Star Wars: Origins - Part 10 blog - AK151

After quite a wait, here is Part 10 of Star Wars: Origins, a story focused on a Jedi during the Galactic Civil War as he hunts down an unknown entity that destroyed his home, encountering many on his journey. Please note that this is not cannon and directly conflicts with many things in known cannon (such as the Mandalorians being peaceful during the Clone Wars, but I doubt that many would want that to stay the same).

Previous Parts
Part 1 - Moddb.com
Part 2 - Moddb.com
Part 3 - Moddb.com
Part 4 - Moddb.com
Part 5 - Moddb.com
Part 6 - Moddb.com
Part 7 - Moddb.com
Part 8 - Moddb.com
Part 9 - Moddb.com

Enjoy the story!
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A large area of snow in the arctic areas of Corellia cleared as an object, unseen, landed. The Shadow Wing deactivated its cloak, and a Mandalorian stepped out. Kira wore her full beskar'gam armor, a design similar to her brother, Jango's, armor, but with red as the primary color, with black trimmings, the red to honor her father and the black as justice against the Death Watch mercenaries who had killed him. She detached her double-bladed lightsaber, a two-foot long silver cylinder with a curved five inch blade at each end, opposite of each other. She had sensed someone approaching. She whirled around, arming one of her wrist concussion rockets. A Mandalorian scout deactivated a cloaking device, shimmering into view.

The scout wore armor as well, designed much like Kira's, but with a few differences, mainly the fact that the armor was firstly made out of durasteel, not beskar, and secondly that it was uniform silver. He had a pistol, a Verpine shattergun by the looks of it, drawn and aimed at Kira.

“Do not try, ner'vod, for I will best you any day, Force or no Force, lightsaber or no lightsaber.” Kira warned the Mandalorian. To her hidden relief, he lowered the weapon. She was not afraid of the warrior as much as she was unwilling to kill one of her own.

“Why are you here?” the Mandalorian asked in a harsh, synthesized voice as was common with Mandalorians with full battle gear, including a helmet.

Kira warily lowered her arm warily, her lightsaber still at the ready. Acknowledging the question, she responded, “To talk. Your leader has tried to kill us. We are not here to do the same, we are merely here to discover why your leader has tried to do what he has.”

“Very well. But be warned. You will not be received kindly. Had I had the chance, I would have killed you right then, as our orders told of us.”

“You would not have done much. My armor is far more durable than yours. The shot would have bounced off and your throat would be either impaled by my lightsaber or torn open by a Verpine shot of my own. Now, will we be off? I assume you know the way to your masters?”

“Follow. And one more thing: no one to follow you. Your companions will stay inside the ship. If they leave, we will treat all of you as a threat, and you will not be allowed to speak.”

“Fine by me. Now lead the way,” Kira reached to the side of her helmet, activating an in-built communications link to the Shadow Wing. “Aaron, tell the others to stay in the ship. Got it?”

“You sure about this?” Aaron's voice fizzed in, the static harsh in her earpiece. She was still able to hear the uncertainty and slight worry in his voice.

“I'll be fine. Trust me,” she replied with a slight grin before breaking the link. “They'll stay. Now, off we go?”

“Yes. Come.” the Mandalorian grunted before trudging through the snow, following a path he had obviously memorized and learned by heart, as there were no physical indications of a path or trail. Eventually, the two Mandalorians reached a temple, hidden in the snow. Inside, there were eighteen Mandalorians, each with the same armor as the scout. They each had one single-bladed lightsaber, a weapon that Kira was surprised to see on each Mandalorian. She saw the air behind one of the warriors shimmer for an instant and smiled to herself. At last, the scout stopped, and she beheld a single Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian had gold armor, symbolizing vengeance, with green trimmings, symbolizing duty. From his armor, Kira was able to guess that he was dutiful, but his duty was overshadowed by a desire for vengeance against something, but Kira did not know what. As he turned around, he took a slight step back, and from his motions, he looked surprised, but it was a change that lasted only for an instant before the warrior regained his composure. When he spoke, his voice was synthesized by the helmet he wore, but she could still hear the uncertainty and hopefulness in his voice.

“Kira?”

