” Kyle is shocked by what Rey is saying and follows up with, “what about redemption? We can bring them back to the light. Can’t we? They can stand trial for Chase’s murder and be kept peacefully locked up.” Rey looks away and says, “I went to great lengths to redeem someone before, and you know how that turned out.” Kyle shakes his head in regret and says,”I understand. Kriffing Sithspit!” Rey looks back at her troubled friend and says,”we need to get the group together and see where everyone’s heads are at, so c’mon sithspit follow me.” Rey jogs up the temple stairs, and Kyle follows, looking down at every stair he is going up, not wanting to talk about his outburst.

The young Jedi Knights are gathered around the Great Hall as Rey and Kyle make their way to them. Everyone has concerned faces. The two Jedi Masters arrive and stand with the group. “I don’t want anyone losing their marbles over this, but it’s bad,” as Rey begins the impromptu meeting. Soles asks boldly, “What could be worse than Tyro being set loose? And where’s Master Finn, Forisa, Chase, and Raef?” Rey looks at Soles and the others and says, “Master Finn was needed with the Republic Fleet. As for the others, they are the ones who set Tyro free and killed Chase.” They all look at her in shock, and Temiri speaks up, “killed Chase? How? Why? What happened?” Kyle answers Temiri, “Raef and Forisa.” Lewbacca roars, “what!?” Kyle continues, “we saw the surveillance video of Raef using his lightsaber to kill him with Thrackan goading him on.” Hal asks, “where was Forisa? She would have never let that happen.” Rey answers, “Forisa was letting it all happen, and at the same time, she was busy releasing Tyro from his prison cell.” Everyone breaks up from standing close together and looks in different directions, trying to process the stunning tragic news. Azuree sits down and begins to cry with her head down between her knees. “I know it’s difficult to comprehend, but we now believe Tyro has converted them to the dark side of the Force. Master Phyto and I felt it earlier,” Rey explains. Mace looks up at them and says, “That was the burst of energy we felt earlier.” Rey says, “I’m afraid so.”

The new Chief of State, Fyzo Rodron, has already made his way to the government war room with his generals, several Senators, Admiral Connix, and Finn, who are now with the Republic Fleet above Coruscant and present via hologram. “What more do we have on Thrackan Sal and his Insurrection of Corellia?” Rodron asks the group assembled around the large table. General Garm Ablasa comments, “Enough to go after these traitors and stop them before they bring down the rest of the Republic.” General Ablasa motions for a screen to turn on as it shows images of the massive amount of shipbuilding on Corellia. “If this isn’t warmongering, I don’t know what is, as they’re preparing an attack force here,” pointing, and he shows the last image of the battle-ready Corellian Fleet above the planet. “What does the Senate think of this intelligence? Surely they see what we are seeing?” asks Rodron. Senator Cilghala from Mon Calamari speaks up, “Our meeting was quick and agreeable for once, Chief of State. We will authorize an attack if you deem it appropriate for the survival of our democracy. From the Chazrach to now this, we can’t afford complacency any longer. We are with you all the way.” Rodron takes a serious hard look at the image and stands up, putting his hands on the table and says, “we can’t afford another division or another weakening of our power. It is imperative to stop this before a Free Order grows to be another First Order. Admiral Connix and Jedi Master Finn?” Connix answers immediately, “yes, Chief of State?” Rodron says, “if we get Senate approval, jump the fleet to Corellia and take out their assembled ships above the planet, and we’ll see if that’s enough to pacify this uprising Maybe if they get a taste of our strength, they won’t want to take another bite, and we can end this conflict quickly.” Finn answers, “we must be mindful of all actions we take. The Republic should not be starting wars, but the Jedi Order is here for your support on these matters.” Inwardly, Finn knows his first move needs to be to tell Rey about this attack as soon as possible. The Jedi might need to get out ahead of this aggressive plan of all-out war.

Afterward, Finn messages Rey to explain the situation. “I understand. Thanks, Finn, and please take care of yourself. I love you,” Rey says as they finish up talking to one another on a secure channel. Finn replies, “I love you too and be careful. I’m going to be busy, and I’m not sure what kind of support I can give you there.” Mace walks up to Rey and says hi to his father and wishes him well. The transmission ends, and Mace asks, “What’s happening, Mom?” Rey says, “Your father is going to Corellia, but we’re going to go out ahead of him and the Republic Fleet. If we can get to their criminal leader before the battle, we may have a shot at ending this without a shot being fired. Go tell the others to get to the Falcon, and I’ll see you there in a minute. Make sure it’s clothing, food, and lightsabers only.” A surprised Mace answers, “okay, I’ll go gather up everyone.” As Mace is walking away, Rey comments, “it’s time to pay Thrackan Sal a visit and find Tyro.”

The Jedi Knights already boarded the Millennium Falcon by the time Rey rushes up the ramp, saying to the group in the main cabin, “we’re going to Corellia, and we’re going to end this now.” She enters the cockpit, and Lewbacca is already in the co-pilot seat prepping for takeoff. Rey jumps down in the pilot seat, and they take off, leaving the bustling cityscape of Coruscant. Once the ship clears the planet, the two push the levers to lightspeed towards Corellia, and the stars begin to streak by in hyperspace. Soles and Mace are behind them, strapped in and looking at one another with concern but smiling at each other. All they knew was Rey was going to come in hot and close to the Corellian surface right out of lightspeed to avoid any entanglements with the warships defending the planet. They all have confidence in their Jedi Master’s flying ability and in their other master’s calm influence, Kyle Phyto, who is back in the main cabin with Azuree, Hal, Temiri, Corran, and R2-D2, the group’s astromech droid. Their other two droids, C-3PO and BB-8, were now with Finn, assisting him and keeping him company on the bridge of the lead star destroyer that had not left Coruscant yet, still waiting for the Republic Senate’s approval of the proposed attack on Corellia.

Head of State Thrackan Sal was unexpectedly waiting for them by himself as the Millennium Falcon came out of hyperspace right above the city and made the approach to his capital landing area and lands softly without incident. “This is too easy. Something’s not right,” Rey comments. “I have a bad feeling like we’re being set up,” Soles worriedly says. “Not to worry, we have R2 and the gang,” Lewbacca roars jokingly. The other three in the cockpit look at Lewbacca and then chuckle. “That’s right, Lew, and whatever happens, we’re going to need all of us to be on the lookout for Tyro,” Mace says. “Indeed. So, let’s go meet up with our friend Thrackan,” Rey announces as they leave the cockpit for the main cabin where the rest of the group is waiting for them.

She leads the entire group off the Falcon and is greeted by Thrackan. He begins by saying, “Hello, Rey, or should I say Master Skywalker. I’m afraid to inform you that you have just invaded our sovereign, independent planet, and you will be put under house arrest and stand trial for your assassination attempt on the Head of State, which is myself.” Rey replies, “Like it or not, Thrackan, you’re still a part of the Republic, and this is no assassination attempt. This is quite the opposite. You’re guilty of breaking out a war, and you’re the one who will be coming with us to Coruscant to stand trial for your actions.” Meanwhile, as Thrackan, Sal, and Rey are speaking, a Corellian Holonet News crew is hiding nearby, broadcasting the conversation in a delay out to the galaxy. The timing difference is giving them enough working time to cut and edit the conversation, so it’s coming out as Rey saying this is a planned assassination instead of her saying it’s not. The Corellian Holonet News is cutting out her words and switching words from “you’re still part of the Republic” to “you’re no longer a part of the Republic.” Years of Rey being on the Holonet gave them a treasure trove of her voice saying hundreds of words that they can easily add and subtract in the conversation and then minutes later send out the altered broadcast to the galaxy.

