Beyond - Legends "Shores Yet Untrod" (AU; Kyp, OCs, completed 9/15/2021)

Well talk about facing the Mirror if in a rather more literal method then is standard. But how did a piece of Kyp's subconscious break off and become a separate person? Ultimately Kyp's adventures don't seem to be enough to have created such a spirit or have it act independently of him. While the clone provides a host and the psychic event the catalyst for it escaping it still doesn't seem like enough on its own. The only similar case I am aware of in either Disney or Legend canon involved Revan who had been alternately brainwashed and mindwiped several times and imprisoned connected to the Sith Emperor for several hundred years.

Also I do think you have been rushing the last few chapters just a bit and could slow down on the action and think you are overestimating the danger Kyp's daughter could be in. After all the Skywalker children managed even with all the Dark Siders after them to be raised by both parents, then again I suppose this is comic book logic. I do hope Kyp has the chance to meet his daughter while she is a child at least once or twice even if he and Dalnora decide they can't raise her together. Also is the vision hinting at a relationship between Jaina's son and Kyp's daughter because if so he is right it's yet more proof the Force has a sense of irony.

 

scienfictionfan: My perspective is that Kyp's trauma runs very deep - he was 8 years old when his world was wrecked, and between his own losses and his actions as a young Jedi (not just Carida, but the deaths he unintentionally led many of the Dozen and a Half to during the Vong War), he's had a great deal of existential suffering that he (mostly) just repressed, covering it with his cocky attitude ... until now.

Fear leads to anger, and so on. Combined with the promised - and displayed - sheer corruptive power of Exar Kun's teachings, all of Kyp's repressed anger not forming a Sith splinter psyche seems more unbelievable to me.

But it probably wouldn't have escaped without all the stress and self-reflection Kyp's been through on this trip - much-needed self-reflection, IMO. Kyp's about 35 years old at this point, and he was still acting like an out of control early 20-something through much of the NJO.

Also, the Star Forge 2.0 is basically a giant Force lens, so the fuse was likely lit as soon as Kyp boarded the station. Meeting Revan just sped that up.

But there'll be a few slower chapters here for a bit, as the build-up to the final battle begins - Tython is a Very Big Deal, after all.

As for K/D and Kitiara ... well,t there will be an answer before 'fic's end - and as for Kit and Rian, well, time will tell ...

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28.6 ABY:
En Route to Tythos System,
Deep Core:
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Kyp had tried to get some sleep - there were shadows in his dreams, just vague things that smacked of darkness. It wasn't very restful.

Typical. I get almost to the root of my problems, and I can't get quite across the finish line, he thought, stirring as someone gently shook his shoulder, and he saw Ejen nodding at him.

"Master Kyp? We're getting close to reversion. It's been about 8 hours - Karina's making breakfast," the teen said, waving as he left.

"Thanks - I'll be there in a few minutes," Kyp managed, wiping sleep from his eyes and stumbling to the refresher. He got cleaned up, dressing as he felt the Night Shrike's vibration, and the others' Force presences.

He strode into the main hold, grateful as Karina nodded to the caf machine, and the Cathar flipped some breadroot patties and roba sausages. "We're getting close to Tython, Nat says. You cut a lot of time off of the flight pattern," she said, smiling.

Kyp poured himself some caf, throwing in more creamer and sweetener than he usually did - he felt like spoiling himself a bit, or maybe trying to ready himself for a massive struggle.

"No hyperwave messages about exploding Vong constructs tainted by the dark side?" he asked, a little unsettled about hoping for an explosion to solve his problems.

It's a damning pattern to my life - I can't keep throwing the Force, lightsabers, or proton torpedoes ... or quantum torpedoes ... at obstacles, he admitted, savoring the caf as Dalonera gave him a wryly amused look from where she sat at the dejarik table.

"No big boom yet, Durron. Get some food in your stomach - it's a bad idea to visit a legendary planet with just caf sloshing around in your stomach," the Mando woman quipped.

Kyp chuckled, accepting a plate of food from Jysella - who was serving meals quite adroitly, her porg making happy noises from her shoulder. The girl smiled, seeming like she'd been along for the whole journey; given what she'd done at Ilum, she'd earned her place.

Ejen and Buan were digging into breadroot patties, nausage and fruit as they sat near some storage footlockers.The Mrlssi scientist returned Kyp's nod, then went back to examining what looked unappetizingly like fungus samples - Kyp had to admire the xenobiologist's strong stomach, or maybe Buan was just used to working as he ate.

Mali'yana and Korlo had found seats near the main engineering console, and the Twi'lek waved as she jabbed at breadroot with her spork. She was examining what looked like HK-series droid schematics in a hologram from her datapad, making notes as she ate.

Korlo was busy wolfing down his own breakfast, "yub"-bing as he chatted with Qewpee - the two seemed to understand each other, and Kyp smiled as he turned more. Given that Korlo hung out with a tech specialist, it was entirely possible the Ewok knew Binary.

Aliste' and Nat were sitting near other, eating together and talking happily, like an old married couple - or just appreciating having each other. Aliste' snuck a sausage from Nat's plate, and he gave her a look of mock outrage, grinning as Aliste' let him take a bite from her spork, and she laughed with relaxed joy.

We've all come so far from who we were just a few months ago, Kyp reflected - catching his reflection in a nearby bulkhead.

He winced a little at the lines around his eyes, and the bags underneath them - but there was also a look of comfort that reassured him.

Things have never been more on edge ... but we're still here. Even HK can be rebuilt - we can get through what's coming, together, Kyp realized, sitting with Dalonera.

She smiled easily at him as he dug into his food, and she asked, "Centicredit for them?"

"Just taking a moment to appreciate what we have. We've been from just about one end of the galaxy to the other, and we're still alive," Kyp said, quirking a corner of his mouth between bites of breakfast - it was quite good.

He smiled as Dalonera squeezed his free hand, and he held on, gently but firmly - securely - before looking around the hold again.

They were an unlikely group - but they were bound by light-years, tears, joys, and more.

Come on, Vong. Try us, Kyp challenged.

--------------------------

to be continued ...

 

A/N: Another update, as things get closer to the final battle, and Kyp and Co. arrive at the last Jedi praxeum on their list - the fabled world of Tython ...

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28.6 ABY:
Tythos System,
Deep Core:
------------------------

When plotting the hyperjump to Tython, Kyp had tried to factor in a reversion point that wasn't right on top of the planet. Surprising a colony of Force-sensitives and their relatives was a pretty good way to get oneself shot at, or worse, and this wasn't a time for mix-ups.

Here's hoping we judged it right, Kyp figured, sitting in the cockpit with Nat, Aliste' and Qewpee as the Imperial pilot pushed the hyperspace control lever forward.

The freighter emerged at the estimated inner edge of the comet cloud projected to orbit Tythos, the system's star. A distant orange point gleamed brighter than the surrounding glow of the densely packed stars in the Deep Core, and Kyp allowed himself a small smile at the sight.

"Amazing ... we're so used to large empty spaces between stars viewed from most of our worlds. But this must be what night is like on Hapes, with stars filling the view ... only more intense," Nat said, smiling as Aliste' nodded.

The Jedi Guardian looked distracted, but Kyp didn't blame her. This wasn't just the last praxeum to visit on the trip - Aliste's twin sister, Arnea Bynar, was the Jedi Consular in charge of both the Tython praxeum and the colonization efforts on the Jedi Order's birthworld.

"Sorry, Nat - just trying to get a sense of Arnea. We share a twin bond, but I suppose it's too far out to try and lock onto her," Aliste' said, smiling a little as Nat began guiding the Shrike closer to the Tythonian planets.

Nat nodded, checking instruments as he slowly frowned - not in pre-battle tension, Kyp could sense, but rather, finding something unexpected.

"I'm picking up a lot more ship traffic in-system than I'd figured - and some massive transmission numbers. The only way we can be reading this many signs of civilization is if the colonists set up on more than one planet," Nat said, nudging the sublight engines.

Kyp furrowed his brow as he considered the news. "But there were only 2,000 colonists in the first place. The whole point of sending a colony ship to Tython was how the difficulty of hyperjumps in the Deep Core makes the system a natural redoubt. That, and Tython's history with the Order," he recalled.

"Btweep! Freewoop-tweep!" Qewpee interrupted, rotating her dome and activating her holoprojector as the Shrike neared a small ice world that looked just barely large enough to be called a planet.

The astromech projected an image of a surprised-looking Duros in Jedi robes, as Nat said, "I'm picking up a guide beacon for a space station - maybe an observation post for ship traffic headed in-system?"

"That's exactly right, visitors. My name is Hasek Delar, Jedi Sentinel and director of security for this observation station above Furies' Gate, the outermost planet in the Tythos system," the Duros Jedi greeted, his eyebrow ridges rising when Kyp moved into the holoproj's scanning field.

"Knight Delar - good to hear the Order's doing well here. I'm Jedi Master Kyp Durron, on a mission to reconnect the hyperlanes and check on the progress of the hidden praxia," Kyp said, smiling with what he hoped was positivity.

Delar's eyes bugged out almost comically, and a rush of shocked conversation could be heard behind him until he waved for silence. "Master Durron - it's an honor, and unlooked-for good news. The last contact we had with the wider galaxy was a rush of refugees from Coruscant more than a standard year ago, when the Yuuzhan Vong conquered it. May I ask how the wider galaxy fares?" the Duros asked.

Kyp half-smiled; he wasn't entirely surprised that the Tythonians had been cut off for a while, but the news of refugees making it this far Coreward was unexpected.

"Well, Hasek, we did liberate Coruscant and wipe out or turn Shimmrra's inner circle about 6 standard months ago, and we've got many of the major hyperlanes reconnected. But my news isn't all good - we have to warn your defense forces of an inbound Yuuzhan Vong superweapon," Kyp said, shrugging.

The Duros Knight turned an unhealthy-looking shade of light green, only relaxing when Aliste' leaned into scanning range and asked, "Knight Delar? My name is Aliste' Bynar, Jedi Guardian. You likely know my sister -"

"Master Arnea, yes! Ler me patch you through to the praxeum at New Kaleth on Tython - and thank you for the warnings. Welcome to the Tythos system, and may the Force be with you," Delar said, and the hologram derezzed for a moment.

When it refocused, a surprised-looking near-duplicate of Aliste' appeared, smiling in momentary elation as Aliste' beamed - this must be Arnea Bynar, Kyp realized.

"Lise!? You're alive, and here! Ashla be praised, it's been forever - and Master Durron! When Hasek sent up the outsystem incursion alert, we feared the worst. But it's wonderful to hear about Coruscant being freed, and that the rest of the galaxy is doing better," the Jedi Consular said, composing herself a bit.

Kyp couldn't help but smile as Aliste' wiped a tear away, and said in a quiet tone, "We'll celebrate once we've dealt with the Yuuzhan Vong behind us, 'Nea. There's a great deal we shouldn't divulge on an open channel this far out. May we head to Tython?"

"Absolutely - I'm transmitting clearance codes now. Thank the Force you arrived in time to warn us. We'll scramble what forces we can, and plan our defense once you arrive," Arnea said, making motions to someone off-camera before adding, "See you soon, Lise."

"And you, 'Nea. May the Force be with you," Aliste' said, her smile returning as Arnea waved. The transmission ended, and Nat pushed the sublight drives as Aliste' breathed, "She's alive."

"Yeah, it's not looking like we had to worry about the Tython praxeum's success," Kyp said, growing serious as the Shrike accelerated.

"Now all we have to do is keep it as safe as we can."

---------------------
Star Forge 2.0:
En Route to
Tythos System:
---------------------

Borja Kwaad watched, awed and quietly nervous, as Kyyp Durron - somehow she could sense the extra letter in the clone's first name - manipulated visible sparks of Force energy around the gestation bin.

The Rakata applauded as the thing in the tank -what would be a lumbering mound of muscle, spines and teeth, called a "terantarek" - started to grow faster.

Kyyp bowed, smiling as he glanced at Borja and said, "Thank you for the opportunity to show you the finesse of Sith alchemy. These beasts will be rather runty, but still effective at killing Jedi. They are no Yuuzhan Vong warbeasts, but they'll do their part on Tython."

"Very good, Kyyp Durron. You are providing your worth," Borja said, watching her (finest?) creation move to accelerate the growth of another terantarek.

One of the shaper adepts whispered - almost too low for any but a Master Shaper's ears to hear - "How can this jeedai clone shape? And if they had this ability before, why did the genetic prime not use the ability?"

"My template is weak, and fears the use of the Force for what it was meant to be used for - the acquisition of power," Kyyp replied, startling the adept as he worked on another bin.

Borja couldn't help but agree - even as she noticed the Rakata whispering among themselves, and Kane' Kwaad watching with Malgus on a catwalk above the bins.