“Impossible,” Kira gasped as memories and buried feelings flooded into her mind.

Anger as the CIS betrayed her commando team, killing their leader. Spite as they joined the Republic and she was trained as a Jedi because of her Force sensitivity. Overconfidence as she led battles against the CIS, accompanied by Kavom Bellis, her right-hand man, and long-time friend. Suspicion as they intercepted a transmission from Coruscant to the clones in her unit, telling them to execute Order 66. Rage as her troops, her brothers, turned their rifles on her and Kavom and opened fire, grief as Kavom stayed behind to fight the clones as the ship he had forced her on took off, escaping the conflict and evading the blockade.

“You died,” said, still dubious about the Mandalorian's identity, but still partially convinced based on his stance and voice, a voice she had grown accustomed to when they fought together.

“I put up a fight against the clones, but there were too many and I got struck numerous times by blaster bolts. However, beskar is not that weak, but I was knocked unconscious by a concussion missile and was put out of the fight, still relatively unharmed. The clones would have checked my vital signs, but I wasn't a Force sensitive and didn't hold as much priority. When I came to a few minutes later, most of the clones had run off after a bit of confusion about where you went. There were a few that decided to check me for vital signs, and I killed them. I then stole a Republic transport and left the planet, trying to find a good place to go into hiding for a while. I settled here, meeting a few Mandalorians along the way.”

“Why are you trying to kill us?” Kira asked, changing the subject.

“The Mandalorians need to rise again. I have assembled a few Mandalorians, all sensitive to the Force, something that I discovered in myself after leaving the Republic. Near death scenarios can do a lot to change a man.”

“So, you assembled a few Force-sensitive Mandalorians? For what? It wouldn't do anything against the Republic, or the Empire, as it seems it is now.”

“That is only part of my plan. The other part lies with our new ally, one who calls himself Vorchann. I have never seen him, but I have seen his capabilities. He does not have enough power to take on the Empire as a whole, but he does have enough to strike fear into enough systems that he will be followed. He has promised us a great deal of power in the Empire he plans to create.”

“And how does he plan to overthrow the largest power in the galaxy at this moment?” Kira asked, finding the idea incredulous.

“Fear is an excellent motivator,” was Kavom's simple answer.

“And how does a single unknown individual with no power generate enough fear to cause others to turn against the Empire?”

“He has a planet killer. One ship. A massive ship. It destroyed an outer rim planet a few weeks ago.”

“Yes, I know. And what makes you think that this ship cannot be overcome by a fleet?”

“It is powerful, and it has an escort of its own. In addition to that, it is fast and can be out of a destroyed system almost instantly. It is nearly impossible to catch.”

“So with this, you believe that he has enough power to control the galaxy.”

“No, but with it, he has enough power to frighten the galaxy. And that is all that is necessary.”

“And where to the other Mandalorians fit into all of this?”

“They will be given a choice to serve us like everyone else. If they refuse, they will die.”

“Ah, so this is not the Mandalorians you are serving, but your own petty interests?”

“The Mandalorians are weak,” Kavom flared up, “and they need a change.”

“And I suppose that I must be weak as well then,” Kira growled.

“Perhaps not you, but you are not as strong as us. You would not last long. We have orders to kill you if necessary, but to try and capture you. What will it be, Kira? You can't fight all of us. I suggest you surrender, before we are forced to use deadly means to subdue you.”

“I cannot take you all on alone, no. But I was never alone,” Kira sneered, grinning inside her helmet. As she spoke, three Mandalorians' necks twisted in an unusual direction and simultaneous snaps were heard as their necks cracked. Three figures jumped down, cloaks shimmering away as they did so. Aaron landed on Kira's right flank, Vorack on her left. Drak landed behind them, rifle at the ready. The Mandalorians each drew their lightsabers. Aaron observed each of them, sizing them up. One of the voices in his head, the darker one, spoke.

Be cautious of them, it warned, I fought many Mandalorians in my time, and none of the fights were truly easy.

When did you fight Mandalorians? Aaron asked in his mind, the question directed at the voice.

Too long ago for anyone to care, the voice responded simply.