“The only trial is going to be with you and your Jedi husband answering for your failed invasion and assassination attempt,” Thrackan counters Rey’s argument. She begins to feel a sense of danger when the Corellian Head of State mentions the ‘failed invasion’ and stops her thoughts of arguing with him. She reaches out with the Force to sense what could be going on around them. Rey thinks to herself, “it was foolish of me not to consider if this is not only a trap for me and my group here, but also for Finn and the Republic Fleet. Of course, Corellia would know about the Republic’s move to war before I did. I just hope they didn’t have too much time to prepare.” Thrackan continues, “what’s the matter, Rey? You didn’t think this whole thing through?” He motions for the camera crew of the Corellian Holonet to come out from hiding. They appear, and immediately Rey figures out what Thrackan is actually doing to her since they began their conversation. “I have to hand it to you, Thrackan, that is a move I didn’t see you stooping that low to do to me,” Rey concedes and speaks to the camera, “the Jedi are not a threat to Corellia or anyone for that matter. I will surrender, but let my group go free. They’re not responsible for my orders and actions to come here to meet with you.” Thrackan smiles and looks at the camera, “meet with me? I think you want to kill me, Master Skywalker, like the corrupt Jedi who have come before you. I am unarmed and only a mere mortal compared to your invincible Jedi strength and power.”

Rey answers, “Like I said, I’m surrendering, but please let the Jedi go in peace on the Falcon.” Thrackan explains, “I’m afraid the Millennium Falcon stays here at its home on Corellia. You’ve had enough time with a ship that was never yours to begin with, and it now belongs to us Corellians once again,” and he continues looking at the camera. “As for the Jedi, lock them up. All of them.” Thrackan motions for his bodyguard troopers in dark blue armor and grey helmets to come out of his building as he nods to the Holonet camera to turn off and for them to get out of the way of the possible upcoming clash. “Nice move with the broadcast, Thrackan. It was thoughtful and slimy after what you pulled on Coruscant. Do you really think Tyro is going to let you be in power?” Rey questions. “Enough talk, Jedi. Put your weapons down and remember what the galaxy is going to think of you if you attack us,” Thrackan says and points to the Holonet News crew on the side. “We’ll be okay, Rey. We must trust the Force,” Kyle says loudly to her among the group who was a ways behind her as they had taken a defensive stance. “I trust you know what to do from here, Kyle, but the Falcon and I stay here because of the optics from the altered broadcast. You’re going to have to find another way off this corrupt place. I’m sorry. May the Force be with you all,” she says back to him and the group. She drops her lightsaber to the ground and puts her arms up as a few of Thrackan’s troopers surround the Jedi Master and take her into custody. The remaining troopers begin to walk towards the other Jedi. In a sudden instant out of the sky above them, the Republic Fleet booms out of hyperspace and begins attacking the Corellian fleet, startling all who are on the ground and on the planet. Kyle sees the advantage and yells to the Knights to run away with him off the landing pad to get away from Thrackan’s guards. R2-D2 was already ahead, opening up a sealed door to another area for the group to get to safety, but leaving Rey, as she said to do, is hard for Kyle and the young Jedi Knights. With no other option, they have to let her go and hope for the best.

As the group hastily enters through the door, R2 opens it. There are A-wings lined up in a long row in a hangar staging area with an open roof and an X-wing off to the side that has seen better days. “Looks like we found our way out of here, and now we’ll get to join the fight up there,” Kyle says, smiling at the ships, and looks to the Jedi Knights. “Let’s hop in these and get out of here.” The group has no hesitation as Mace, Lewbacca, Soles, Azuree, Hal, Temiri, and Corran run to the nearest seven A-wings, run up the ladders, and jump into the pilot seats. “R2, you’re with me, big guy,” Kyle says to the astromech droid, and the mechanism works to lift R2-D2 into position behind the pilot’s cabin to run the diagnostics, but it won’t start. “Now let’s see what can be done with this busted old ship,” Kyle comments. “You all take off and go! Don’t wait for me and R2! We’ll be fine! Get out of here!” Kyle yells to the group as he runs up the ladder and hops into the X-wing. “Okay, you heard Master Phyto! Let’s go!” Yells Soles. The others salute, Lewbacca roars in delight, and they all begin the takeoff procedure, first with closing the ship hatches, putting their ship’s helmets on, and begin tuning in their communications link to one another. “This should be easy,” Mace says to himself as they begin to take off, as the door R2-D2 shut down gets blasted open by Thrackan’s Corellian guards. “I’ve got them in my sights, R2!” Kyle yells and fires at them using a blaster gun he found in the X-wing, knocking them back to the sides of the door, but the ship was still motionless. “Oh no, we don’t have much time, R2. What could it be!?” Kyle says worriedly as he can’t get the ship to start from the cockpit. R2-D2 beeps that the X-wing is out of fuel. “Great. Out of fuel. Perfect,” Kyle says to himself. Just then, Rey runs through the opening of the door, blasts out of her handcuffs, and uses the Force to unroll the hangar’s gas hose, grabbing it in mid-air, running over to the X-wing with a shocked Kyle staring down at her. She hooks it into the ship and uses the Force to switch the lever to begin fueling. “You have got to be kidding me,” Kyle says. “How did you get away?” Rey says, “I’m a Jedi, Kyle, or do you forget how powerful we are?” Kyle nods in agreement. “Okay, so you know you can get out of here with me! Come on, Rey, don’t stay!” Rey looks up at Kyle and says, “I have to stay here for the Jedi’s sake and reputation. It will be okay. They’re not going to kill me. I’m a figurehead of the Republic. This will all work out. Plus, I can buy you a lot of time for you all to get out of here.” Kyle answers, “and what if it doesn’t work out? What is Finn and I supposed to do!? What about Tyro, Raef, and Forisa?” Rey answers calmly, “do what’s in your heart. I will keep my eye out for the Sith here. Take care of the Knights. May the Force be with you, Kyle.” She turns off the fuel with the Force and physically takes out the hose. “Now get out of here and tell Finn I love him.” Kyle quietly nods and gives Rey a worried look. “Okay, Rey, okay. Take care of yourself.” He starts up the engines, and Rey begins to walk back towards the blasted door with her arms and hands up in the air with Thrackan’s troops surrounding her. The Jedi Knights were already flying away from the area as Kyle and R2 fly the partially fueled X-wing out of the hangar through the roof opening. “She better know what she’s doing, R2,” Kyle comments to the droid. R2 beeps replying, “lately nobody knows what they are doing.” Kyle chuckles. “Yes, that’s exactly what’s going on these days. Thank you, R2, someone who gets me.”

The large Republic star destroyers are finishing up the remaining scattering Corellian cruisers by the time the Jedi Knights make it out of the atmosphere of Corellia and into open space. The smaller-sized Corellian Fleet didn’t have a chance against the turbolasers and X-wings of the Republic. Also, the Republic pilots are better trained and have more experience in combat. They are still mopping up the battlefield, firing on anything that isn’t with the Republic. “You have lost the battle, Corellian A-wing squadron, surrender now,” Finn broadcasts out to the approaching Knights, not knowing it’s them. The transmission makes a few tweaking noises and beeps in a different frequency. “Dad, it’s Mace and the Jedi Knights in the A-wings. We made it off the planet, but Mom had to stay because Thrackan broadcast our mission at finding Tyro as an assassination attempt,” Mace explains to his father. “Oh, Mace, I’m glad to hear your voice and to see the others are okay,” Finn expresses relief, “and your mother knows what she’s doing. A person of her stature won’t be harmed.” Kyle, flying the old X-wing, finally catches up with the group passing by to lead the A-wings and comments over the broadcast, “looks like we won.” Out of hyperspace, two Tie Interceptors appear from the black void of space as Darth Faero, who was once Raef, and Lady Ziyra, who was once Forisa, have made the trip to Corellia from their secret base on Tralus under Grand Lord Tyro’s orders. Kyle’s smile fades to utter horror as he knows what they must do and says, “Knights, this one’s on me. Stay back, and I’ll make first contact.” There is silence across the board except for Mace, who says, “we’re right behind you, Master, but be careful.”