Yes, more and more players, she noted.

---------------------

"Should we kill the clone now? It uses Fohrze powers that could be turned against us," Kane' Kwaad considered, glancing at his - advisor.

For a uh'maan, and a dark jeedai, Malgus was refreshingly straightforward, and understood the warrior's code; he'd demonstrated that in sparring with some of the Supreme Overlord's bodyguard (some of whom now qualified for escalation thanks to missing limbs).

After a moment, Malgus shook his head. "He is dangerous, but still new to his powers - and he is right about the terantareks. Let the clone bolster your shock troops, then overreach. Given the source of his knowledge, he will inevitably try to twist in your hand - then, cast him aside. It is the way of Sith mages; useful, but inevitably reaching a point where they are no longer needed," he said.

Kane' nodded, glancing reluctantly at the cloaked figure shadowing him and Malgus - no cloak of Nuun could hide even Nom Anor from a Supreme Overlord's eyes.

Would that I could afford to throttle that one-eyed skulk ... but if Malgus cannot put down this dangerous clone, then we will need a hand in the shadows to finish the deed, he decided.

------------------------

Mal'ar watched the Durron-clone working alchemy, and smiled to his fellow Rakata. "A formidable threat ... until it turns on the Yuuzhan Vong," he said to Bak'al, his second.

The younger Rakata glanced about before asking softly, "Might the construct interfere with our plan for -?"

Mal'ar made a dismissive gesture, careful to watch the Yuuzhan Vong for signs they might be able to understand the Rakata - the tizowyrms made translation simple, but were a two-way path.

"As long as we use the chaos of the ground assault on Tython to make our way to the Rift, without being noticed, none will be able to stop us," the Predor said, smiling.

"And once we repair the Prime Infinity Gate, and reconnect with our still-Force-empowered brethren in the Unknown Regions, not even the Yuuzhan Vong or some deranged jeedai clone can stop the Rakata from retaking the galaxy."

---------------------------

to be continued ...

 

A/N: An update, as Kyp and Co. reach Tython, and a long-overdue reunion takes place ...

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Late 28.6 ABY: Inbound to Tython,
Tythos System, Deep Core:
---------------------------------------------


The flight in-system had become trickier the further in the Shrike went; Kyp was amazed at the sheer amount of traffic between the Tythos planets.

I know Coruscant's fall created a lot of refugees. But can even a system with as many planets to colonize as Tython support so many settlers? he wondered, examining a holomap of the system provided by the observation post at Furies' Gate, as Ejen and Jysella looked on.

There were 11 planets altogether in the Tythos system, their names recovered from ancient BOSS records and information found in the ruins on Tython itself.

The innermost world, Sunspot, was a semi-molten, superheated chunk of metal and rock that orbited its orange sun in the reverse of its planetary siblings (maybe a rogue planetoid caught by Tythos' gravity). Unwelcoming to life, the planet nevertheless had a mining settlement, and was still rich in ores for starship construction.

The next 3 - Malterra, Nox, and Krev Coeur, in order of increasing distance from Tythos - were harsh, but settled to varying degrees. While Malterra's superheated and dense atmosphere was its bane to life, Nox apparently had once been temperate before overindustrialization wrecked the biosphere.

Polluted and sparsely dotted with plants, the planet had required domed cities for its residents' survival. Nox remained polluted, but millennia without manufacturing pumping toxins into the biosphere had begun to clear up the damage. Only breath masks were required now (the domes had been rebuilt for long-term reclamation efforts).

The fourth, Krev Coeur, had a naturally toxic atmosphere, but breathable air in large underground caverns. It also boasted immense crystals in the caverns, which could be exported for various industries.

Tython, the fifth world, was the brightest by far in the Force, and boasted the system's Jedi praxeum. It was the first planet in-system with two moons - Ashla, white and gleaming, and Bogan, dark against the Deep Core's glow.

Kyp was both amused and a little stunned by Tython's moons being the source of the ancient names for the Force's two traditional sides (at least as far as the Jedi were concerned - he tended to lean more toward the idea of the Force as a spectrum, these days).

Doesn't mean we can be experimenting like the Baran Do or Fallanassi do. But Kyle's view of the Force - what you use the powers for matters more than the powers themselves - has some merit, Kyp pondered.

He smirked as Jysella's porg Ketsor pecked at the image of the sixth world, Kalimahr. The temperate world had three moons, and was a fairly highly populated planet - in ancient times, it had served as the system's capital. Today, Kalimahr was a center of settlement for non-Force-sensitives, with much of the system's hastily-improvised governance and business run from there.

The seventh planet, Ska Gora, was heavily forrested, and had apparently had cities on repulsorlifts, while the planet itself was a forest preserve. It was sparsely settled today, with rumors of Wookiee and Ewok settlements. It had one moon, as did the eighth planet, Shikakkwaa.

Shikakkwaa was something of an outlier, Kyp read; it had apparently been quite a crime capital for its day, as far as such things went (as like now, apparently there were never enough Jedi, or Je'daii, to go around). Today, it was a still a safety valve for the seedier elements of the settlement effort, but a large presence of former New Republic Defense Force members was keeping the worst elements in check.

The ninth and 10th planets, Obri and Mawr, were gas giants with lightly settled moons (mostly resource mining colonies). Furies' Gate, the 11th and last world large enough to be called a planet under standard definitions, was an iceball that made Hoth look temperate, and too far from Tythos to support humanoid life. Only the security station above the icy planetoid was inhabited.

But our focus is further inward, Kyp mused, shifting the holomap back to Tython and zooming in on its only real settlement of any real size, New Kaleth (named for the ancient Je'daii center of learning).

"Is it true that most Force-blind people couldn't live on Tython, because the planet reacted so strongly to powerful Force-users' feelings?" Jysella asked in an awed voice as she petted Ketsor, and the porg cooed softly.

"That's what Tionne pieced together from the oldest records she's found on Ossus. Less stable Force-users who couldn't handle balance risked touching off planet-wide storms. From the holomap's data, it looks like that's still true today. There's no outright ban on non-Force-sensitives living on Tython any more, but New Kaleth is almost entirely Jedi and students, with some archaeological teams," Kyp said, examining the datatracks.

Ejen's eyes widened as an artist's rendition of the ancient Force Wars - the battle between the ancient Ashla and Bogan forces, fought with Force-forged swords - appeared near the Kaleth entry. "Do you think they've found any Je'daii katanas?" he wondered, as the Shrike's engines shifted tone slightly and the ship banked - they were coming in for final approach, Kyp could sense from Nat's focus and Aliste's anticipation in the Force.

"Maybe. Could be there's a through-line from ancient Je'daii forging techniques to the Zeison Sha discblades. Let's survive the next standard day or so, and we'll explore Tython's archaeological aspects before we leave," Kyp offered, smiling at his Padawan's excitement.

We should be able to focus on learning and teaching ... maybe we'll get lucky and the stupid Star Forge will blow up in hyperspace, Kyp hoped, admitting it wasn't generous or likely - but he did want a break from battle.

He headed for the cockpit, watching as Dalonera examined one of the standardized lightsaber construction kits Anakin Solo had pioneered early in the Vong War. Ideally, lightsaber construction was a personal process done with carefully-picked components, but wartime had rushed a lot of things for the Order.

Including talking about the important things, Kyp noted, returning Dalonera's faint smile, then entering the cockpit to watch the landing.

"So much for Jedi asceticism," Nat breathed, awe in his tone as the Shrike swept in over a waterfall to a landing pad near a brilliantly decorated, massive structure with blue stone and metal decorations - Kyp blinked in surprise.

In the Force, the Jedi Temple was a beacon of energy, the light rolling through and around it in a warming and welcoming display. Tython itself rippled with the Force, less light-focused and more just alive, but without the muddied morass of emotions and thoughts that filled so many heavily-settled worlds - it was primal.

The freighter came to rest on the landing pad, and an honor guard of Jedi of various species approached, as Kyp blinked. "I guess we rate the full house greeting," he tried to quip as he headed for the ramp, picking up a wrapped bundle on the way.

The rest of the crew gathered, and Aliste' gave Kyp a nervous smile, quite unlike the overconfident Jedi she'd started the trip as. "I've not seen my sister in 3 years. It'll be - interesting," she said, watching the ramp lower and holding Nat's hand as he offered it.

"You should be proud - all of you should. We've come a long way - sacrificed a lot - and this marks a real accomplishment. Let's help save Tython, and finish what we came to do," Kyp praised, grinning as the others nodded and smiled.

He led the way down the ramp, shielding his eyes against the bright sunlight. It was warm, but not humid, and a pleasant breeze blew past as he nodded to two people approaching the Shrike.

The foremost figure was a human woman in her 20s, who could've been Aliste's clone - or, obviously, twin sister. Arnea Bynar carried herself with a peaceful demeanor, wearing semi-formal Jedi robes, a slightly-larger-than-usual lightsaber hilt at her belt, and she smiled as Kyp's crew disembarked - her smile growing when she and Aliste' hugged.

With Arnea was a rather dumpy human man with short brown hair and plain brown eyes, looking nondescript, but strong in the Force. He smiled faintly when Kyp noticed him, and bowed politely as Arnea said, "Tarel Kalan, my second-in-command and chief bureaucrat. The praxeum wouldn't run without him."

"Master Arnea's too kind. I'm just honored to help restore Jedi presence to our homeland - and to help coordinate its defense," Kalan said, nodding when Dalonera waved him aside and rattled off names and identifiers for the crew.

Kyp was pleasantly surprised to find no unease from the Tythonians at a Mandalorian Force-user, and Arnea smiled almost playfully as she led the crew down the honor guard-lined walkway to the temple.

"We honor the past, but we're open to other ideas than the old Order. The Je'daii, themselves, were really closer to Master Skywalker's views than those of Master Yoda. We have families and permit attachments, although we're still exploring the depth of the Je'daii's commitment to the Force in all aspects of life," Arnea said, gesturing as they entered the main Temple.

The chamber was huge, with a dodecahedron-shaped holocron the size of a small bantha floating in the center, flanked by two large staircases. Jedi of many species and all ages were talking and moving about, with some of them looking up in surprise as Arnea led Kyp's crew down a side hallway into a sparsely decorated office.

"Tarel will coordinate with the Tythos Defense Force based on Kalimahr, and our own Jedi Guardian Corps. The gravitational distortions within the system should buy us some time before these Yuuzhan Vong arrive - we can talk more securely here, and not stir a panic among the youngest students," Arnea said, gesturing for Kyp and his crew to find seats.

A 3PO protocol droid took drink orders, while Kyp said, "Not causing a panic is a very wise move, because we've got trouble coming. These particular Vong adapted Rakatan designs to make an organic Star Forge, and they have Darth Malgus and an insane Sith clone of me supporting them - and they've given the Force to at least a dozen Rakata."

Unsurprisingly, the Tythonian Jedi looked troubled - then went pale - at Kyp's news. Arnea's eyes flashed with emotion at the mention of Malgus, while Kalan went pale when the clone came up - but both flinched at the mention of the Rakata.

"This is ... extremely bad, Master Durron. The Yuuzhan Vong are obviously a threat, but how much do you know about the Rakatan involvement with Tython?" Arnea asked, accepting a glass of water from the droid.

Kyp's eyebrows rose, as Jysella coughed and said, "Master Tionne said there were signs in the old Ossus texts of some kind of Rakatan invasion of Tython just before the Force Wars, Master Bynar - sorry for interrupting."

Arnea smiled kindly, nodding as she replied, "Very good, Padawan - Horn? You resemble both your parents. As you note, records found at the Kaleth ruins indicate that a savage war erupted in the Tythos System between the Je'daii and Rakatan forces a few standard years before the Force Wars. The devastation all but wrecked Tythonian civilization, both on Tython and the non-Force-user-settled worlds. The war's extreme violence also widened a divide in the Je'daii, dividing them into the Ashla and Bogan - setting the stage for the Force Wars."

Kalan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, adding, "And the Rakatan lowest caste - the Flesh Raiders, cannibalistic brutes which thrive in the darker corners of Tython - remain here. A higher-ranking Rakata could rally them."

Kyp shuddered at the thought, while Karina asked, "Have you had much difficulty with Tython itself? Any Force storms?"

"Minor weather patterns, yes. But nothing like what the archaeological and historical analyses suggested happened in the past. In fact, when we arrived, Tython was in the late stages of emerging from a global ice age. We believe it was brought on by the temporary presence of a Sith mistress of mechu-deru, Belia Darzu, about 1,200 standard years ago. We found her fortress during our initial assay here. Her departure allowed Tython to restore its own balance, and we've tried to maintain that balance ever since," Arnea said, smiling a bit.