Knowing that his cryptic dark side ancestor would not yield anymore secrets, Aaron focused on his surroundings, noting each of the Mandalorians and quickly formulating battle strategies in his head, even as he knew his allies were doing as well.

Kira gripped her lightsaber tightly, preparing to jump at Kavom, “Kavom Bellis was genuinely concerned for the well-being of his people. It was the one trait that I admired most in him. It made him what he is. Without that, he is nothing. You are nothing. Kavom Bellis died during Order 66. It would seem that all that is left is for his body to catch up,” and with that, she flew at the Mandalorian, igniting her lightsaber, two yellow beams extending several feet, and he ignited two of his own lightsabers, a purple and a green. The two engaged in combat, and all hell erupted.

Vorack drew his metal saber in his left hand and ignited his dark-blue lightsaber in his right, taking on six of the Mandalorians as they jumped down to engage them. Drak took two out with his rifle, the heavy slugs piercing the durasteel armor with ease. He then engaged in hand-to-hand with four of the Mandalorians, extending his arm blades. The weapons protruded from his wrist and from his elbow at the same time. He whirled around, blocking the blows directed at him before responding with staggeringly powerful attacks.

Aaron stepped forward, igniting his orange lightsaber. The remaining Mandalorians, seven in total, charged at him. He grinned beneath his helmet and took a great bound forward, impaling one of the warriors before he had a chance to react. He then engaged the others, quickly battering aside one's defenses and impaling him through the neck. He augmented his skills with the Force and became a blur. One Mandalorian swung at him with his lightsaber. Aaron feinted a block and deactivated his lightsaber at the last second, reactivating it into the Mandalorian's head. Surrounded by the four remaining Mandalorians, Aaron repulsed the ones behind him and to the sides, ducking a horizontal slash by the warrior in front of him before slicing him in half from hip to hip. The Mandalorians recovered from the Force blast and charged Aaron, but he jumped up, flipping acrobatically. The Mandalorians tracked him and readied their weapons for his landing. However, the Jedi disappeared. The Mandalorians, puzzled, tried to spot the signs of a cloak, but could not. All of a sudden, Aaron appeared behind them, having used a teleportation technique taught to him by another Jedi long ago. With one large horizontal swipe, he decapitated the three Mandalorians, who had foolishly bunched close together. Deactivating his lightsaber, he watched the other battles unfold.

Vorack had dispatched three of his attackers and his weapons whirled around furiously. He clashed blades with two of the Mandalorians, shoving them back. The third charged at him, lightsaber raised. Vorack side-stepped his attacker and sliced the Mandalorian's hand off as his blade came down. Vorack then followed through with a horizontal slash, decapitating the Mandalorian and battering away the blade of one of this last two opponents as he tried to swing at the Drakar. Vorack brought his blade behind him to block a lightsaber blow to his back before whirling around, embedding his metal saber in the side of one of his foes' necks, where it stuck there as Vorack let go of the blade. He then continued his rotation, slicing the other Mandalorian at the ankles before grabbing him with his free hand by the neck, lifting him several feet off the ground, and slamming him back down. The Mandalorian's back broke from the impact, and Vorack deactivated his lightsaber and retrieved and cleaned his metal saber.

Drak had killed two of his opponents but his last two adversaries learned from their predecessors' mistakes. Drak's slugthrower was on the ground, one shell dispersed, with a lightsaber scorch mark on it. While the rifle was unharmed, Drak could not retrieve it without being sliced into pieces. He dueled the Mandalorians with surprising elegance given his slightly bulky power armor. He spun around, blocking the Mandalorians' lightsaber strikes by keeping his blades vertical. Eventually, he stopped, locking blades with the two Mandalorians. Through the neural link connecting him to his suit, he strengthened the armor of his suit, which was able to withstand a lightsaber for a few seconds in that state, and shoved back one of the Mandalorians. At the same time, he jerked the arm locked with the other Mandalorian forward and quickly back, catching the lightsaber between Drak's armor and the blade protruding from his elbow. He brought his arm up even further, and the lightsaber lifted, exposing the Mandalorian's head. Drak stabbed him in the visor with hits other blade before attacking the other Mandalorian with both blades. This one was smart and was able to avoid the same attack but fell victim to another: Drak battered aside a horizontal swing made by the Mandalorian with his left arm, quickly spinning around and impaling the Mandalorian through the visor with his right elbow-blade. He retracted his blades, walking forward and picking up his rifle, joining Aaron and Vorack as they watched Kira. Vorack stepped forward, hand on his lightsaber, but Aaron stopped him.