Kyle locks the S-foils in attack position, flying towards the two lone ships, sending his communication out to all broadcasts. “Listen, you two. I’m sorry. I wasn’t a good enough master or a close enough friend,” Raef speaks out. “This is Darth Faero, and this is the end of you and the Jedi forever,” Kyle answers. “Raef, you’re still Raef. I don’t know what Tyro put in your head, but it’s not the way of the Force. Please, there is a peaceful way out of this,” Lady Ziyra speaks up to Kyle through the broadcast. “There is a peaceful way out of this, and that is this.” With her spoken words, three entire fleets of medium to small crafts appear on different sides of the Republic fleet, surrounding them, and then another menacing fleet right behind Faero’s and Ziyra’s Tie Interceptors. “Oh no, I think we’re in trouble!” Kyle says in a knee-jerk reaction, seeing the surrounding fleets and the fleet that just appeared right in front of him. The two Tie Interceptors take off right at Kyle’s X-wing and fire each of their four laser cannons as he begins his maneuvers, calling out to R2-D2, “Hold on, R2, but eject if you have to! I don’t know how much fuel we have left,” and upon saying that, his fuel runs out, and his X-wing turns off. “Me and my big mouth,” comments Kyle as he focuses on the Force around him. One of the lasers hits the nose of his tailing ship, and the whiplash of the blast breaks Kyle’s restraints. He smashes against the pilot’s console, knocking him out. “Master Phyto’s in trouble!” Soles yells. “Hurry, we gotta save him!” Hal calls out. The A-wings are making a run to engage the two Tie Interceptors, but it’s too late. “You know what you have to do to stop the invasion of your planet, Lady Ziyra!” Darth Faero calls out to her. She replies, “I’ve got him, Faero,” and lines up the shot and takes it. Hearing R2 beeping in agony trying to wake him up and sensing imminent death in Kyle’s mind, he focuses on his wife, Marieene, and speaks out to the galaxy using the Force, “I’m sorry, my love….” and with a moment until the laser hits, R2-D2 ejects and the blast connects, exploding the ship.

The Jedi Knights are in shock, watching their master’s ship being blown apart. All they can do is react, screaming and firing their two laser cannons and concussion missiles at the Tie Interceptors and the incoming small craft of the Tralus Fleet. The other Brother World Fleets are firing at the surrounded Republic fleet. Admiral Connix and Finn don’t know which way to turn their Fleet to fight, but they decide to go in the direction away from Corellia towards the Jedi Knight ships who are fighting in a desperate attempt to escape. “Swing our forces around towards the A-wings! If we’re lucky, we can break through this one Corellian Fleet and get out of here!” Connix yells out the order. The Republic’s lead star destroyer gets away from the other three attacking fleets, but the following destroyers and small crafts are too close to them and are caught in the crossfire and are being destroyed and blown up to pieces. “Our shields can’t take this kind of sustained firepower from so many cruisers, Admiral! What do we do!?” Yells a Republic Captain in a trailing destroyer being pummeled. “Abandon the battle! Get out of there, Captain!” Connix yells out in desperation.

The Republic Fleet begins to scatter, which makes things even worse for them as the medium cruisers of the Brother Worlds fire missiles at them, connecting and destroying the ships one by one. The remaining X-wings try to defend them but are overwhelmed by the smaller craft and are being taken out. Finn calls out to the Jedi Knights in their A-wings and anyone else in their Republic Fleet to, get on board our ship, the Liberator, now! We’re getting out of here!” Mace replies, yelling out, “you heard my Dad, retreat!” The A-wings disengage and begin flying fast to the Liberator with the two Sith Tie Interceptors in hot pursuit, but Finn is relieved to see them coming towards him. Just then, a tiny speck of metal is seen by Finn and the bridge command as R2-D2 is fleeing to them with rockets blasting on the sides of the astromech droid. “It looks like R2 made it,” C-3PO comments in relief, who was watching the whole battle unfold near Finn, and with BB-8 by his side, beeps in agreement. The Tralus Fleet is now flying directly at them, but Admiral Connix has an idea and says to her pilots, “as soon as the A-wings and that droid are on board, I want you to bank us to the side in a slide maneuver and jump to hyperspace.” One of the officers asks, “But Admiral, we won’t know where we’re going to end up, and without safe coordinates, we could run into a planet, an asteroid, or anything in the way.” Connix answers, “anywhere is better than here. We have to take that chance.” Everyone on the bridge is silent for a moment, but they all agree. R2-D2 and the A-wings enter the hangar of the destroyer as the two Tie Interceptors are in close pursuit but still outside the hangar. “Okay, now Lieutenant!” Connix yells out the order. The large Republic ship begins to shift to its side at an angle away from the incoming Tralus Fleet and the others in pursuit. Connix yells out, “jJumpnow! Get us out of here!” With that, they disappear into hyperspace, leaving the two Sith and the Four Brother Fleets in the dust, but the fight above Corellia was over, and the Republic had lost the battle.

“As you can see, Rey, your pathetic grandiose Republic is no more. Without your Ffleet the war is already over,” a smiling Head of State Thrackan Sal says to the Jedi Master. Rey is looking up in sorrow, knowing her close friend and fellow Jedi Master Kyle Phyto has passed away in the Force from the darkness of the Sith, along with all of the destroyed specks of ships and debris burning down into the atmosphere of Corellia. She senses that Finn, Mace, and the Jedi Knights had survived and gotten away just in time, so for that, she felt a sense of calm and determination to not give up. Rey answers Thrackan, “we’ll see about that, you monster. A lost battle does not equal a lost war.” Thrackan looks at her in disgust and says to his guards, “tTakeher away and lock her up.” He looks at her with a big grin and states, “we’re going to have some fun with you. I guarantee it.”

Meanwhile, in hyperspace, the Republic leadership group is trying to process what had happened. “This is a mess. How did we not see this coming?” An Oofficercalls out from the control board. “We were arrogant, Lieutenant, and we didn’t see the tactics coming from them using only small ships,” another officer comments. “They also ended up having four fleets to our one in such a fast amount of time, and it was clearly coordinated,” another officer comments. Admiral Connix feels shame and says to the group, “it’s like they knew we were coming before we even decided to go.” Finn adds, “now Republic planets are exposed to attack.” The bridge of the star destroyer goes silent as Finn and the officers are processing the events that have unfolded. Just at that moment, the Jedi Knights enter the bridge, and Mace runs over to his dad, and they embrace in a hug. “Mace, thank goodness you’re okay,” Finn says. Mace looks at him with tears in his eyes and says, “it’s good to see you, Dad, but Master Phyto didn’t make it. They killed him.” The Jedi Knights all begin to process what had just happened to their late Master, no longer being in the heat of the battle. Azuree and Soles hug and weep. Corran sits down on the floor in shock. Lewbacca looks down with his hands on his hips. Hal starts to pace back and forth, reliving the horror, and Temiri squats down and begins to cry. Mace continues, “Mom had to stay on Corellia. Thrackan used his Holonet media to paint our intervention as an assassination attempt.” Finn looks at his son and the others and says worriedly, “tThisis more of a mess than I could ever imagine. It’s like the Force is moving more out of balance with each step we take.”

On Corellia in a single prison cell, Rey sits on a slab of concrete, she guessed, was the bed with her head dropped down with her hand on the side of her head. Her thoughts were in a flurry of grief and worry for her family and friends. It’s all too much to take at times without feeling guilt. First Poe, then Chase, and now Kyle as the Sith are taking them out one by one, and now she is locked up, s an enemy of the state of Corellia. She knew the Jedi Knights would be hurting, too. Luckily, she felt them leave in peace to hyperspace along with Finn and Mace. She knew she had to surrender to give them time to get off Corellia, regroup with the Republic, and beat the Sith, but now she feels like she needs to be with them more than ever. Rey utters out loud to no one, “I’m beginning to think I made the wrong decision to stay. So, stupid. I’m sorry, Kyle. I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you.” As she lays down on the concrete slab with her hands on her face with tears rolling down her cheeks, a familiar echo of a voice says,”I am with you, Rey.” She springs up and goes back to sitting, looking out around the cell. “Kyle? Is that you?” Kyle’s Force voice answers “yes Rey, it’s Kyle. Master Yoda taught me how to communicate from the netherworld of the Force. Are you okay, Rey?” Rey is in shock but quickly answers, “yes, Kyle, I am, but you aren’t because of me. I’m sorry I wasn’t there, Kyle. Marieene is going to kill me.” Kyle says,”she already knows about my death, Rey, and she understands it was my sacrifice to make. It’s not on you at all. I have to say I will miss being with her, but having a family just wasn’t in the cards.” Rey says,”I can’t tell you how sad that makes me feel.” Kyle continues.”All I’ll say is you and the Jedi don’t have time to be sad. You must keep delaying here on Corellia.” Rey yells out, “I’m going to go after Tyro right now!” Kyle slowly cautions, “you could stay here and put on a show of distraction. The future is always in motion, yet that might be what our loved ones need the most at this time. Trust the Force, Rey, and May the Force be with you.” Rey feels Kyle’s presence vanish as the cell door is unlocked and opened as Thrackan’s guards file into her empty cell. A guard asks, “Who were you talking to?” Rey answers while brushing a tear from her face “myself. I like to talk to myself. A lot. It passes the time. What do you want?” The guard says,”Thrackan wants to see you. Come with us.”