She nodded to Kalan, who'd been inputting information into his datapad and left, muttering to himself. "We'll prepare for the Yuuzhan Vong's arrival. Thank you for your information - without forewarning, we'd have been caught badly off guard. We have guest rooms, and anything we can share with you is yours. Is there anything more specific we can do to help you?" the praxeum Master asked.

Mali'yana nodded, holding up HK-47's personality core. "We had HK-47 with us, but he sacrificed himself to help us escape the Star Forge. Do you have a machine shop we can borrow?" the tech specialist asked.

Arnea's eyes widened, and she nodded as she handed Mali'yana a datapad. "Vur Tepe - the ancient Jedi Forge facility, over an active volcano - was renowned for being able to build almost any imagined device. Our facility there is a bare shadow of the legends we've found, but we can certainly rebuild a droid. Here's clearance codes and a permit for a speeder to take you there," she said, and Mali'yana thanked her.

The Twi'lek left after giving Kyp a glance, and he nodded, smiling as Qewpee followed the slicer. "Thanks, Master Bynar. We also have something for you - I think it should be returned to your family," he said, placing the bundle from the Shrike on her desk.

Arnea thanked Kyp, an intrigued look crossing her face as she unwrapped the cloak from the armor - then gasping as she examined it. "Is this - it is authentic! Where'd you find Revan's armor!?" she asked, beaming.

"It was by accident. The Yuuzhan Vong incorporated parts of the ancient Foundry facility in the Nanth'ri system into their new Star Forge. I cut into a wall when we tried to sabotage the station, and the armor fell out, still intact. Revan came to me in a vision and said I should take it, but it doesn't feel quite right using it when his actual descendants are right here," Kyp explained.

Arnea looked momentarily stunned, but thanked Kyp as she rewrapped the cloak around the armor and set it aside. "It's a very generous gift, Master Durron - thank you. Perhaps you can use it if we have to fight here on Tython. But we'll cross that bridge when we have to. For now, please make yourselves at home. I'd like to speak to Aliste' privately," she asked, smiling at her sister.

Kyp nodded, looking forward to lunch and a chance to clear his head, as most of the rest of the crew headed in different directions - but Aliste' squeezed Nat's hand and sat with Arnea at a side table, and Kyp smiled.

Siblings should get a chance to themselves, he agreed, heading the Force's call - in this case, as manifested by his rumbling stomach.

------------------------------

Aliste' just took a few moments to soak in Arnea's presence - they'd sensed that each other was alive, of course, but the distance to the Deep Core had made any deeper communication impossible.

Arnea did the same, finally quirking an eyebrow as she asked, "So. An Imperial Remnant pilot finally breaches that emotional armor."

"Nat is a delightful man - caring, willing to listen, understanding about my Force perceptions -" Aliste' started, wishing she didn't sound so defensive, until Arnea laughed.

"Lise, I'm not upset. Ashla's light, I'm delighted for you! You always felt such pressure to be 'Miss Perfect Jedi,' and you never let yourself live like you should. You took the whole Shan legacy far too seriously," Arnea reassured, gently holding Aliste's hands.

The Guardian twin blushed, smiling faintly as she replied, "I wasn't able to admit that before this trip. I've seen so many examples of wider Jedi experience that I've found how to expand myself beyond being a modern Bastila."

Arnea hugged her, whispering, "Then hold onto your pilot, Lise. I'm the one who likely won't have enough time for romance, much less a relationship, with all my responsibilities here at the praxeum. Live, and be the best you."

--------------------------------------

to be continued ...

 

A/N: An update, as the Shrike crew explore Tython before the coming storm, seeds are sown for the future ...

and Kyp has an encounter with this timeline's metaplot (!?) ...

---------------------------
Late 28.6 ABY:
New Kaleth,
Tython, Deep Core:
---------------------------

"... Mhi ba'juri verde," Dalonera finished reciting from memory as she and Nat sat on a bench overlooking the enormous waterfall next to the Jedi Temple.

The "city" of New Kaleth - more of a village for the relatively few non-Force-users on Tython - was oddly laid out, more organically flush with the hills around the Temple than trying to make the landscape be something it wasn't naturally.

Jetiise urban planning - flow with the Force instead of trying to engineer things. Kind of a metaphor for how Nat and Aliste' slowly flowed together, Dalonera thought, bemused as Nat practiced the vow he'd asked her to teach him, rolling the Mando'a carefully.

"You're not bad at this, for an aruetyc speaker," Dalonera teased, as gently as she ever could be. She liked the younger couple, and wanted to see them succeed - unlike her first marriage.

Nat smiled a little, the sunlight through the trees playing a dappled pattern on his face and flight suit coverall. "I was fascinated by Mandalorians as a boy - the armor and the warrior ethos, the mystery. I was something of a wild kid before the Vong came, and I imagined myself running away to join the Mandos and hunting down criminals," he said.

Dalonera raised an eyebrow, amused at the idealism in the pilot's voice. He grinned with embarrassment, growing serious as he added, "Then the war happened, and the Vong savaged the Imperial worlds ... I committed myself to supporting order. I focused so much on what I felt I had to do, it didn't leave me time for myself. But this trip gave me adventures - and finding Aliste' ... I've got someone I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"Then tell her, ner vod'ika. Don't let anyone or anything stand in the way of being with someone you love, and who loves you. Life is too short to let shab'uirade get in the way," Dalonera encouraged, returning Nat's smile as he stood and headed off to find Aliste'.

Once he was out of sight, she let her smile fade, considering her words - and how far her reality was from her wishes.

Marrying a Vizsla didn't play out how I'd hoped. And then, Kyp and I remain on an eccentric orbit ... Dalonera reflected, cheering herself up a little by looking at Kit's hologram.

Her daughter was the most important person in her life. Nothing would change that ... but Kit wouldn't stay an ad'ika forever, and part of the Resol'nare was raising children to defend themselves.

What happens when I reach middle age and Kit's grown? Will I sit around alone and harp on her choices like my buir does? After Dad died, Mom just became this ... matriarch, and not in a good way, Dalonera thought, frowning.

Her armor's comlink lit up with a coded signal, and she donned her buy'ce, confused - who could've gotten a signal this important this far into the Deep Core?

"Milthiad here," Dalonera said, surprised when she noticed the transmission's origin point - Mandalore itself, not Vor'paya.

"Dalonera," an older male voice - melodious underneath age-inflicted grit - replied, almost familiar, but at a remove, and she started.

Talking directly to Boba Fett was rare for her.

"Mandalore," she said, respectfully but firmly. Mando'ade didn't scrape and bow to their executive, even one who fought like Fett.

An acknowledging noise came over the line, as Fett replied, "Unafraid as always. Good. What I have to ask is going to require courage."

Dalonera repressed her first instinct - she respected Fett as a warrior, but his reluctance to be Mandalore had led to an inexcusable delay in fighting the Vong. But he had turned things around, and she believed in rallying to the Mandalore ... so, she'd listen, for now.

"First - this conversation didn't happen. I'm funneling this through an old Imperial S-thread relay left over from when Byss was important, so that's how we're talking. Second ... tests are confirming that my clone heritage is starting to catch up with me. In less than a decade, I can expect tumors, liver failure, tissue breakdown - unless I find an unlikely cure," Fett said frankly.

Dalonera made a noise of confirmation that she'd heard the news; it was less a response, and more to give herself some space to consider the weight of what Fett was confiding.

This has something to do with the Darksaber and my heritage, she realized - she didn't think it was arrogance, but rather, accepting reality. Why else would Fett call her?

"I ... appreciate your trust. How can I help?" she asked, deciding to play along for now.

Fett grunted in acknowledgement. "First, a question - your first husband, Morgax Vizsla, had a fake Darksaber, right?" he asked.

Dalonera hid a sigh, replying, "Yes. We disproved it was the Darksaber after I tracked him down and finished things on Ord Mantell. I destroyed the shabla thing as part of moving on from Morgax. The one I have is real - the one Din Djarin took from Moff Gideon, apparently on Ilum. I don't have details."

"Good. Last thing we need is for a fake Darksaber to be floating around. I'll assume you've caught on to what I'm hinting at in terms of legitimacy. While I appreciate Beviin's - passion around Mando society, he's better behind the scenes than as a leader. And on flimsi, Clan Ordo is more legitimately Mando than I am - I know, 'Aliit ori'shya taldin,' but Canderous lived it. So do you. Plus, you're jetiise and Mando - you can meet Skywalker's frothier fanatics on their terms if they get uppity," Fett said, almost *rambling* for him.

Dalonera's head spun, and she finally replied, "I'm not ready - and no disrespect, but I have -"

"Responsibilities, clan and personal. I know. You also need time to get your hands around the job, and to build experience among the clans. I have an offer that can do both as you meet your clan duties - I'm not asking you to take a mythosaur-skull helm right now. We need someone to teach our young Force-sensitives how to handle their talents. I'm not saying we create some jetiise-Mando corps, but I don't want Jedi scooping up our bajur'ade," Fett said.

Dalonera's eyes widened, considering the possibilities - then, the downsides.

"I'm ... considering ... reaching out ... to someone jetiise," she admitted, volumes unspoken in the spaces between her words.

Silence filled the line for a few moments.

"I see. Already complicated, and then I come along ... do you think he'd adapt?" Fett asked, neutral as he ever was.

Dalonera closed her eyes, forcing herself to be honest. "Even setting aside his commitments ... he's not really Mando. He's a good man - but it's one thing to ask him to deal with our immediate situation. As some kind of 'first husband' to a Mandalore in training ... I don't know that he'd handle it well," she admitted.

It broke her heart - she had to fight tears, and Fett was the last person she wanted to show weakness to, even if he was decent.

Silence filled the line again for a long bit, until Fett said evenly, "I know you're in a tight spot right now. Get through the Tython business, get your head clear, then meet me on Vor'paya. Don't let me pressure you - an unwilling Mandalore is worse than one by circumstance."

"I - thanks. And ... I'm not saying no yet. I just need time," Dalonera emphasized.

Fett made an affirmative noise, and the line cut as Dalonera removed her buy'ce, taking deep breaths - any other time, she'd have jumped at the chance for such a leadership role.

But in what universe would Kyp Durron be happy as a Mandalorian? she wondered.

-------------------
Jedi Forge,
Tythos Ridge:
-------------------

The air was clear and warm, with a light breeze, and Karina's fur rippled in an enjoyable way as she watched Jysella stride up the long stairs. This Forge wasn't the same as the science site over the Vur Tepe volcano, but rather, was an ancient site to build lightsabers.

"Such determination. You have a promising Padawan," said Fahn Rask, a male Cathar Jedi Consular whom Karina had met over lunch at the Jedi Temple. He had black fur and alert green eyes, and Karina found him attractive - but she knew the risks of attraction under stress.

"She has her mother's stubbornness and her father's commitment to justice. Jysella's a good person, but has a lot of growing to do. I'd wait on this step, but the Yuuzhan Vong approach means we can't have unarmed Padawans," Karina said, not hiding her sorrow.

She was proud of Jysella, but had wished she could give the girl time to meditate more on why Jedi did what they did. Unlike some of the new Order's Knights, Karina had no illusions that they were warriors. But knowing what one fought for was just as critical as the skills.

Jysella sat cross-legged, sinking easily into a trance as the components of her lightsaber floated around her. Her porg Ketsor squawked, going quiet and watching with what Karina thought was an awed look as the components slowly came together.

Karina and Fahn watched as the lightsaber took shape, and the female Cathar was amazed as Jysella sank deeper yet into a trance.

"We've found that once a Je'daii Padawan forged their sword, they would be sent as Journeyers to study at the various Keshes - mini-praxia dedicated to one particular aspect of the Force. Art, combat, healing ... there were 10 in all, including Kaleth. But the divide from the Force Wars left us Jedi as a warrior tradition, for better or worse," Fahn said softly.

Karina nodded, half-listening - she was more focused on how Jysella was so easily reaching the level in the Force to assemble the 'saber.

Finally, the Force flickered through Jysella, and the lightsaber became solid in the energy field. Jysella stood, smiling hesitantly, before taking a deep breath and igniting the blade.

Karina took her own deep breath, hoping the hilt was stable - the whole thing seemed terribly rushed, but Jysella seemed to know what she was doing, and the Force seemed amplified by the Forge.

Jysella's lightsaber lit up, a bright pink like the Ilum crystal she'd used, and she smiled joyfully as Ketsor cheered - and Karina smiled with relief, elated for her Padawan.

She glanced at Fahn, who stared slack-jawed.

"Warriors do need to be well-rounded, true. But there can be art in a well-crafted weapon, and the dance of blades - as well as having a life outside of being a Jedi," Karina said, surprised at her own surety in her words.

She smiled as she realized where she'd found her strength, and thanked her father as she waved for Jysella to join her and Fahn.

"I need to test Jysella's skills with her new lightsaber ... but maybe afterwards, we can discuss the Je'daii philosophy by ourselves?" Karina asked the male Cathar with a grin.