“Don't.” he said. Vorack nodded an acknowledgment and they observed the battle.

Kira whirled her saber-staff around, the two blades creating a yellow circle on each of her sides. These circles impacted Kavom's two lightsabers harshly and he was being pushed back by the constant onslaught. He growled and blasted Kira back a few feet. He then raised his arms and the roof above Kira cracked. A large portion of the roof of the temple came down above the Mandalorian, but she was prepared. Kira lifted her gauntlet and a rocket screamed forth, exploding and knocking the rubble away from her. Trying to escape to more open ground, Kavom jumped up, landing on one of the falling rocks. He leaped from rock to rock, using each as a stepping stone as he ascended to the roof of the temple. Kira followed, but she used her jetpack to aid her when she could not find a rock to jump onto. Eventually, the two reached the roof and continued their duel. Kavom went on the offensive, but he could not get past Kira's defense. She scored a few hits on him, but his armor absorbed the majority. She side-stepped one of his attacks, slicing one of his lightsabers and putting it out of the fight, and struck him on the back, weakening one area of the armor that was already suffering from damage. But before she could attack that area again, he was attacking and keeping her at bay. However, he made a mistake. With his remaining lightsaber, he swung horizontally at Kira's lightsaber hilt. Kira broke the hilt in two just as Kavom's blade connected and he stumbled, the momentum of his swing carrying him forward. Kira took the opportunity and brought back her right hand, which held one of her lightsabers in a reverse Shien-style grip, and stabbed Kavom in the same place she had struck earlier, breaking the armor. She then stabbed with her other saber, again breaking the armor. Kavom collapsed as Kira's lightsabers deactivated. His lightsaber shut off and fell from his hands as he fell to his knees and then fell forward onto his face.

Kira rolled him over and removed his helmet. His mouth was moving trying to form words. She brought her head closer to hear them.

“F-... for... forgive me... Mandalore,” she withdrew as he spoke the title that had been given to her for leading her people in finishing off the Death Watch during the Clone Wars. He then brought her closer and whispered something in her ear, handing her a data crystal. She smiled sadly as Kavom's body went limp and his breath stopped, closing the eyes of one of her closest friends. She then got up and pocketed the crystal. The jumped down from the roof of the temple where Aaron and the rest of their party were waiting, the three having exited during the battle after Kavom brought down the roof.

“What did he tell you?” Aaron asked.

“Where to find Vorchann.” Kira responded, then held up the data crystal, “The coordinates are here.”

“Good. You alright?” Aaron asked.

“Fine. I just need to do something.” Kira turned around, lifting her hands. The temple shuddered as it collapsed, and all of the Mandalorians fell with it, the warriors being buried beneath the ice. “There.” Kira said, turning around, “Now, I'm fine.”

Aaron nodded then sent a signal to Ryla, who was on board the Shadow Wing. The ship came to pick them up, and they departed the planet, Ryla looking disappointed about missing the action.

“So, now where do we go?” Drak asked Aaron once they were aboard.

“We-” Aaron paused as he heard the darker voice in his head.

Go to Korriban, the voice said.

And why Korriban? Aaron asked.

Because you are not prepared yet, and you should be.

Very well, Aaron acquiesced and turned his attention to Drak. Barely a few seconds had passed. Aaron picked up his broken sentence quickly.

“We go to Korriban,” he finished, and the entire crew turned, especially Kira, who asked,

“Why Korriban? It's not where we'll find Vorchann.”

“But it is where we need to go,” Aaron argued. “Just trust me.”

“Alright,” Kira sighed, “but we'd best be careful. There are many things on Korriban that should not be disturbed.”

“I agree,” Aaron said.

The Shadow Wing left the atmosphere of Corellia, jumping to hyperspace before anyone could notice its presence. But one ship observed. It did not follow, but it observed, before jumping back to its base. The insignia on it was that of the Sith.