On the city-wide planet of Coruscant, things are not going well either. The Bothans have shown up with their fleet of medium to small-sized ships and are landing in the capital center. Their goal is to shut down the Republic government, take over the detention centers, lock up the politicians, and take out the Republic ground defense forces. With their large invasion force, not much is standing in their way. This, in turn, would give Corellia and the Free Order all the power in the galaxy as the new government and controlling body of power. The Republic Chief of State, Fyzo Rodron, has been in a panic in his office since word of the Republic Fleet was destroyed from a surprise attack by the combined fleets over Corellia, and the most damaging fact was the enemy knew they were coming instantly once Senate authorization took place on Coruscant. That is the thing about republics and democracies as everything takes lots of patience and time. It isn’t as easy and dangerous as a dictator instantly calling the shots to war or proclaiming a new law. Rodron is proud to be part of the Republic’s laws and rules. It makes him a better leader, more thoughtful, and caring of all living sentient beings rather than using them like expendable pawns as the Emperor had done for decades. A Senator from Fondor bursts in the door, “Our Fleet is gone because of you! My planet just had those star destroyers built, and this was all your idea!” Chief of State Rodron answers calmly, “Senator, it was your body of colleagues who voted and approved our mission. All I can say is I’m sorry, but we have bigger problems than just losing our fleet.” The Senator stops and ponders what Rodron had said and walks to the side looking out the window as Bothan ships are flying by and landing on the Capital grounds. “I’m sorry, Fyzo. My temper got the best of me. What are we going to do about all of this?” Rodron answers, “we either fight, hide, or surrender. I’m responsible for the lives on this planet, so we must do what’s best for the population, but for the first time in my life, I don’t know what to do without a fleet to protect us. Also, our Jedi seemed to disappear, probably going after Tyro, who knows where.” The Senator answers, “it looks like Thrackan Sal is going to get his Free Order after all.” Rodron says, “it appears so.”

The aptly named Liberator, a Republic star destroyer under Admiral Connix’s command, has just come out of hyperspace after hours on the run. They were hoping to evade tracking by enemy fleets, star systems, and any smaller crafts in pursuit whose hyperfuel would run out before them. The good news is they didn’t collide with anything and be blown into stardust, so the Force has been with them, thought Finn. “First things first, Captain, where are we?” asks Connix. The officer checks the navigation system and pronounces, “Admiral, we’re in the Bothan System.” Connix shouts out, “what!? Of all the places we could have jumped to, we are at the enemies’ doorstep!? What are the odds?” C-3PO comes out of hiding with BB-8 and says, “according to my calculations, the odds of us coming out of lightspeed near a place of danger were ‘1 in . . . .’” Finn cuts him off immediately, “3PO, just chalk it up to the Force.” C-3PO answers, “certainly, Master Finn. I know Captain Solo never seemed to like my odds calculations anyways, but where is R2-D2?” Mace says, “R2 was led to get a check over down at the droid station. I think Master Phyto saved R2 by saying to eject from the X-Wing before it was over.” Corran says, “That would be very Master Phyto. I think Mace is right.” A Republic officer finishes up with his appraisal of what’s left of the ship’s crew and says, “my estimates are we’re at about a one-fourth capacity of remaining soldiers who survived the battle, and many areas are locked down and blown out from the attacks. Our fighter squadrons didn’t make it back to us once the other fleets came in and destroyed them, so we have left what we didn’t send out and your group’s A-wings. Maybe a couple of dozen light crafts are left, probably mostly X-wings. I don’t know, but it’s not good.” Azuree speaks up, “so, what do we do now? I, for one, don’t think we should stick around here with the Bothans so close by.” Soles continues her point, “Azuree’s right. I’d say we should look into what is practical, but far enough away, so the Bothans won’t find us or know we’re here.” Lewbacca speaks up and roars, “I’ve been to Barab I before, and although it’s in the Outer Rim, it’s in this part of the galaxy. Plus, I know someone who is from there who could be an ally we desperately need.” Finn and the Admiral think it over and agree that it sounds good enough. “Send a transmission to where we are and see if we can get assistance from any nearby Republic allies,” Finn says. “I don’t know, Dad. We can’t afford the Bothans finding out our location,” Mace says. “I know it’s risky, Mace, but we can’t take on the Free Order alone. Besides, we’re not going to be in Bothan space much longer. In fact, we are leaving once this message is sent,” Finn answers his son sternly. A few minutes pass by as the officer sends the message, and the other officers put Barab I in the navigation system. Then the ship streaks into hyperspace again, leaving their location behind.

“Rey, Rey, Rey,” says Head of State Thrackan Sal, standing in front of his desk in his headquarters as Rey enters with her guards. “I heard about Master Kyle Phyto. How unfortunate. I kinda liked him in a weird, half-robot Darth Vader kind of way,” he comments, chuckling, and continues, saying, “and it looks like your precious Republic will be surrendering as well. It looks like everything is lost for you and your Jedi. Speaking of Jedi, you wouldn’t happen to know where they ran off to, do you?” Rey looks at him with the most serious face and says, “If I did, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.” Thrackan quips, “ouch, and I thought we could get along while all of this is going on, Rey. I’m keeping you alive so I can put on a good show for the galaxy. You will be put on trial for your crimes against the Free Order, and lastly, with your assassination attempt on my life, and it will be broadcast on the Holonet for all to see. How does that sound, Master Jedi?” He laughs at the end of his explanation. “Sounds great. Head of nothing. When do we begin?” Rey says sarcastically, looking away from him and out the windows, thinking about her loved ones. “Soon, Rey,” he answers, smiling in delight, and then seriously says, “soon.”

The Liberator has been making its way to Barab I in hyperspace for quite some time. The Jedi Knights are in one of the cafeterias on board, the large destroyer, scarfing down nerf steaks and drinking caf to try to stay awake from the day that seems to never end. Soles says, “I know we lost Master Phyto today, but he would want us to not give up and to finish the job of finding Tyro and ending this nightmare.” Temiri puts down his cup of caf and begins talking about how Master Phyto took him in like a son when he came from nothing on Canto Bight. “I had not known my family, and I was hopeful to join the cause, but I never thought I’d gain a family becoming a Jedi. The stories of Luke Skywalker saving the galaxy from the Empire and the First Order inspired me to use my Force powers for good, but it was the Jedi Masters who showed me the ways of the Force, and I’m forever grateful to them. I hope Rey is doing okay.” Azuree comforts him, saying, “I’m sure she’s okay, Temiri, and I’d like to think her being on Corellia will give us the element of surprise in finding Tyro. Speaking of which, where do you all think he’s hiding?” The group thinks about it in silence, trying to put the pieces together. “The Tralus Fleet appeared behind Raef and Forisa coming from the same direction, so could Tyro be there?” asks Mace. “That does make the most sense,” Corran quietly comments as he is chewing on a piece of nerf steak. “It sounds like that’s our only lead, so we should think on it and decide what to do once we come out of hyperspace,” says Hal. Both young men have grown a lot in the past few years when it came to having wisdom and being calmer when bad things would happen, and especially how to go about fixing things. As Mace sips caf, he thinks to himself that Master Phyto would be proud of them. It’s amazing how far they had come along and grown up from their early days of learning the ways of the Force. From being skeptical, ignorant kids to putting into practice the Jedi values of serving others. Mace asks Lewbacca, “What do you know about this ally you mentioned on Barab I, buddy?” He smiles and roars, “she’s a great Barabel warrior, a leader of her people, and has Force powers like us!” Soles jokes, “sounds like an amazing gal. If she’s so great, where has she been all this time?” Anna adds, “and how can we trust these Barabels?” Lewbacca thinks on it and answers them, roaring, “one of the places the Chazrach invasion was stopped was at Barab I.” Soles cautiously asks, “Okay, so how do we find this great warrior friend of yours?” Lewbacca happily and boldly roars, “once we land, she and the Barabels will find us!” The two young women look at one another with concern in their eyes, and the group quietly finishes up eating their meals, not knowing what else to say, but it felt concerning