-------------------------
Forge, Vur Tepe:
-------------------------

"Fre-bweet dweep," Qewpee tweedled as her welding arm moved quickly around the chassis, and Mali'yana thanked the female Rodian Jedi who was helping them with the reconstruction.

"This is such an honor - rebuilding the HK-47! I mean, he's an assassin droid, true, but he's part of history. Just like your mission - you must've seen so many worlds, and Jedi," Jara Kasab said, her faceted eyes reflecting the light from the volcano's lava roiling below the site.

Mali'yana smiled, double-checking the cranial module she'd assembled - it looked like HK had, down to the dark orange photoreceptors. "I've been lucky to see so many different planets, sure. It hasn't all been fun - Utapau was a firefight - but I've learned a lot, and made real friends. For not having the Force, I've gotten a lot out of this trip," she said, connecting the cranial unit to wires and cables from the chassis and flipping the switch.

The eyes lit up, and a garble of noise quickly cleared into, "- eat blaster bolts, you noseless meatbags! - Ah. Interrogative: Mali'yana, I assume you have been able to find a machine shop to rebuild me? I am ... grateful."

Jara gasped, clapping like a youngling, and Mali'yana smiled, replying, "You're welcome, HK. Let me attach your cranium fully."

"Statement: Excellent. At least someone with proven mechanical skills is handling my restoration - GAH!?" HK blurted when he saw Qewpee welding his right leg back on.

"Bleep-weet? Dwoooo," the astromech replied, sounding hurt, and Mali'yana patted her dome.

"Qewpee really helped speed up the repairs, HK. She deserves recognition too," the tech specialist said, raising an eyebrow ridge.

If HK had lungs, the noise he made would have been a sigh - as it was, he managed an exasperated burst of static. "Admission: I ... thank you, Qewpee," he said, sounding like it'd been dragged from him under duress.

"Bwreep!" Qewpee replied, happier, and Mali'yana smiled with Jara.

Who says diplomacy requires the Force? Mali'yana thought, examining HK's left leg.

-----------------------
Ruins of Kaleth:
-----------------------

Ejen floated his discblade to practice - the Force was just easier to use here, and he wanted to keep honing his skills.

Especially when I'm distracted, the teen thought, examining the broken buildings and a roped-off pit dug out by a khaki-clad group of archaeologists.

One of them, a Bith with the nametag Hak'lis, waved Ejen and Korlo over (the Ewok had offered to tag along as they waited for word about the Yuuzhan Vong arriving). "I've got a small area you can dig in," the Bith offered - she felt female in the Force.

"Thanks, ma'am," Ejen said, holstering his discblade (he didn't want to scare anyone). He started to gently scoop the dirt, letting Korlo sift it, and the Ewok "yub"-bed in appreciation.

"A long way from hunting womp rats for lunch," Ejen said, smiling when he thought just how far he'd come from the street kid he'd been - now, he was a Jedi Padawan.

"Yub. You seem happier than at start," Korlo noted, and Ejen grinned with the Ewok.

"Y'know? I am - not just 'cause I'm off the street, but because of who I've met. Like you - thanks for all the help, Korlo," Ejen said, really happy as he dug - and hit something.

"Nub! Welcome - oooohhh ..." the Ewok gasped, watching as Ejen carefully excavated what looked like a sword hilt.

Ejen tried not to gasp, waving for Hak'lis to come over. She did so, her eyes widening as she said, "Finding such an intact discovery so quickly is remarkable! Well done."

"Thanks, ma'am," Ejen replied, smiling a little as he let the archaeologists work more on the find, and Korlo made happy "yub-nub" noises.

Thanks for bringing me along, Master Kyp. I hope you're OK, Ejen thought, reaching out through the Force - his mentor felt far away, and distracted, but seemed to smile in the Force.

-------------

Kyp chuckled, grateful for Ejen's concern and glad his apprentice was finding something both educational and fun to do while waiting.

He should be happy when he can, Kyp reflected, watching Tythos sink toward the horizon. Ashla and Bogan were visible, points of light and dark against the reddening sky, and the scene was beautiful - and familiar.

Kyp chuckled again, this time without amusement, as he muttered, "Talk about a metaphor for my life. Light, dark, shadow ... all in one mix. And my worst aspect is out there, coming for me and my friends, while I have a lot to work out besides ... or even just face."

He sank onto a bench in a little circular clearing, created near the Temple, and took a deep breath - it was time to stop running.

I have a daughter. A daughter. And her mother wants me to be part of their lives ... how would that even look? A smart-mouthed Jedi hanging around a Mando farm planet ... what about defending the galaxy? About teaching Ejen, about my Council seat? he thought, resting his head on his hands.

Kyp thought - hard - about how his crusading had brought him to this point; he'd so rarely looked back down the path he'd blazed.

Probably because I was afraid to do so - and why not? My subconscious was right. I was so desperate to atone for Carida that I didn't really face what my 'atonement' was doing. I was running from what I might've become without the other Jedi and Han pulling my head out of my aft, Kyp admitted, sighing.

The path was just bad - Miko struggling to overcome his enslavement, the Dozen and a Half dead or refusing to have anything more to do with Kyp, the Sernpidal shipwomb attack, the misguided flirting with Jaina ... it was ugly.

And they named me a 'Master.' The clone's every nasty thing I repressed or ran from - and he's almost certainly insane, and he's working with the renegade Vong. But if I keep angsting, how does that accomplish anything? Kyp thought, shaking his head.

He knew he had to get up and move forward - he just wasn't sure how.

Can't be that hard, you skocha kung, Durron, Kyp half-joked, taking a deep breath.

Then, the air slowed - leaves froze in midfall, and the light turned a faint green.

Kyp raised an eyebrow; this seemed similar to phenomena in dreams, but while awake.

He looked up, his other eyebrow raising as a humanoid shape appeared across the clearing - more an archetype than a recognizable person, radiating immense Force power.

The being seemed female in its core shape, and was flame-colored, great fiery wings wrapping around the being as she crossed her arms. Eyes glowing the same shade as the ambient light opened in her face. She looked up, giving off an intimidating, yet oddly comforting, presence, and smiled a fiery smile.

"I really am breaking many of my own rules doing this - but then, you once told me that we first met shortly before your Order's Battle of Tython. That confused me until I reflected on timewalking," said the entity (Phoenix? Kyp guessed from the firebird anima surrounding the visitor).

"Ah - 'timewalking' ... and the Phoenix - are you a mutant from Earth? You remind me of Betsy's stories ... Rachel Summers?" Kyp rambled in surprise.

The female figure smiled through her flames, brushing Kyp's brow at a distance with a gentle Force ripple. "You're smarter than you like to let on, Kyp," she said. "I'm a Rachel - from about 30 or so years in your future, if the timeline goes the way it should. I can't stay long, even with the Phoenix, so quick advice time."

"Time travel's difficult at best, so this is the lightning round - got it," Kyp managed to quip, grinning gorntishly as Rachel raised a fiery eyebrow at him.

"You really don't change much after all. But yes, to the point. Trust yourself and Dalonera - don't let anyone tell you what to do with your lives. Love each other and your family, kick shebs ... and tell Betsy she's on the right path," Rachel said, vanishing as the light returned to its usual shade.

Kyp ruffled his hair, trying to shake off the dozens of questions from the whole incident - then, he shook his head, grinning as cockily as he could.

One thing I can understand, though - I know who I have to fight for now, who I have to defend, he decided, heading down the path to find his crew - his people.

It was time to save the future for all his family.

-------------------------

to be continued ...

 

A/N: An update, as both sides prepare for the final conflict, and a few last-minute decisions are made ...

-----------------------
Late 28.6 ABY:
Tythos System,
Deep Core:
-----------------------

The Star Forge reverted to realspace just inside the system's cometary cloud. Kane' Kwaad had studied similar battles, and giving the uh'maans and their fellow species too early a warning was not a mistake he intended to make.

"Scout craft are away, Supreme Overlord," one of the officers reported, and Kane' nodded wordlessly; his attention was turned to the living light representation of the Tythos system's various worlds.

"The natives have made worthy use of this system's bounty of inhabitable worlds, cousin," Kane' observed as Borja Kwaad bowed to him, her pet Seith clone Kyyp Durron at her left. For his part, Malgus hung back behind Kane', ready to leap forward if action was necessary.

"Indeed, Supreme Overlord. All the more reason to claim the Tythos system for the Y'uno - to teach the accursed jeedai that their defiance will achieve nothing," Borja Kwaad agreed, running a finger along the image of Tython.

Kane' nodded, reviewing the order of battle as he glanced at the Rakata waiting under guard. "Predor Ma'lar - you claim to be able to awaken your slumbering lowest caste, the Flesh Raiders, and unleash them on the jeedai on Tython. Soon, the time to fulfill your promises will come to pass," the Supreme Overlord rumbled.

Ma'lar bowed, a slightly-annoying smile on his lips (Kane' repressed a warrior's urge to just drive an amphistaff through the smarmy alien's chest for putting on airs of equality or even superiority - that was the way of Domain Lah, not an educated ruler from Domain Kwaad). "Indeed, Great One," the Rakata said.

Kane' merely nodded, glancing at a subaltern who reported to another of the officers, and the superior gave a quick nod before bowing to Kane'. "Supreme Overlord, the armies are ready to deploy on your command," the officer reported.

"Excellent. Make way to Tython; we will rip out the still-beating heart of this system's jeedai, thus spreading proper fear among those settlers without the Fohrze on the other worlds," Kane' ordered, glancing at where Borja was talking intensely with one of her adepts.

The younger male made proper obesiance at Kane's glance, then retreated at Borja's command. Borja flickered with concern before she hid it well - the Supreme Overlord and the Master Shaper had been creche-siblings as well as cousins, so he knew her moods and whimsies thoroughly.

A nod from the Master Shaper drew Kane' to her side, where Borja said, "Ferin Rin has warned me of a spreading infection in the Star Forge's yorik coral superstructure. We will act to contain it, but the cloning matrices must be deactivated and isolated before the virus contaminates them. You must not push the station very hard, either, nor without my say-so - jumping to darkspace could destroy us all."

"What kind of contagion is this!? Where did it come from - the Rakata?" Kane' demanded - it made a profane kind of sense that the jumped-up shark-people would plant a seed to demand greater leverage over their betters.

Borja shook her head, a rare flash of rage crossing her face as she replied, "I suspect Durron's heretic familiar, the bird-creature called 'Buan,' created and introduced this abomination during the fools' incursion. I can end this threat, cousin - I merely need time, and that Mrlssi heathen screaming beneath my instruments. My adepts can keep the infection in check until we find the feathered filth."

"Then we shall draw out the jeedai, while you and your creatures take righteous vengeance upon Durron's inner circle. Just remember, cousin - other species exist, at most, to serve the Yuuzhan Vong. They should never be equals," Kane' warned, glancing at where Kyyp Durron talked softly with the Rakata.

Borja caught sight of the exchange, her scowl discouraging the clone from continuing his talk. Kyyp Durron bowed, smiling like an insolent crecheling, and the Master Shaper nodded sharply to Kane'. "As you say, cousin. Beware of your pet Seith, as well - Malgus is a warrior, true, but he is also still uh'maan."

Kane' glowered behind his mask, glancing at Malgus as the Seith watched the whole room, seeming not to linger on any one individual. It was the sign of a truly experienced warrior, and one deserving of respect - even a uh'maan.

"Yun-Yammka chooses whom he will lift up, Cousin. Watch your own ranks, and I will watch mine," Kane' replied, not unkindly. He knew Borja meant well, and appreciated her concern.

The Master Shaper nodded, raising an eyebrow as Kyyp Durron approached and bowed. "Belek tiu, Great Ones. The Rakata's willingness to sacrifice their low-caste brethren is noble. But I would pray ask your willingness to accept my terantareks as shock troops as well ... and my blade to find its' way to my gene-template's heart," the clone offered.

"Yes, Kyyp Durron. Your works will be useful, as will your hatred for your gene-template. Go await my commands," Borja replied haughtily.

The clone retreated, and Kane' nodded with approval - Borja had learned the necessity of wielding power beyond the mastery over life.

"We will rule together, cousin. Now, let us go and secure the future, sealed in the blood of the jeedai," the Supreme Overlord said.

If either Kwaad noticed the quick, quiet flash of a truly wicked smile on Kyyp Durron's face as he meditated, neither showed awareness of it.

And if he noticed a ripple of a cloaked figure with a drawn coufee shadowing his steps, Kyyp said nothing, - all well, in Nom Anor's mind.

----------------
New Kaleth,
Tython:
----------------

Kyp's crew had gathered with the dawn as Arnea Bynar's inner circle planned their defense over breakfast. Reports from scout craft and observation posts further out-system suggested that the Star Forge was moving slowly, if deliberately - possibly because Buan's virus was doing what it was designed to, and slowing the unnatural space station.