Lord Tyro is still on Tralus, in hiding, while all the events are proceeding as planned with the transfer of power from the Republic to the newly forming Free Order. Darth Faero and Lady Ziyra, having returned from Corellia in their TIE Interceptors, are giving an update to Tyro on what happened. “Their Master is gone. Ziyra killed him,” Darth Faero says with a satisfied look on his face. An impressed Tyro explains, “he could have taken your dream away of having a safe and free Corellia. You did excellent, Lady Ziyra. Well done, my young apprentice.” Ziyra had been looking down in shame while the two were speaking, but listening to Tyro’s rationale gave her the lift she needed. “I did what is required, but it doesn’t feel good,” she comments. Tyro answers her in a mean tone, “becoming who you are meant to be won’t always feel good or be easy. It’s part of growing up, Lady Ziyra.” She replies, “Yes, my Lord. I know I helped save my planet from the Republic and the Jedi invasion of it.” Darth Faero continues his line of thought, “and you know they would have imprisoned us along with all of Corellia who stood up to them. Besides, I enjoy seeing our old friends running for their lives. They’re scared and don’t have it in them to destroy us.” The three talk more about how Rey is the most foolish of the Jedi, and how they are a fake idealistic cause that needs to be extinguished. Lord Tyro then instructs his two new Sith to rest while he goes and talks with the mercenary crew of the Aggressor, who are nearby as bodyguards and his mode of transportation when needed.

“Did you see the Holonet news, my Lord?” asks Ailyn Vel, who was the leader of the bounty hunter crew. Tyro questions, “And what news is this?” Makin Marec, Ailyn’s pilot and companion, continues, “a star destroyer sent a coded Republic message out near Bothawui for help.” Tyro perks up with joy and says, “excellent. That is our missing Jedi. It looks like our plans have changed. We’re taking a trip to Bothawui to hunt them down while they’re down, and they won’t expect us. Prepare the Aggressor, and I will go fetch my apprentices and send a message on the Holonet. Perhaps I can lure the Jedi to meet us on the planet to have a chat. You all will be greatly rewarded when this is all over,” as he turns and leaves the crew looking at one another. “Maybe we shouldn’t have told him?” says a regretful Makin, since now they have to risk their lives and ship again for a Sith Lord. “He would have found out anyway. It might as well have come from us so we can profit from this mess and finally retire, Makin,” comments a determined Ailyn.

The Liberator has finally arrived over Barab I in the Albanin Sector in the Outer Rim. Admiral Connix says to her officers on the bridge, “If any coded messages come through, let me know. We need all the allies we can get, and I, for one, am skeptical about these Barabels.” At her side, Jedi Master Finn replies, “I’m skeptical of them too, but we must be open to them. Also, let’s hope anyone aligned with the Republic heard us and can help.”

Luckily, aboard the large star destroyer, there is still a functioning medium-sized transport for bringing soldiers to and from the ship to the surface of planets. The Jedi Knights have piled into it with Azuree and Lewbacca in the pilot and co-pilot seats and are just taking off for the surface of Barab I. Finn has let the Knights lead the mission to find Lewbacca’s warrior friend and, if possible, Barabels to join them on their mission to find Tyro. In the meantime, Finn, R2-D2, BB-8, and C-3PO, along with the officers on the bridge, are doing a walk-through of the star destroyer for a damage report and to see who and what needs assistance. The transport is on its way to the surface of Barab I as Mace asks, “What more do you know about the Barabels, Lewie?” Lewbacca roars, “not much. But I know they evolved from lizards, are as large in size as us, and have really big appetites because when I met my friend, she said they have two stomachs and she out ate me. That’s never happened to me before.” Soles comments, “I just hope they can help us, and we don’t end up on their menu.” Lewbacca roars, “we won’t. At least I don’t think we will be eaten.” The crew looks at him with displeasure, and Lewbacca uncomfortably roars, “I’m joking, I’m joking.” The group sighs in relief together and go about prepping their gear and flying the ship. Lewbacca looks at Mace and gives his friend a worried look, as if he didn’t know if they’re going to be eaten or not. Mace rolls his eyes and takes a deep breath. Just then, Soles comes over to him and asks if he has a moment to talk. He agrees, and they go to a quiet spot towards the back of the transport ship where nobody is around. “I’m sorry I haven’t been closer to you these past few days. I think what happened to Raef and Forisa scared me into thinking that it could also happen to us. Our passion can lead to the dark side, and you know as well as I do the Jedi way is non-attachment and relationships used to be forbidden because they can be selfish and have their dark moments and times.”

Mace takes her hand in his and says, “I know the feelings you’re having because I have felt the same fear of losing myself in loving you and loving my Jedi family as well. It’s been hard to know what to do, especially without our Masters, but I think if we stay vigilant and mindful of serving the greater good, we can still love one another without losing our minds. What do you think, Soles?” She hugs him and says, “I don’t want to lose you or anyone else. It’s already so hard without Chase, Master Phyto, and with Raef and Forisa, I’m afraid to say what we should do with them. They were not only our friends, Mace, but part of our family, and they betrayed us.” Mace is still holding on and hugging a teary-eyed Soles, and he finishes up saying, “when we get to that point in time, we’ll do what we feel is right, okay? They chose their own path, but we get to choose ours too.” Their arms go to their sides, and they slowly kiss one another. Just then, Temiri walks up to the two of them as he sips on some hot chocolate and comments, “I guess there’s still love in this galaxy, after all. With everything going on, it’s a nice reminder that all is not lost, don’t you two think?” Mace and Soles, stop kissing and look over at him seriously for interrupting their moment. Temiri says, “What? I think it’s nice. You two are great for one another. You remind me of Masters Rey and Finn, always trying to keep a secret but very unsuccessful.” Mace scoffs, “my parents? Come on, Temiri, really?” He laughs and says, “I think it’s a compliment. Those two are the toast of the galaxy. So, cheers!” Temiri lifts his cup in the air and continues to sip his hot chocolate in front of them, smiling. They stare at him in disbelief for not leaving them alone. “This is really tasty. Do you guys want some?” Temiri asks as he happily slurps down the drink, “there’s plenty on board if you’re tired of caf.” Soles finally says, “Sure, Temiri, how about you show us the way to the wondrous hot chocolate.” Mace chuckles at the awkward situation, and Temiri excitedly answers, “Follow me, you two lovebirds! To the hot chocolate!” Mace says quietly to Soles, “he’s pretty funny, isn’t he?” She gives him a look and says, “Oh, hilarious.”

Azuree and Lewbacca fly the transport ship into the dark atmosphere, and it’s pouring rain. “I’m having a hard time knowing where the ground is to land,” calls out Azuree, and just then, she sees the murky surface that’s near a large body of water. Lewbacca comments, “I say we fly until we see the opening to Alater-Ka.” Corran looks at their Wookiee friend and asks, “How do you know this place, Lew?” He says, “I don’t, but that’s the only habitat spaceport here, and it’s mostly underground, according to my friend. Also, we don’t want to be on the surface when it’s daytime or else we will be fried by radiation.” Corran answers, “this place keeps getting better and better.” Azuree chuckles while flying low, looking for any signs of civilization, and replies, “first we could be eaten, and now we could be melted to death. This planet is officially stoopa.” It takes them a while, but finally, through the rain and darkness, there are lights showing an opening to a massive cave. Hal says, “this must be it, so shall we enter like a mynock to its home or land outside this place and greet them in person?” Lewbacca answers, “they could attack us if we fly in unannounced. I say we walk in and hope for the best.” Azuree sarcastically says, “You got it, Barabel whisperer,” and she proceeds to softly land their transport ship next to the entrance.

After checking to see if the air is breathable and finding that it is, the Jedi Knights exit the transport ship as the ramp had already descended onto the swamp-like surface with the rain pouring down on it. “This place is sketchy and smells bad too. Do you all sense something close by?” Corran asks, as he has a keen Force connection to animals. From the side of the ship, a gigantic creature with many clawed legs and arms with tentacles at the tips appears and roars at them in anger. “It’s a durgolosk,” Lewbacca casually comments. “A what!?” yells Hal. “A big creature with lots of legs and eyes, colored white with brown stripes. Yup, a durgolosk, and it looks hungry,” Lewbacca explains. Hal shouts out, “Why do I think everything on this planet wants to eat us!?” Mace says, “because so far, this side trip is turning us into a buffet. Let’s take this durgolosk down before it durgolosk’s us!” The Jedi swing around to the side and take out their lightsabers in a half circle around the hungry beast. It grabs Hal before he has a chance to turn on his lightsaber, and the tentacle paralyzes him instantly. Luckily for him, Azuree jumps at the large creature and chops off the arm, dropping Hal to the ground. The durgolosk roars in pain and is more determined than ever to grab Hal and eat him with its other arm, knocking Azuree to the ground with one of its legs. At that moment, the other Jedi reach out with the Force and push the monster away from Hal. It stumbles and falls on its back. The durgolosk rotates its body 360 degrees and gets up after a short amount of time being knocked down, but it has taken too much time to recover. Soles sprints at the beast, ignites her lightsaber, and chops its left legs in half, and Mace follows suit and chops its right legs in half with his lightsaber. Following behind them, Anna turns on her lightsaber and throws it spinning in the air as it chops the head off the durgolosk. The battle is over, but Hal is lying on the ground, unable to move after being grabbed by a tentacle. His friends surround him in a hurry and start to clean the poison off.

“Excellent! Wonderful! Now that’s how you take down a durgolosk!” A mysterious being loudly proclaims, walking towards them from the large opening of the cave. “Oh no, here they come! They’re going to eat us! I need to find my lightsaber!” Yells Temiri, who is stumbling around in the dark swamp looking for it. “Eat you?” The being comes into sight of the Jedi and the lights of their transport ship. Lewbacca roars happily. “Saba! It’s Lewbacca!” Saba Sebatyne, a reptilian Barabel with Jedi robes on and a lightsaber clipped to her belt, chuckles at the group, then gives Lewbacca a big hug, saying, “how’s it going, Lew? It’s been so long, but now you’re here and the famous Jedi Knights on my planet, good stuff.” Soles quietly says to Mace, “Good stuff?” Mace smiles and quietly answers, “at least I don’t think she’s going to eat us.” Saba cordially welcomes all of them to Barab I as Lewbacca introduces her to each Jedi. “What happened to your eye? It’s gone,” asks Temiri, who is usually too honest at times, hurting people’s feelings. Corran says, “Don’t mind Temiri; he’s an inquisitive one. You don’t have to answer it, Saba.” The Jedi Barabel states, “it’s okay, Corran and Temiri. I will happily answer the question.” They all listen with interest as she begins to tell the tale. “I was putting my own green-bladed lightsaber together to defend my planet against the Chazrach, but it had come at a cost. The blade was accidentally turned on before I knew how to work the mechanism. It flashed next to my face, blinding me in the eye, so I had no more use for it. I popped it out and stitched it up.”Ow,” comments Hal. Saba continues, “I tell the other Barabels it’s a battle scar, but there would be no fooling you Jedi. I messed up my eye building my lightsaber, but it also did not deter me from following the ways of the Force and saving my planet from the Chazrach. They are vicious beasts, but luckily, we are more vicious.” Soles says, “we could use a Jedi like you to join our team. There’s another vicious beast out there, and he’s a Sith Lord.” Saba casually comments, “Oh, I know. Tyro’s actually on his way to Bothawui because he wants to kill all of you.” The Jedi stare at her in disbelief; first, she knows Tyro, and second, Tyro knows where they are in the galaxy, meaning someone had intercepted a message and told the ruling Free Order. Saba continues, not realizing the shock on all of their faces. “I need to gather up my best warriors, and we can take your ship up to the big ship up there and be on our way to Bothawui to face this beast of yours,” as she chuckles, not being scared at all of the dire circumstances, and turns around and heads back to the cave. It was still raining but not as hard, and the sky was getting lighter. “This is crazy,” says Anna. “You think?” sarcastically questions Soles. “They must get the Holonet here too as Tyro announced it out to the galaxy,” answers Azuree. “Yeah, and I guess we would have fallen into his trap on Bothawui. Also, I’m sure Raef and Forisa will be with him too,” explains Mace. “Trap or no trap, I think our moves are to either run and hide, wait for Master Rey, or face them ourselves,” says Soles to Mace. “I say we go after them and end this!” A loud and proud Temiri announces. “Okay, so who agrees with Temiri?” Asks a concerned Mace to the group. Lewbacca raises his hand first, and every Jedi slowly follows suit, raising their hands. “Majority rules!” Calls out Temiri with a big happy smile on his face. “So, we wait for Saba and her soldiers to come out of this underground cave city, and then we get out of here before we fry to death from the day’s radiation,” Azuree says. A determined Temiri states, “Next stop, Bothawui! It’s time to get payback for what happened to Poe, Chase, and Master Phyto!” The Jedi Knights nod in approval and gather on the ramp of the transport ship to sit down to rest and wait for the Barabels to join them. Their thoughts drift off with memories of their fallen friends in this new battle against the Sith Lord.

On Corellia, the trial of the galaxy is in full swing. Rey is making sure to use her time defending herself as story time, telling everyone the long history of the Jedi Order. Her tactic of delaying and diversion is working as hours have passed by, and she is just getting to the creation of the Jedi Council. “That’s how Yoda came to be the Head of the Jedi Council,” Rey is prolonging things, talking about one Jedi at a time. “Enough!” Yells, one of the judges. “These statements have nothing to do with you, and I find it odd that my colleagues are letting this charade continue,” one of the side judges comments. “I’m afraid to inform you, Jedi Master Skywalker, that unless you can tell us where this is going and how the history of the Jedi pertains to your defense, I will grant you no more time and we will have to proceed with the prosecution,” the lead middle Judge informs her. Rey says, “I assure you the long history of the Jedi and myself defending courts and governments like this very esteemed Corellian court will show and prove my innocence to these charges against me. So, may I proceed with my speech, your Honor?” The lead judge thinks it over and bellows out, “you may proceed.” Rey smiles and says, “Great!” She continues her speech, making sure to add even more descriptions and digressions about far-flung Jedi stories.