"In any case, we can't assume that the virus will be enough to destroy the Star Forge. We have a contingent of Jedi Aces - pilots trained in using the Force to augment their flight skills - as well as a fleet formed from the best pilots from each of the other settled worlds in our system. What we lack is an experienced flight leader," Arnea said, examining a holomap of the Star Forge's projected path in-system to Tython.

Everyone turned as Kyp arrived, clad in his black cloak that had been a gift from Han, but he just smiled and shook his head. "I'm still a pilot, but my days of leading flight wings are done - at least for now. My arrogance behind the stick led a lot of good people to needless deaths ... and if I'm right, I'll need to be here on the ground, ready to face my clone," he said, accepting a pastry and a glass of blue milk.

Many of the others looked at him with confusion, but Kyp just smiled as he finished his breakfast - he'd come to a long-overdue realization at last, unpleasant though it was

"The clone that Borja Kwaad made from my cells isn't under her control - not really. Something ... an echo of my darkest longings as a Sith apprentice, mixed with the fragments of Exar Kun's knowledge left in my mind, escaped my head and possessed the clone. And now, it's just waiting to turn on the Yuuzhan Vong," he warned, frowning.

Many of the Jedi present went pale, while Ejen asked, "Master Kyp, what can the clone do?"

"A better question, young Rask, would be what can such a monstrosity not do. Exar Kun was a greedy drinker of Sith knowledge - sorcery, alchemy, and Jar'kai mastery of the double-bladed lightsaber. All that, in the hands of an unstable genetic replicant ... I shudder at the thought," Tarel Kalan, Arnea's second in command, said, shaking his head in horror.

Kyp nodded, as Arnea said, "Perhaps it's best if you do stay planetside, Master Durron. Given my ancestor Satele's struggles with Darth Malgus, I intend to call him out on the field of battle. That still leaves us without a flight leader, though."

Nat looked uncomfortable, blushing when Jysella exclaimed, "Lieutenant Moonskimmer's a great pilot! And he can lead other pilots - he's talked about being a flight leader for the Remnant."

"And before you protest in false modesty, love, I fully intend to use my battle meditation, augmented by Tython's Force presence, to bolster our side's efforts. That should include you in the flight network," Aliste' said, smiling as Nat chuckled.

He turned serious, then, and gently held Aliste's hand in one of his - before he held up a gold ring with a considerably large gem, and asked, "I picked this up on Telos Station, waiting for the right time ... Aliste', will you -?"

Nat didn't get the chance to finish the question, as Aliste' wiped away her sudden tears and kissed him, whispering, "Yes."

Kyp grinned with the others as Nat placed the ring on Aliste's hand - then blinked, watching Dalonera slowly smile, as Nat said solemnly:

"Mhi solus tome,
Mhi solus dar'tome,
Mhi me'duini an,
Mhi ba'juri verde."

Kyp's Mando'a wasn't bad, but he was unfamiliar with this particular phrasing - but it sounded an awful lot like a wedding vow.

Certainly, Aliste's reaction - joyful tears, as she repeated the vow, and kissed Nat with the ardor of a newlywed - merited the degree of seriousness and applause which the others gave.

"Observation: Ah, another meatbag pre-mating ritual. How reassuring to find that even with my restoration from near-scrapping, the forms of human 'civilization' roll on," a snarky, familiar voice rang out, and Kyp couldn't resist a grin as Mali'yana and Qewpee arrived with HK-47.

"HK! You're rebuilt - this is great," Ejen exclaimed, and the assassin droid nodded as most of the rest of the Shrike crew gathered around to greet him.

Even our more obnoxious friends are ready for what's coming, Kyp thought, enjoying the moment ... even as a sudden, unsettlingly feral hunger stirred in the Force.

Kalan paled, as Arnea started giving orders and told the Shrike crew, "The Flesh Raiders are being stirred from their hibernation. They'll be the advance troops, then."

"Understood. I'll help lead the ground defense," Kyp said, his move to draw his lightsaber revealing his new outfit underneath his cloak - as Arnea nodded with respect, and the Shrike crew gaped or stared, to see Kyp in Revan's armor.

Dalonera gave Kyp a bemused look as he half-grinned and said, "Master Bynar offered it to me for the fight, and I'll take any edge I can get."

He sensed a flash of determination from Ejen, and Kyp raised an eyebrow at his Padawan as the teen asked, "Master Kyp - I sat out the battle at Ilum. I want to do something this time, not reckless, but helping to defend the praxeum."

Kyp was about to flatly say no - the Jedi were supposed to have learned from the mistake of sending teenagers to fight - but a newfound maturity in Ejen's eyes and Force-presence convinced the Jedi Master of his apprentice's sincerity.

"... All right. But you follow my orders precisely, unless we get separated, understand? A battlefield is no place to go tearing off on your own," Kyp ordered, grateful to see acknowlegement in Ejen's eyes.

The boy nodded, sobering more as he replied, "I hear you, Master. It's just that, after seeing what the Vong did on Ilum, letting them do that again here just isn't something I can stand by and let happen again. I'll do my best to stay alive."

---------------------

to be continued ...

 

A/N: The Battle of Tython starts; warning for some violence (nothing graphic, I think), and some snark ...

----------------------------
Late 28.6 ABY:
New Kaleth, Tython:
----------------------------

The earth itself shook, sloughing aside as roughly 2-meter-high forms of reddish brown hide and rough armor rose like some ungodly harvest, revealing maws of razor-sharp fangs.

"Hold! Stay your ground - our Padawans, families and support staff are counting on us to stand fast!" Arnea shouted, as ranks of Jedi and Forceless security personnel took up places along the Temple walls and at blockades in front of the building.

Fear was thick in the air and the Force, until a wave of bolstering and comforting emotion swept over and through the defenders - Aliste's battle meditation, supporting them.

A flight of defenders launched spaceward, then, and Kyp - flanked by Dalonera, Karina, Ejen, and HK-47, as well as the core of the Tython Praxeum's Guardians and lightsaber specialists - tensed in anticipation, as Arnea joined them. "They'll try to flood and bleed us, weaken us for their masters," the praxeum's Master said grimly.

Kyp nodded, absently pressing a button on his comlink - he didn't really figure it would matter now, but they could use all the help they could get - glancing at Karina as she squinted at dark shapes filling the distant sky. "Landing craft," she grumbled.

Dalonera adjusted her helmet's long-range sensors, nodding as she ignited the Darksaber. "They're coming - troop transports and support craft. They're not relying solely on the Flesh Raiders - not that we expected them to ... but it seems preemptive for them to land their elite even before the fighting starts," she wondered.

Kyp concentrated - carefully, he didn't want to risk getting too close to his clone's thoughts - then muttered, "They know about the virus, and they're looking for a cure ..."

Horror filled him as he sensed a dark hunger beneath the Temple, and he asked Arnea, "Are there caves or access tunnels under the Temple? I think they're trying to flank us."

"There are, but I ordered battle droids and a second detachment of Guardians to hold the tunnels. Where would they find a cure for the virus here, unless -" the Consular started.

"Buan - they're after Tarvis, and probably Aliste'! I'll support Mali'yana and the noncombatants, you kill those walking maws!" Dalonera exclaimed, heading inside the Temple.

Kyp nodded, taking a deep breath and centering himself as he donned Revan's helmet - the armor didn't fit him well, but he appreciated the extra defense.

The Flesh Raiders roared a challenge - and Karina yowled a feline shriek of defiance, which the other defenders echoed.

Then, the battle was on them, and all was mad.

------------------------------------------

Ejen could sense Master Kyp's determination, and Aliste's courage and battle meditation helped ... but he couldn't help but be a little scared at the sight of so many angry Flesh Raiders.

Don't flinch - stay focused, he reminded himself as the creatures rushed forward. Ejen managed to dodge one that had some kind of primitive club, slashing at it with his lightsaber, and dove aside as a second Flesh Raider leapt toward him, but was blasted.

Ejen thanked the Temple guard who'd shot the beast, but squinted as a sort-of-damped Force-presence, a human one, drew near the back line of the Flesh Raiders. That feels like someone with a Yuuzhan Vong slave-seed implant, he thought, looking around.

He tried to dart aside as a black-clad figure about his size ran at him, wielding a white-bladed lightsaber with what looked like a Yuuzhan Vong biotech hilt. The - enslaved? - Force-sensitive stared at Ejen, who saw his opponent was just a teenage boy, like him.

"I - my Mistress Borja Kwaad told me to help the Yuuzhan Vong take this praxeum. I - have to fight," the black cloaker-clad teen spat out, his teeth clenched, and Ejen could feel the other teen's struggle and indecision.

"Look, I was in Borja Kwaad's lab too, but I was able to escape. You don't have to be a slave - MIko Reglia fought past his slave implant. You can, too, if you just do it," Ejen encouraged.

The other teen shuddered, dropping his Vong-saber and clutching the sides of his head. "It - hurts," he grunted, tearing up.

Ejen nodded, patting the other boy's shoulder.. "I'm Ejen Rask. What's your name?" he asked, guiding them away from the fight.

"T-Tol - Tol Bakkil. I - why are you helping me?" the other teen pleaded, pulling back his cloaker's cowl to reveal a shaved scalp, and a coral-seed implant at the back of his neck.

"Because it's the right thing to do. And because I can see in you what I might've been made into on Utapau," Ejen replied, concentrating the Force on the implant - he wasn't sure if it'd help or not, but it was worth a try.

Tol focused his own Force-power, and a sort of scorched smell came from the implant as Tol gasped again. He looked relieved and freaked out, letting Ejen pull him back toward the praxeum.

"I know a doctor who's really smart about shutting down Vongtech. And really, we shouldn't be out here in a firefight," Ejen said, smiling a little as Tol nodded and closed his eyes to rest a bit.

--------------------------------------

Buan recheked his medkit - he was pretty sure he'd be needed soon. "Not sorry I'm staying out of that," he said, waving a hand upward toward the noise of the fight above the hiding noncombatants.

Jysella smiled back, nodding. "There's no shame in wanting to stay out of a fight. The battle at Ilum was awful," she said, petting Ketsor as the porg huddled on her shoulder.

Mali'yana glanced at them, as Korlo played games with a group of kids to keep them distracted and Qewpee showed holos of the other praxia to the older students and families. "We should be safe here - this room's been reinforced, and there's guards in the access tunnels below us," she said, checking her blaster pistols just in case.

"I'm more worried about when the casualties start," Buan replied, squinting closer as the guards at the main door let someone in.

He stood as Dalonera entered, looking around as she took off her helmet and nodded to Buan and the others. "You're safe - good. Kyp sensed Flesh Raiders trying to enter the tunnels. I think they might be trying to get you, Tarvis - to try and force you to cure the virus on the Star Forge," she said.

Buan's feathers went flat, while Jysella gulped and Ketsor shivered, squawking in fear. "If they want me, maybe I should leave. We can't risk the Yuuzhan Vong attacking innocent people to get at me," the Mrlssi said.

Dalonera started to say something, but looked over her shoulder at Ejen as he came in - with a dazed-looking boy his age leaning on Ejen's shoulder, clad in a Vong cloaker. "Dr. Buan! We need your help - this guy burned out his slave-seed," the Padawan said, helping the other boy to sit down as Buan leapt up to examine the new patient.

"You just brought him here?! I mean, freeing this kid from the Vong is good, but -" Dalonera started, until the boy gasped and pointed.

"I think she's here, now, Borja Kwaad. My - former - Mistress," the former Vong-slave gasped, trying not to flinch when the others looked at him in shock.

Dalonera nodded, her lips thinning as she put her helmet back on. "Then she dies here. I'm not letting that monster get anywhere near innocents again. This is where her sick works end," she said, turning to leave.

"But - is there something we can do to help?" Jysella asked, taking a step forward until Dalonera patted her free shoulder.

"Live, ad'ika. You're brave, but you need time and practice to hone your skills - and fighting in a narrow tunnel is no place for inexperienced trainees. Stay here and help protect the younger kids," Dalonera said, leaving.

Jysella sighed, managing to smile as Ketsor gently nibbled at her braided hair. "I guess this is what my dad means about 'those who sit and wait also serve,'" she said, and Ejen nodded.

"It's awful out there - that level of fighting is horrible," he said, watching as Buan examined the new arrival.

"And that's a sign of how far you've grown since leaving Daluuj, Ejen," Mali'yana said, smiling a little.

Let's just hope we last long enough to keep advancing, Buan thought, setting to his work helping the former Vong slave.

----------------

The first waves of Flesh Raiders were breaking on the jeedai Temple defenders like water against a yorik-coral bulwark, as Kane' Kwaad watched through an optic-enhancement biot from where the landing craft had settled.

"The savages are proving less than effective, Predor," Kane' rumbled disapprovingly to the Rakata leader, while Cheevak Lah scowled impatiently with his warriors and those Slayers who had been ready to deploy.

Ma'lar nodded, concentrating in a ring of his fellow Rakata, and the air suddenly rippled with an electricity obvious even to the Yuuzhan Vong - static, that drew a growl from Malgus and a raised eyebrow from Kyyp Durron.

"The Flesh Raiders merely need encouragement, Supreme Overlord - our version of battle meditation," the Rakatan said, closing his odd eyes - and, seemingly in response, a roar went up from the Flesh Raiders as they surged forward.

Kane' smiled as he started to see blood flow among the defenders - then, he nodded to Kyyp Durron, who dropped his hand in a summoning gesture to beastmasters beside large, shaking drop pods.

The beastmasters opened the pods, keeping their distance, as large blocky creatures with tusks to either side of their mouths and admirably savage claws lumbered forward. Even as eager as he was to fight, Cheevak Lah showed a start of wisdom as he motioned his troops aside to let the terantareks go ahead.

"And now, Dread Lord, we shall see death and glory," Kyyp Durron said, an almost-admirable glint of bloodlust in his eyes.

"We shall see," Kane' allowed, motioning Cheevak Lah and his troops - and Darth Malgus - forward to finish whoever survived the enraged hordes.

And we shall see who acts amidst the chaos, the Supreme Overlord noted, keeping an eye on Kyyp Durron and the Rakatan mystics. By now, Borja Kwaad should be in place.

----------------------

For someone accustomed to enclosed spaces and odd smells, Borja Kwaad held the underground in comparative contempt.

I am meant for laboratories or battlefields, not lightless tunnels ... but one does what one must. And until we capture this Mrlssi Buan, we are at risk of the Star Forge being destroyed, she thought, nodding for a Slayer squad to place a breaching mine against where sensor-biots indicated a weakness into the jeedai temple's tunnel network.

The timer began on the mine - until an early explosion threw Slayers and shaper adepts back, and Borja had to duck behind a burly Slayer as shrapnel sprang around them.

What - !? the Master Shaper fumed, drawing her venom sword and looking around - there were still some Slayers alive, and a few adepts, but roughly half of her troops were incapacitated.

Borja turned to glare at the clearing smoke, feeling her blood drain from her face as an eerie dark light cut through the debris - a white-outlined blade that absorbed all other light, wielded by a gold-armored figure.

Behind the Mandalorian stood a troop of jeedai and soldiers, but Borja only feared the Mandalorian - she knew who wore that armor.

"Demagolka," Dalonera Milthiad spat.

The sheer contemptuous loathing in the uh'maan female's voice rankled Borja, and she snarled back, "Durron's camp follower."

The Mandalorian female's laughter was mocking as she held the Darksaber at the ready. "Why can't he be my toy?" she asked.

Borja settled for a roar that would do a warrior proud, and she leapt at the uh'maan female.

--------------------
Above Tython:
--------------------

For hauling a YT-1300 into a firefight, Nat wasn't too upset - the Shrike handled well.

And it doesn't hurt that I actually have trained pilots to lead, he thought - some of the better-trained Jedi Snipers were able to extend their supernatural aim to cannon fire, so the Shrike's fighting crew was a mix of Jedi and Tythonian guardsbeings.

"Form up on me, Gold Squadron! Red Squadron, take the port pylon and see if you can damage it! Green Squadron, go starboard - Blue Squadron, hang back in reserve," Nat ordered as he led the Jedi Aces of Gold Squadron on an attack run at the Star Forge's central core.

"Deflector shields balanced, Lieutenant," said Nat's acting co-pilot, a Duros Jedi named Fahn Laloc. Nat nodded, deciding to try a latitudinal attack and ignoring a sudden burst of flak.

"Looks like the Vong learned from the mistake of few or no defensive emplacements on the original Star Forge," Nat muttered - then, near space filled with coralskippers, and he nodded as the Shrike's gunners fired at will.

"Any signs of power nodes or exhaust ports?" he asked the blonde human woman at the engineering station - he thought her name was Ysera something?

Dishonorable to not know whom I'm asking to fight alongside me, Nat sighed, refocusing as he dodged a flight of skips, and Ysera's hands flew over the controls.

"No specific weaknesses, sir - but power emissions are lower than we'd projected. I'm guessing they're operating at lower capacity than they could be," the Jedi said, surprised.

Nat grinned, satisfied. "Means maybe Buan's virus is forcing the Vong to hold back. Works for me - scan for weaknesses in their shields and try to find their hangar bays," he said.

"The longer we distract them, the easier on our folks on the surface."

------------------
New Kaleth:
------------------

Kyp had tried cutting a path through the Flesh Raiders to the heart of Kane' Kwaad's forces, but he'd found the cannon fodder to be tougher than expected.

Rake one down, two more fill the gap, he fumed, holding the line with Arnea, HK, Karina and the best Tythonian Jedi duelists - then, the Force filled with what felt like cold sewage, and Karina screwed her muzzle up in revulsion.

"What's that - YAIOWW!?" the Cathar exclaimed, as a row of fang-mawed atrocities lumbered forward from the Vong lines, slashing or stomping Flesh Raiders out of their way.

"TERANTAREKS!?" Arnea shouted, and her Jedi flickered with fear, even with Aliste's battle meditation - but Kyp just chuffed, and leapt.

He was no Ataru expert, but even a Force-resistant Sithspawn reacted badly to a lightsaber to the cranium, and Kyp leapt off the first terantarek he skewered to attack the next.

Then, a Force thrust knocked him out of midair, sending his helmet flying, and Kyp had to struggle to adjust.

He glowered as he saw his younger clone (who looked to be about 18, not an age Kyp recalled happily) smirk from atop a small hill.

The snotty little twerp tip-saluted Kyp, who spun to block a red-bladed thrust, and Malgus nodded as Kyp said, "I don't rate Kane'?"

"The Supreme Overlord granted me the right to reclaim my honor after how you escaped me at Ilum. The terantareks will maul your fellow defenders, while Borja Kwaad seizes your temple," Malgus replied, forcing Kyp to parry.

No time was left for words, as the battle flowed around Kyp and the ancient Sith.

----------------

Kyyp nodded; he had decided his gene-template's fate could be in someone else's hands, given the weight of his true goal.

The Rakata are hiding their own plans - I must learn them, the clone thought, timing his move just right. A particularly arrogant Jedi Guardian leapt slashing at the ring of Rakata who were battle meditating, and one bloodied unfortunate stumbled into Kyyp while a surge of Flesh Raiders swarmed the Jedi.

The clone exercised his drain knowledge talent on the dying Rakata, smiling inwardly at the audacious reach of the aliens.

Then, he tossed the Rakata aside and Force-gripped the pestilential annoyance that had transparently dogged him since they'd landed; Kane' Kwaad was too busy indulging his fetish for dueling Jedi to see Kyyp hoist Nom Anor.

"Go - AHK - ahead and kill me. It won't help you," the treacherous intendant sneered, drawing a nod of respect from Kyyp.

"Courageous even in the face of a superior being - you're worthier than your reputation. But I can use someone with your conniving - and if you stay, Kwaad will indulge his warrior's contempt for intendants against you," the clone said, setting Anor down.

The intendant looked on with overt suspicion, blinking as Kyyp whispered, "I know what treachery the Rakata are planning. There's a teleportation gate here which their ancestors nearly seized - and I know where it is."

Nom Anor's eyes widened in realization - even Force-blind as he was, the intendant wasn't a fool. "Is it functional, though?" he asked.

Kyyp smirked as they slipped away - his Sith talents and Anor's cloak of Nuun hiding them respectively - and he said, "I can fix it."

"And you and I can claim infinity together ..."

----------------------------

to be continued ...

 

A/N: At last - the end of the Battle for Tython ... with some metaplot hints, lots of action, and an epilogue I'll try to post soon ...

-------------------------
Late 28.6 ABY:
New Kaleth,
Tython, Deep Core:
--------------------------

The ground battle had gotten fully out of hand - Yuuzhan Vong warriors, Slayers, terantareks, and even the surviving Rakata against the Jedi and the Force-blind Temple guards.

Not good - things could turn either way, and I'm stuck here with Malgus, Kyp fumed, trying to find a way past the Sith Lord's defense. It wasn't precisely Soresu, but more a brutalist kind of blocking - Malgus was just strong.

"I don't understand - Sith want to rule. And here you are, playing lackey to extragalactic fanatics who enslave or kill Force-users, alongside the Rakata. I'd at least thought you'd have some pride as a Sith Warrior," Kyp mocked, trying a Juyo strike against Malgus.

The Sith managed to deflect the attack, raising an eyebrow as he replied, "War is a crucible, Durron. We forge ourselves in the heat of battle - or at least, warriors do. You are both a failed Sith and a dilletante, more focused on 'redemption' for your deeds than rising above."

Then, Kyp's comlink chirped, and he laughed.

"Yeah - but all that improvement doesn't do squat to make you happy, like friends do. And that signal came from some of my pals who I called earlier with a message about your attack," he replied, grinning at one sound:

BAMF-A! BAMF-A! BAMF-A! BAMF-A!

Almost a dozen banthas - surrounded by Jedi, GADF troops, and what looked like Alderaanian Royal Guards - materialized, and a blonde streak kicked Kane' Kwaad's face.

A purple-blade-wielding brown-haired boy backed up the blonde girl, her blue blade scything, and Kane' roared in frustration.

"You're through running, Kwaad. You can surrender or be destroyed," Anakin Solo commanded, Tahiri Veila - and the Jedi Order and the Resistance - with him.

Kane' shook with rage, finally booming, "YOU DO NOT DENY ME, JEEDAI!!!"

The Vong forces started to turn their attention to the new arrivals, as a tan and brown flash hammered into one of the terantareks like a bolt of lightning - and Kyle Katarn stood atop the beast's corpse, his stare making foes quake.

Malgus somehow turned a bit more pale, turning back to Kyp with a powerful downstroke - which Kyp caught on a Soresu blade-spin, deflecting the blow and twisting.

He followed through instinctively, burying his amethyst blade below Malgus' sternum, and something seemed to diminish in the Force.

Kyp sighed, shutting down his lightsaber blade, and Malgus fell to his knees, nodding as his red lightsaber shut down, falling from his hand.

"... not so much a dilletante, then," Malgus rasped, falling on his back and closing his eyes.

Kyp nodded, even as the chaos stirred again, and he waved as Arnea Bynar and a knot of her Jedi made their way to his side. "The reinforcements will help tip the battle - Ashla's light, you killed Malgus!?" the praxeum Master gasped, a look of relief lightening her blood-streaked face.

Kyp nodded, already concentrating - the greater threat was still out there. "He died a warrior's death, the way he wanted. Can you see his body gets treated with honor? I have to catch up to my crazy clone - hey!?" he yelled, as a group of Rakata ran past, screaming.

Arnea and her troops tensed, until a group of Ewoks - some with cooking utensils - pursued the Rakata, cheering "Yub-nub!"

"Well ... we'd better make sure there are prisoners to be taken, and check on the praxeum," Arnea said, nodding as four of her Jedi lifted Malgus' body on his own cloak.

Kyp grinned, tip-saluting Anakin when the youngest Solobrat waved - Anakin and Tahiri were keeping Kane' busy, while Kettch tried to cut the Supreme Overlord's legs out from underneath him - and Kyp ran into the woods.

I hope Dalonera and the others are OK, he hoped, trying to track his clone's thoughts.

-------------------------
Praxeum Tunnels:
-------------------------

Dalonera had occasionally seen warriors go crazy on the battlefield - but at least when Mando'ade did so, they usually had the good sense not to scream in a rage.

This shabuir, though - she needs a lesson in containing her ego, the Mando woman decided, holding the snarling Borja Kwaad back with practiced strikes of the Darksaber.

Whatever kind of twisted bioscience had created Kwaad's sword must've been similar to the amphistaves; the Shaper's blade not only dripped an unwholesome-looking greenish liquid, but it could block the Darksaber.

All of the scientific reserve and coldness of the Master Shaper were gone, though. Dalonera could see a pure kind of hatred in the Yuuzhan Vong female's eyes - she felt she'd been pushed too far, and was sick of it.

That pushed Dalonera's buttons, and she backhanded Kwaad with a gauntlet when the shaper let her guard drop.

Borja snapped out of her berserker-like fury, shock crossing her face, and Dalonera only became angrier at that, pointing a finger.

"You hut'uune witch. How dare you act superior to ANYONE after the sick osik you've pulled? The Vong'ese racial garbage is reason enough to smack you down. But you take that sick filth to a whole new level. Enslaving children, giving the Rakata back the Force, building a dark side battle station - you're not worshipping anything other than your own sick kicks," Dalonera snapped.