The Aggressor has been flying through hyperspace for quite some time with Lord Tyro, Darth Faero, Lady Ziyra, and the mercenary crew all on board. Tyro announces to the galaxy on the Holonet, in between Rey’s trial being broadcast, that he’s going to a so-called “Alliance Summit” on Bothawui. In reality, he found out the Jedi Knights are near the planet by an intercepted transmission sent out from them calling for Republic help. Tyro knows they’re coming for him if they get his Holonet message, but with his two new Sith and the Bothans being on his side with the Free Order, the advantage is his, and he is confident with his plan. The Aggressor comes out of hyperspace with Makin Marec piloting the super-fast ship. “We’re here, Lord Tyro. Bothawui,” Makin comments. “Good bounty hunter. Your talent for fast and accurate flying has been quite useful,” replies Tyro. Makin says back, “Well, I have a few years under my belt.” Ailyn says, “Yeah, too many years.” He gives her a troubled look because they still haven’t been able to retire together to enjoy a safe life of luxury and happiness. Darth Faero and Lady Ziyra are in the cabin behind the cockpit and are talking about what to do with their old Jedi friends when Lord Tyro walks in on them. “I must speak to you about something more important than childish friendships run amok,” boldly states the Sith Lord. “What would be more important than ending the Jedi and being the only power in the galaxy left to rule as we see fit?” asks Darth Faero. “Oh, there is more than our power out here in the cosmos. There is a place that I call the beyond. That is where I want both of you to go,” Lord Tyro says as he pulls out a data card and holds it up in the air. “In my galaxy, going past where my Chazrach had staged their invasion force and my planet, there lies a place that holds the gateway to a massive force power that has not only birthed the Chazrach, but has given us Sith more powers to grow stronger in the Force and help vanquish the threats in my galaxy.” Tyro hands Darth Faero the data card. “On this data card are the coordinates to this place and information about the gatekeepers there. You will need their assistance to go to the beyond,” Tyro explains. “The beyond? It sounds like a ghost story,” replies Lady Ziyra. “Exactly, except this ghost story is real. You must go and find this dark side power. I had the powers to rule my galaxy for a generation because of it,” answers Lord Tyro. The Aggressor makes its landing on Bothawui, and the two young Sith feel confused about what’s going on and why Lord Tyro wants them to go so far for something that seemed so trivial when they should be helping their Master take on the Jedi. The Sith Lord walks off the ship and turns around, looking at the crew of the Aggressor and his two Sith apprentices. “You will go to the beyond and find Abeloth. Darth Faero and Lady Ziyra, you will become more powerful than any being ever in the history of this galaxy. Once you have completed your journey, return to me on Corellia. Now go, and I will take care of what’s left of these Jedi children. Once more, the Sith will take over this galaxy, and just as I had ruled from the powers of Abeloth from my own galaxy,” proclaims Lord Tyro. He gives them a menacing stare and turns walking away as the landing ramp begins to go up on the Aggressor. Darth Faero comments, “I guess if that’s where the Chazrach are from, this place in the beyond must be very powerful.” Lady Ziyra says, “we’re going to need all the power we can get going up against Rey.” He looks at her in anger. “You’re right.” Darth Faero looks at Makin and hands him the data card and says, “Let’s move out and follow these coordinates.” Makin asks, “Where are we going, my Lords?” Darth Faero boldly states, “The Unknown.” Their ship takes off as Lord Tyro doesn’t even watch them fly away. He’s busy on his way to meet with the Bothan leaders and how to take out the one remaining Republic star destroyer left from the earlier battle that includes Jedi Master Finn with the remaining Jedi Knights on board.

Above Barab I, on the star destroyer the Liberator, the group of Barabels unload from the freighter and find their way to the large cafeteria. They look at all the food and begin chowing down everything in sight. The Jedi, along with their new Jedi friend Saba, are on the bridge going over the plan to go to Bothawui and confront Lord Tyro. Finn and the Republic officers had already seen the Holonet message meant for them, but they just had played it back to the Jedi. “He’s an arrogant son of a Sith, isn’t he?” says Corran. The crew first looks at him seriously, and then most of them laugh at the comment. “Well, yeah, he certainly is,” chuckles Finn. Mace continues talking about their plan, “so, we go in at lightspeed as close as we can get, preferably some distance from the city, and then use the star destroyer as a diversion while we grab a land transport of some kind to go after the Sith.” Finn brings up a complication, “we know the main Bothan fleet is on Coruscant, but they’ll have a massive amount of firepower from land and in the sky. All I’m saying is we don’t know how much time we can buy holding them off from attacking.” Temiri adds, “it will be what it will be. I say we get going to Bothawui now and improvise if need be.” Azuree adds, “I agree. Tyro could already be there plotting who knows what.” The command had already set the navigation computer system for Bothawui, and on Connix’s orders, they left Barab I straight into hyperspace. “We’ll be there before you know it,” Finn assures the Jedi Knights.

Tyro’s plans on Bothawui are fairly simple and odd to the Bothans. He demands that they land their attack ships and wait for the lone Republic destroyer to come in close. When spotted, he wants them to take off and stay low, surrounding the destroyer on all sides. He figures the Jedi will want to be dropped off and then use their large ship for cover. “It’s too easy, and they are so predictable,” Tyro says. He is going to wait in a small light craft and fly to them once their star destroyer is targeted. Tyro knows the Jedi will be weakened from their losses, immature, and easy pickings, so he isn’t concerned about not having his two apprentices. They weren’t very strong in the dark side, and Tyro knew this. That’s why he sent them to find Abeloth in his galaxy to hopefully increase their Force using output like it had done for him and his Sith Sabers many years before.

Day one of Rey’s Corellian trial is finally over, and she is resting in her cell, sitting on a cement slab bed. She is talking to herself, saying, “I hope the Jedi are going to be okay without me. Something doesn’t feel right, but it’s distant, like something is calling out from the Force. I don’t know what it could be.” Just now, another voice echoes out in the prison cell. “It’s a long-lost power from beyond. Only Tyro was there many years ago, and there he found where the Chazrach had come from and how to use them to conquer his galaxy,” answered Luke Skywalker. It had been a long time since she heard from him, and hearing his voice made her smile in surprise. “Luke, what is happening?” asks a relieved Rey. She stops herself with a realization to focus her thoughts on questioning Luke and rephrases it, “There’s a galaxy-ending emergency. What could it be if it’s not Tyro and it’s from this beyond?” Luke says, “There are darker things that exist than Sith, just as there are lighter things than Jedi. I can only tell you to continue your path and trust your young Jedi who are left. They have good hearts and have made all of us proud. I’m sorry to hear about Raef and Forisa. Rey, you know about my failings with Ben. You need to remember that each person makes their own decisions, whether for good or bad. As a Jedi Master, our greatest burden is when they grow beyond our grasp and teachings, where we must let them go.” Rey smiles and says, “You got that saying from Master Yoda.” Luke’s voice chuckles, echoing in the cell, “Perhaps I did. Leia and I are so proud of you, Rey. Take care, and remember the Force will be with you, always.”

The Liberator comes into Bothawui hot out of lightspeed with moments to spare, just before colliding with the surface. Luckily, they have plenty of area to work with before coming up on the Bothan city where Tyro has said he would be at his so-called “Alliance Summit.” Admiral Connix orders out their next move, “that open area down there looks good with plenty of ships and speeders. Bring the ship down, and let’s make this as quick of a drop-off as we can make it. Who knows how fast the Bothans will detect our large star destroyer and come after us. You know they are famous for their covert operation and encryption skills.” The ship lands in the open area, and the Jedi Knights, C-3PO, R2-D2, the Barabels, and a large group of Republic soldiers unload, ready for a fight. They get clear of the ship with Master Finn, BB-8, Connix, and her team of Republic officers staying on the bridge so they can protect them from above, and Finn being the Jedi Knights’ eyes and ears in the sky. Without provocation or any attack in the far distance on multiple sides of the Liberator, there are numerous large ships appearing as specks flying towards them. “We’re going to have a lot of company faster than we anticipated. Find cover, knights!” comlinks Finn to Mace. “We copy, Dad. Be safe up there,” replies Mace. Finn says, “You be safe down there too, son.” The approaching ships are now in range to fire on them, but none are doing so. Finn, Connix, and the officers decide not to fire back because they are vastly outnumbered anyway, plus stalling the battle gives more time for the ground team to safely get away from there. A small cruiser breaks free from one of the Bothan groups and is flying towards them, accelerating at their star destroyer. “What does this ship think it’s doing? Going up against us alone? Prepare to blow this thing out of the sky,” orders the Admiral. Over their loudspeakers, Lord Tyro’s voice bellows out, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Unless you want your ship and your lives to be a distant memory to those you love.” Finn yells out, “Tyro! It’s him! Admiral, fire everything we have on that small craft!” Connix replies, “you heard the Jedi Master! Fire!” The Liberator begins to fire its main laser guns at him. Tyro flies into maneuvers that only a Force user could pull off, from fast multiple barrel rolls to spins that would dizzy the best of pilots. “Is that all you have, Jedi?!” Laughs a very satisfied Sith Lord. Tyro makes his move to go to the surface just as from all sides of the Liberator, Bothans fire their guns and cannons. The A-wings and X-wings take off out of the star destroyer with Connix’s command, trying to save them and defend the Jedi group. The last Republic star destroyer from the Battle of Corellia can’t take the firepower, and it begins to blow up in numerous parts. The bridge is losing power, and the systems are going offline as fires break out everywhere. BB-8 beeps to Finn that “it’s scary” as he gets to one knee to put his arm around his longtime little droid buddy. Fire and explosions surround the Jedi Master and droid. Finn looks around in desperation to run while holding onto BB-8, but the front view port collapses, trapping him and BB-8 inside the inferno prison-like bridge. Finn thinks slowly and calmly and calls out on the comlink, “My Jedi family. Stay on the light side. Keep this balance of the Force in your hearts and minds. You must defeat Tyro. I’m sorry, Mace. Take care of your mother, Soles, and all of the knights. I love you. Dad loves you, Mace. May the Force be with you, always.”