Kwaad shuddered with fury of her own, and spat back, "I have given my life to my people, you abomination-wearing heathen. You will never know what kind of dedication it takes to fulfill devotion to the gods!"

She lunged, shrieking when Dalonera took her shaper's hand off at the wrist - and sending the venom-dripping sword spinning out of the fight. The praxeum guards and battle droids finished their fights with Kwaad's forces, and the bounty hunter nodded as a guard captain approached with a medic.

"Help her," Dalonera ordered, giving Borja a tired glance as the shaper looked at her in confusion, as if to ask why.

"You talked about gods, Kwaad. My people are said to worship battle itself - not totally off base, I'll admit. But we also worship home and hearth and family. And those don't come from bloody rites and whirling blades," Dalonera said, shutting down the Darksaber.

She turned to go - but then, something oppressive in the Force, almost too subtle to notice, weakened, and Borja Kwaad shook.

"No - the Star Forge - my work -" she rambled, crumpling as if broken, and Dalonera tuned into the Tythonian defense fleet's tactical net.

"Nat? It's Dalonera. Borja Kwaad's been captured, and she's acting pretty beaten. How's it going up there?" she asked as she went to check on the trainees and help secure the base.

-------------------------
Tython High Orbit:
------------------------

"Making headway, Dalonera, especially since we just got some serious backup," Nat whooped, grinning when a flotilla of craft - both Galactic Alliance and Imperial - reverted from hyperspace and attacked the Star Forge.

There were at least three Star Destroyers - including a garish red one that had to be the Errant Venture, Nat recognized it from the Battle of Ilum - and the biggest Mon Calamari Star Cruiser he'd ever seen, each launching swarms of snubfighters.

The seemingly endless hordes of skips from the Star Forge were suddenly forced to split and scatter under withering waves of turbolaser fire.

"Incoming transmission from - from Her Royal Highness," the Mirialan male Jedi who'd taken the comms chair gasped, and Nat sad Leia Organa-Solo's face appear in the holofeed.

"Lieutenant Moonskimmer. We heard Master Durron's beacon for help. Anything we can do to make things easier?" the Princess asked, a smile playing around the corners of her mouth.

"Yes, ma'am. The Errant Venture's turbolaser could be a real boon to cracking the Star Forge's shields," Nat asked, smiling himself.

A bemused bass chuckle came back, as a Corellian-accented male voice replied, "Not 'boon,' lad - you mean 'boom.' Like this."

Something like a green thunderbolt in space lanced from the Errant Venture's bow, and the Star Forge's starboard nacelle erupted with flame and debris, while a blue flicker around the station died away, and Nat grinned.

"'Boom,' indeed, Captain Terrik - thanks. Gold Squadron, Red Squadron, form up and follow me in! Pump every proton torpedo you have into that hole!" Nat called, turning the Shrike toward the gaping wound in the Star Forge.

Something like a swarm of pinkish stars flooded into the hole, and the Star Forge lit up with cascading explosions as even the Jedi cheered.

Now, let's hope that gives the ground forces some relief, Nat thought.

-------------
Tython:
-------------

Kyp's pursuit of his clone - who appeared in the Force to be accompanied by a Yuuzhan Vong, and Kyp wasn't sure what that was about - led into a dense part of the forest, away from the battlefield and toward something ... odd.

There's a distortion in Tython's Force presence - like something was warning people away, but now that's faded to a more generic 'unwelcome sign,' to turn a phrase, Kyp reflected, entering a clearing to find a hole.

In fact, it was more of a giant rift, with a path down one side that seemed to zig-zag back and forth into the darkness below. Kyp could sense his clone's growing excitement - the younger Durron had a sizeable lead on Kyp.

"Well, I can't let that little punk beat me down there," Kyp self-mocked, tensing to float down.

That, of course, was when he was ambushed.

Strictly speaking, the attack was more of a flying leap by a growling Rakata. But "ambush" sounded cooler to Kyp as he struggled with his assailant, throwing the alien to one side.

"Kyp Durron - the original, older one. Your obnoxious Force-odor confused me for a moment, until I noticed the absence of your younger self's undeserved self-confidence," the Rakata snarked in surprisingly clear Basic.

Kyp rolled his eyes and muttered, "Youth is wasted on the young," before he asked, "And you are -?"

"Predor Ma'lar - or Mal'ar, depending on your pronunciation. It really doesn't matter, since I'm going to kill and eat you. Nothing personal, you understand - it's a tradition of my people. And as the leader of the surviving Rakata on Lehon, I have expectations to uphold," the Rakata said, eerily polite, as he lifted a hand.

Kyp started to snark back, when the sky suddenly brightened, and the Star Forge poured debris and flame - someone must have hit something vital. Ma'lar gasped in horror, distracted.

Kyp almost felt guilty when he tackled the Predor into the rift - almost. (Being written off as someone's future snack bothered him.)

"You fool! My people's noncombatants are aboard that station - the Yuuzhan Vong are holding them captive against any possible treachery! I need the Prime Infinity Gate to save our females and children!" Ma'lar snarled as they fell - passing Kyp's clone and a blur.

Kyp managed to levitate himself and Ma'lar a meter or so above the floor, near the edge of a blackened, massive metal ring set into the stone floor. He rolled free, standing as he lit his lightsaber and said, "I'm sorry about your civilians, but I can't trust you not to abuse the Gate if it was reactivated."

Something like a thunderstorm given life but Kyp from behind, sending him skidding across the floor and bloodying his nose, as someone mocked him in his voice (just younger), "You're talking trust? Really?"

Kyp managed to roll out of the way as someone in a Vong cloaker and an ostentatious red cape tried to stomp on his head. Blocking a red-bladed lightsaber downstroke was harder, and he had to struggle to stand.

"World of difference, Junior. I've learned the hard way not to abuse trust - you're operating with outdated data and bad software," Kyp shot back, taking in the sight of his clone.

The younger Durron was eerily reminiscent of Kyp as he'd been during the Sun Crusher fiasco - fresh-faced, full of righteous indignation, and stupidly overconfident in the dark side. The clone wielded one of those freaky Vong-sabers, while his left hand crackled with Force lightning.

Somewhere behind Kyp, another crackling and an odd warble to the Force distortion warned him that Ma'lar was up to something. The Jedi risked a glance backwards, raising an eyebrow as the Rakata knelt beside the gate, chanting softly and feeding it Force lightning.

"Mechu-deru. Ma'lar knows instinctively how to repair the gate - and once he's done saving his people, I'll use it to evacuate the Star Forge's Slayer reserves. We will swarm Tython, and then, the galaxy!" the clone crowed, grinning like he was a collegian on his first spring break.

Kyp sighed, reaching out with his free hand.

The clone had been trying to inhale for his next bit of cackling, but he wheezed in the Force grip, his eyes widening in fear as Kyp leaned in.

"You're every bit of puffed-up, egocentric, angry young man-ism I ever had - and that I outgrew. That legitimate pain and anger I had after Kessel is so far behind where I am now, it isn't even funny. You're a reminder of what I left behind - now sit down and shut up," Kyp huffed, throwing the clone to the ground.

The clone's jaw twitched, shock, outrage, embarrassment and hurt warring with each other - then, he shrieked ... and pouted.

"No! No-no-NO! I'm SITH! I was promised power and revenge and RULE!! You can't DO THIS!!!" the whiny punk screamed, leaping.

Kyp was forced into a retreating defense - the clone was howling, frothing, madness obvious as his green eyes shifted to a mad yellow-orange, lightning crackling around him.

The hum from the Gate grew, and Kyp gritted his teeth as Ma'lar howled in triumph - then, a few dozen Rakata, mostly females and children, stepped into the chamber, wide-eyed.

Well, that worked, Kyp mused, watching Ma'lar lead the noncombatants toward the path back up and out of the rift - then, the Gate started to crackle ominously.

Kyp's clone glanced back, greedy panic overriding his hatred for his template. He leapt for the Gate, landing face-first beside the portal as he reached for it - and a blue flash of energy consumed him, twisting the Force.

Kyp felt momentarily ill, his clone's sudden absence hitting him - and leaving him distracted as a blur scythed toward him. The Jedi was able to raise a Force shield and deflect the attack, while the Rakata finished fleeing.

The Gate sizzled with energy - clearly, Ma'lar's quick fix wasn't permanent, and Kyp didn't want to be around if it exploded - but he was busy trying to push through his pain against an invisible opponent, until a bolt outlined him.

Vong? Kyp thought, risking a blind stab, and nodding in grim satisfaction as a cloak of Nuun surged with dispersing energy - revealing the last Yuuzhan Vong Kyp wanted to see.

"You know, Durron, I could almost thank you and your accursed companions. Kane' Kwaad will fall to the Solobrat and the jeedai-who-was-shaped; Borja Kwaad will likely fall to your Praxeum's defenders; Ma'lar's compassion for his people is his undoing; and that pesky clone of yours just evaporated. All that's left is your death, and I have access to the galaxy's greatest teleportal," Nom Anor mocked.

Kyp rolled his eyes, punching Nom Anor in the face - not very Jedi, but it just felt good.

"Oh, just shut the kriff UP, you stupid jerk! I'm sick of your gibbering doubletalk," Kyp spat, satisfied when Nom collapsed unconscious.

Kyp turned to the Gate as it seethed, and he pushed through his exhaustion - he could sense the portal's Force-signature with technometry, and could "see" its damage.

Focus ... pull it together, he told himself, slowly gathering the fraying strands of the Gate's Force-presence back into their matrix.

As Kyp did so, the Gate flashed with images - not just distant places, but other times, he somehow knew:

A young human couple - a girl with curly red hair in a black uniform with gold trim, wielding a glowing spearlike weapon beside a muscular blond boy, in a white T-shirt and blue slacks, blue lightning crackling around him.

Giant droid-like beings, fighting bitterly over a metallic landscape, as streams of blue liquid flowed into waiting cubes.

A teenage boy with buzzed red hair, Skywalker-blue eyes and a black bodysuit, wielding a blue lightsaber as a tall yellow and black droid-being backed him up.

A clash of red and green blades in a shadowed stone room, between two men with greasy black hair - one in his 20s, one middle-aged, both angry - as two corpselike beings laughed.

A young woman with dark skin and a uniform like the red-haired girl, holding a purple lightsaber high against a ring of red-bladed, dark-clad figures, as the (Jedi?) smirked.

Kyp - older, with grey in his hair and a happy smile - waving for a young boy with a red crewcut and blue Mandalorian armor to catch up with him, as Dalonera watched from a porch and Kitiara waved from a field of crops.

And - as the portal stabilized - a Tythonian sky, as what looked like pyramids attached to each other at the base lifted off, sent out to recruit Force-users, with paws waving farewell.

Paws - !? Kyp realized through his pain, as the portal flickered into cohesion.

He risked stepping forward, into a dimly-lit chamber full of what looked like stasis pods, stacked one atop each other as far as the eye could see. Each was marked with an an ancient Tythonian eight-spoked sigil - the Force was thick here - and the lights rose.

Kyp shivered a little, not out of fear, but from a sudden chill - the chamber was cool, a giant freezer - and he wrapped one of his hands in his cloak to wipe frost from one of the pods.

He somehow wasn't surprised to see an Ewok, with a silver hood, slumbering within.

"And there's thousands, at least ... Force, it's full of ancient Ewoks," Kyp breathed, awed.

Then, he spun as a flicker in the Force cohered.

Two women in skinsuits under robes - one with red hair buzzed short at the sides and a red 'suit, another with brown hair and a yellow 'suit - appeared, both in their early 20s, floating a little off the floor, and Force-strong.

The redhead looked eerily like Mara - or a niece, and Kyp suspected he knew who this person was from his encounter in the Temple garden the day before - while the brunette smirked, then glowered behind Kyp.

He spun, angry to see Nom Anor stagger through the portal in shock - then the intendant was held aloft as the brunette gestured, her smirk turning into a sneer.

The redhead frowned, but shrugged with obvious reluctance as the brunette and Nom Anor disappeared in a green flash.

~Sorry, Kyp. Nom Anor's story doesn't end here with you. He has a role yet to play. But you have saved Tython, and discovered ... something the galaxy's not ready to handle yet. There's still pieces of the big picture to be revealed,~ the redhead - Rachel? - sent kindly.

Kyp managed a nod, turning to go - then, a thought struck him, and he asked, "If the Gate was active when the clone touched it - is he -?"

Rachel grew serious as she faded out, and she sent, ~He's alive. Be ready when you go back.~

Kyp took a deep breath, trying to center himself in the Force as he stepped back through the portal - having to turn 90 degrees to deal with the gravity shift as he went from horizontal to vertical - and the Gate closed.