The entire ground team is receiving the message as Mace looks up at the star destroyer as the explosions grow bigger and bigger as it crashes downward at the surface of Bothawui. Mace yells out, “No!!!!” Soles grabs him and holds him back so they aren’t spotted by the Bothan ships. “This can’t be happening!” Yells Mace as he collapses to his knees. In front of them, the star destroyer hits the ground with a huge explosion into the area with debris, dark clouds of smoke, and a blast of wind throwing everyone back into the air. The remaining A-wings and X-wings, piloted by Republic soldiers who flee off the star destroyer, are being picked off one by one and exploding above the ground team. C-3PO and R2-D2 are in shock. For the first time, 3PO was speechless. As they get up from the blast, Soles is trying to console Mace. “I know. I know. We have to stay alive for them and win this battle. Focus on our mission and finding Tyro.” Mace is teary-eyed but looks directly up and says, “I think Tyro has found us first.”

Rey feels Finn’s presence fade as his star destroyer crashes on Bothawui. Feeling him gone, she suddenly jumps up in a panic and runs right through the prison cell door, breaking it down. Sprinting through the hallway, she fights the prison guards using her Force powers as they’re quickly knocked out and thrown about. Rey grabs the steel sliding bars to the entrance, rips them loose, and pushes them aside. She continues to run, trying to figure out how to get out of there and off-planet as the alerted authorities begin to chase her in vehicles and on foot. Rey makes it to the large platform the Millennium Falcon was grounded on and where she was once arrested days earlier. She yells out in frustration, “Where could it be!?” Above her, the Corellian authority ships appear and surround the Jedi Master with their spotlights on her. “Blast it! You’re a fool, Rey! A fool! Why did you stay here at this hopeless place!?” She yells out in anger. “Ah, Rey, you awoke me from my nap. I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere,” casually says an approaching Thrackan Sal. Rey grits her teeth in angry frustration but starts to focus her feelings by closing her eyes in a rapidly meditative process of calming herself with purpose and resolve to avenge losing Finn.

Lord Tyro exits his small craft as the Bothan ships surround the area from the sky, almost as an audience watching the show that’s about to unfold. “Well, what do we have here?” States a laughing Tyro as he looks at the Barabels. “Lizards? That’s your big answer to saving the galaxy? Lizard people and droids? I expect more from Jedi, but you are just children after all,” Tyro continues talking down to them. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done to our family!” Mace yells out. “I’d like to see it, Jedi child,” Tyro answers him. Saba couldn’t take any more talk and yelled in the Barabel language to attack. Before the Jedi and Republic soldiers could even react, the Barabels were already on the run towards Tyro, but up above, a Bothan ship rains laser fire down upon them, blasting them to pieces. Saba had taken the lead and was the only Barabel left as she was close enough to Tyro. She jumps and claws at him as he ignites his red lightsaber simultaneously. He misses her head with a swing as she ducks and spins around his backside behind his other arm and slashes it off with one huge swipe! Tyro yells out in pain, losing his arm in an instant but swings his lightsaber around with the arm that he still has, cutting off Saba’s tail. The pain knocks her down with her back, oozing blood as she scrambles to get away. The Republic soldiers and two droids witnessing all of the carnage are frozen in fear and looking to the Jedi to do something about Tyro. “We got this,” a confident Temiri says to them. “Do we?” asks Hal. “It’s either him or us,” Soles answers. “Let’s finish this,” Anna yells out. Lord Tyro orders the Bothans to not fire on the Jedi as he puts it, “I want to kill them myself, one by one!” The Jedi run at him without being fired as the Republic soldiers do not follow because they’re too scared by Tyro and overwhelmed to do anything. Corran, Anna, and Azuree are the first ones to reach Tyro, and they pull out their lightsabers. They clash blades and begin fighting with clouds of debris being kicked up by all of the Force powers being leveled against one another. The other Jedi, being Soles, Mace, Lewbacca, Temiri, and Hal, surround the three in a half circle. Fighting a Sith Lord is no easy challenge, and Corran and Azuree are blocking stronger and more experienced Tyro attacks from above them using their advantage in speed. It gives them an upper hand in dodging his swinging death blows. Their lightsabers are clashing and smashing one another repeatedly, and finally, Azuree gets a lightsaber strike that knocks Tyro’s lightsaber out of his remaining hand and arm. They both jump back, joining the group of Jedi who are now halfway surrounding him.

“I’d say it’s time for target practice, Knights!” Yells Soles. Tyro, in immense pain and anger, yells back, “You have no idea what Darth Faero and Lady Ziyra will become! They will unleash evil across your galaxy! You’re a bunch of brats!” Mace with resolve shouts out to Tyro, “we’re a bunch of Jedi Knights!” All seven Jedi throw their lightsabers at Tyro. They keep each of their lightsabers lit in the air by use of the Force. With only one arm left and without his lightsaber to defend himself, there is nothing Tyro can do but try to dodge the incoming weapons. He spins around as one lightsaber misses, but Mace, using the Force, turns his lightsaber from the air into Tyro’s side. The Sith Lord falls to one knee with a surprised expression on his face. Soles and Lewbacca’s lightsabers connect with Tyro’s other leg, following with Temiri’s and Hal’s sabers piercing into his torso. Tyro is in shock as the other lightsabers from Azuree, Anna, and Corran go into his shoulders that were guided through the air by their use of the Force. With all the lightsaber jabbing into Tyro’s body, he falls over, landing flat on the ground. The evil Sith Lord Tyro is dead.

Meanwhile, above the Bothan ships, a Republic Fleet appears from open space as it’s the long-awaited help that’s finally answered by the long-standing Republic planet of Naboo. They fire at the Bothans from space as the enemy ships turn upwards to face Republic forces leaving the Jedi safe on the ground. Lewbacca runs over to Saba and immediately begins to tend to her wounded back. The rest of the Jedi, seeing their new protection above, slowly walk up to Tyro, looking at his body lying on the ground and turning off their lightsabers using the Force and picking up their lightsabers. “Make sure he’s, you know, gone,” says Temiri. “He is, I can feel it,” answers Soles. “I think we did it, Knights,” assured Azuree. They nod together in approval and high-five feeling a sense of relief that none of them have felt in a long time, but it has come at a massive toll of losing their family and friends. It is a somber celebration. The battle above was already over as the Naboo Fleet was coming in to get the Jedi out of there, as Republic soldiers behind the Jedi had communicated with the new fleet to let them know they’re allies while the Jedi were facing Tyro. They help Saba get on the Naboo transport ship to get her to the medical bay that had come down to pick them up. Once everyone is on board, droids included, the ship takes off, and they begin to rise up with the Naboo fleet. The Captain of the Naboo ship asks, “Where to now, Jedi Knights?” They’re looking out at the view of the massive fleet around them flying in perfect formation towards the stars of space. The Jedi are close together, and as Soles puts her arm around Mace with Lewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 on his other side, Mace says, “Coreilla. We’re going to Corellia.”

End of Part 2

To be concluded with Part 3, Star Wars: Episode XII: Destiny of the Force