He sprang to guard just in time, as his scorched, snarling, bloodied - but very alive - clone sprang at him, gibbering incoherently.

Their blades clashed, the clone's steps dogged by growing disability, and Kyp batted the Vong-saber out of his clone's hand, cradling the dying younger Durron as he coughed.

"I ... I just wanted a life," the clone whispered, closing his eyes.

Kyp knelt with the clone, accepting his tears.

"So did I. The problem was, where my life's rights butted up against others' lives," he whispered, feeling the clone pass as a massive flash of light appeared far above the rift.

The Star Forge's malignant background presence faded away, and Kyp rested until he heard/sensed his friends approach for him.

-----------------

The clean-up would take some time - the Rakata had escaped aboard a Vong troop transport with an unsettling number of Flesh Raiders, and the battle had left a mess around the Jedi Praxeum - while the debris from the Star Forge's explosion needed to be towed out of shipping lanes.

Kyp's crew had gathered for the funerals for Malgus and the Kyp-clone (Kane' Kwaad had fallen in battle against Anakin, Tahiri and Kettch, all of whom were alive and recovering from minor injuries suffered in the fight).

Kyp had been able to rest after the funeral pyres, just taking a day to gather himself before telling his gathered fellow Council members the tale of what had happened in the rift.

Unsurprisingly, Tionne was ecstatic with the visit to Kaleth, while most of the other Councillors were just awed by Tython (with the exceptions of the Skywalkers - Luke was happy, but he and Mara were busy with the sudden arrival of their new twins, after Mara had gone into labor during the Council meeting).

"Both healthy, a boy - Coric - and a girl, Analynn," Luke said happily, as Mara held court with the twins in her arms in a second-floor room of the Jedi Temple, Ben playing with a plastic lightsaber near where Han, Leia, Rey, Kylo, Betsy (with HK restored to her ownership) and Kyp sat.

Analynn waved a tiny hand, as Mara gave Kyp a curious glance and asked, "So. My likely-niece is somehow involved in hiding the fact that ancient Ewoks created the first Tythonian civilization, including the Tho Yor? And Ben's going to help giant droid-beings fight evil?"

"'Saber!" Ben cheered, laughing as he bumped into Artoo and babbled something to the astromech, who chirped back happily.

Kyp just shrugged, smiling as he said, "I'm treating it like Yoda's words to Luke - the future is in motion. I did think you should know."

"We're grateful, Kyp. We know you've sacrificed a lot over all this time," Luke said, smiling as Coric held onto one of his fingers, cooing.

"Hey, I wouldn't trade it - but I have to catch up to someone. Congratulations, you guys," Kyp said, smiling as he darted after a gold-armored figure.

Dalonera turned around, holding up a hand as she said, "Kyp, I have to go talk with Fett - it's crazy in a good way that the Order's even letting a Mandalore visit Tython, and -"

He held her hand, smiling a bit as he asked, "Introduce me? I need to get him used to us."

Dalonera looked relieved - then wide-eyed - as she asked, "'Us'?"

Kyp winked, waving for Ejen and Qewpee to follow them, as he said, "Let's explore options."

--------------------

to be concluded ...

 

A/N: At long last - the conclusion to Shores Yet Untrod!

I want to thank all of my readers who've hung in, and apologies for the wait - I had to work on a proper ending (to this story, certainly not the timeline), and Kyp's tale will continue at some point ... but this part of his journey had to come to an end at some point.

But ... not before Kyp meets his future mother-in-law ... !?

--------------------------
Early 28.7 ABY:
Tython, Deep Core:
--------------------------

Meeting Boba Fett after discovering ancient Ewoks were involved in Tython's first civilization ... it's almost anticlimactic, Kyp mused, waiting with Dalonera, Ejen and Qewpee at the landing pad outside the Jedi Praxeum.

When the freighter came instead of a Firespray patrol craft - and Dalonera arched an eyebrow, her lips twitching in unusually overt anger - Kyp knew something was up.

His fiancee (Did I decide that Dalonera's my fiancee? Well ... I guess I just did, Kyp thought) clutched her helmet under her arm, and smiled tightly as she glanced at Kyp and said, "I'm sorry - she didn't tell me she was coming."

"'She'?" Kyp asked, now thoroughly confused - Fett, he'd been mentally prepared for (well, at least as much as anyone could prepare for Boba Fett - there was a joke among the Rim that "Nobody expects Boba Fett!", at which Betsy had said something about dead parrots, and Kyp had shrugged at the Terran reference).

He glanced at Ejen, who looked as confused as Kyp did, while Qewpee tweedled with what sounded like curiosity. "No idea, Master Kyp," his Padawan said, as the freighter landed.

Dalonera half-smiled and said, "It'll be clear in a few moments. Just follow my lead - Fett's not one for much small talk, and the woman with him can be ... prideful, about Mando society."

Kyp raised an eyebrow of his own - he could sense a powerful Force user aboard the freighter, as well as non-Force-users of great personality - watching the ship's hatch open.

A male Mandalorian in blue beskar armor led the way off the ship, a blaster rifle held loosely in his arms. He caught sight of Kyp's group and nodded as he finished disembarking (and Dalonera nodded back with a firm look), then glanced at the freighter as two others left it.

The first was another male Mando, clad in battered blue and green armor, with yellow and red patches, and a sawed-off blaster rifle slung over one shoulder - Fett himself.

The Mandalore nodded when he saw Dalonera and Kyp, then headed down the ramp, glancing behind him at the last arrival.

While Dalonera was respectful but calm when she saw Fett and his - aide? - she tensed at the sight of a green-armored female Mandalorian who carried a blaster pistol, vibrodagger, and a lightsaber at her hip, and Kyp blinked at that.

He glanced at the woman, then at Dalonera - their Force-presences were oddly similar, and Ejen whispered, wide-eyed, "Is that -?"

Dalonera managed a quick smile, replying, "My buir - my mother, Dal'jira Ordo."

Kyp struggled to keep his eyes from bulging in shock - he hadn't expected to meet his future mother-in-law at the same time as meeting Fett - but he managed to smile as Fett and his group approached.

Dalonera stepped forward, and rapid-fire Mando'a flowed back and forth between her and the other Mandalorians. The tone was business-like, but calm, at least between Dalonera, Fett and the other male Mando; the latter clasped wrists with Dalonera as she smiled.

The smile became forced as words passed between Dalonera and her mother, who replied with what sounded like bemused patience as Dalonera sighed.

The blue-armored Mando male chuckled at the exchange, and stowed his blaster rifle as Dalonera switched back to Basic and said, "I asked Jetii Durron here to sit in on the talks."

Fett's demeanor shifted subtly, and he nodded when Kyp held out a hand, shaking it as Kyp said, "Mandalore - welcome."

"Durron. Heard you did well against the Vong'ese. And a pretty world, Tython. This your bajur'ad?" Fett asked, glancing at Ejen.

Ejen stood a little taller, nervous but polite, and said, "Mand'alor. Ner gai cuyir Ejen Rask."

The other male Mando laughed with approval, removing his helmet to reveal slightly-tanned skin, brown-grey hair cut short and a friendly grin. "Jate, ner vod'ika! I'm guessing Dal'ika's had a positive influence on your traat'aliit after all - I'm Goran Beviin," he said, shaking Ejen and Kyp's hands. "And this is -"

"I can introduce myself, Gor'ika, thanks," Dal'jira quipped haughtily in slightly-accented Basic, as she removed her helmet, gave Dalonera a patient look, smiled kindly at Ejen and Qewpee, then looked Kyp over with a gimlet eye.

He tried not to stare - Dal'jira could have been Dalonera's clone, just older, with a bit of grey in her auburn hair - and Dal'jira finally nodded.

"Better in person, at least. I'll assume you've at least told the ad'ike about your situation with my daughter, Durron? I disapprove of keeping secrets from bajur'ade when said secrets affect training," Dal'jira probed, her eyes narrowed.

Dalonera tensed, but Kyp just smiled as he put a hand on Ejen's shoulder and said, "He knows the basics of the sitrep, ma'am."

Ejen smiled at Dalonera, then at Dal'jira, and said, "Kitiara's a sweet little girl, ma'am. And I'd like to see Vor'paya - maybe stay there a while while I train with Master Kyp."

Dal'jira smiled back with a quick flash of approval, before pursing her lips and tilting her head as she thought for a moment. Finally, she glanced at Fett and said something in Mando that drew a wide-eyed state from Beviin - and Dalonera went pale-faced and furious.

The elder Milthiad scowled at her daughter, and Beviin and even Fett took a step back - the Force was roiling between the women, in a way that smacked of imminent violence.

A terse exchange of words between mother and daughter left both of them fuming. Kyp heard his name come up, so he raised a hand and asked, "Ah ... ladies? I'm right here."

"I'm well aware of that, Durron. I'll defer to the Mand'alor for now - ibic n'jaon, Dal'ika," Dal'jira grumbled, glancing at where a small party of familiar figures approached.

Dalonera clearly wasn't happy with her mother getting the last word, but her tension shifted as she saw the Solos, Chewie, Luke, and Arnea Bynar approach - Han paled until Leia frowned at him, and Kyp smiled weakly at them.

"Mandalore Fett - welcome to Tython. I'm Arnea Bynar, headmistress of this Jedi praxeum ... and Master Skywalker, the Generals Solo, and Chewbacca need no introduction," Arnea said, smiling thinly at the sudden tension.

"Alor'ad Bynar - Your Highness, Skywalker," Fett greeted, before sighing, adding, "Solo. Relax."

Han chuffed a breath, giving Fett an embarrassed look as he replied, "I - ah, owe you for Caluula Station, don't I?"

Luke looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh, while Leia wore her best "exasperated patience" look, and Chewie warbled neutrally.

Fett shook his head, removing his helmet - Beviin and the Milthiads looked on in shock - and Kyp indulged his curiosity as he looked at the face of the legendary Mand'alor.

Truthfully, Fett wasn't all that intimidating under the mask; a few scars, sure, hair cut short to function under the helmet, but not hideous or even that notable - seemingly just a man.

"It was never personal, Solo. Jabba paid well, that's all. As for Caluula - cui ogir'olar. Consider the slate clean," Fett said, and Han relaxed.

"Ah - well, OK, then. Thanks. Have a nice visit - hey!? Chewie!" Han yelled as Leia whispered to Chewie, who picked Han up by his jacket collar and walked off, and Luke facepalmed.

"Don't start, Jedi Master - leave the Jedi discussions for the afternoon and go be a husband and father. Mara's got her hands full with your newborns, and Rey can't be expected to watch Ben every minute," Leia gently prodded, nodding to Fett's party as she took Luke by the arm and they followed Chewie.

Dal'jira looked positively amused, while Arnea blinked and asked, "Ah - well. May I offer you the hospitality of our praxeum?"

"That would be delightful, Master Bynar. I'm already enjoying the dramatic entertainment," Beviin said, grinning widely.

Fett shook his head and donned his helmet, drawing a laugh from Beviin, as Dal'jira smirked, giving Dalonera a knowing look.

The younger Milthiad rolled her eyes and pulled Kyp after the others, muttering dire words in Mando'a as Ejen and Qewpee followed, and the astromech moaned sadly.

Well ... nobody's dead yet, Kyp thought, trying to find something positive in it all.

-----------------

Nat found Aliste' and Arnea talking in the latter twin's office with Jedi Master Kenth Hamner and an Imperial Knight - it was a pretty serious conversation, too, from everyone's faces.

"Did I come at a bad time? I wanted to check and see who'll be flying the Night Shrike back to Denon ..." Nat asked, trailing off when he saw how the twins were frowning at each other, and Master Hamner smiled thinly at Nat.

The senior Jedi stood, patting Nat on the shoulder as he said, "Congratulations - and ... good luck. I should leave you three to talk."

Nat nodded, confused as he took a seat beside Aliste', who smiled sadly and said, "I'm thinking of leaving the Jedi Order to join the Imperial Knights. Master Sinde has asked me to help run a praxeum on Bescane."

Nat stammered - he and Aliste' had gotten married so fast that they hadn't had much time to think farther ahead than the fight against the Star Forge. "Ah," he managed.

The Imperial Knight in the room - Garvin Sinde, the Imperial Knights' Master - nodded, smiling a bit as he said, "Knight Bynar demonstrated superb skill and cooperation during your 'praxeum quest,' Lieutenant. And by placing the new praxeum on Bescane, we can allow you to be together."

"Never mind that this came out of nowhere," Arnea said, raising an eyebrow at Aliste', and the tension between the twins was blatant.

Aliste' sighed a bit, replying, "I'm not the person whom I was 6 months ago, Arnea. I was an uptight, arrogant woman-child who needed to get over herself, to see the bigger picture. And if I can help young Force-sensitives to master their powers, and use them for real good, then I can help prevent totalitarianism from reinserting itself into the Empire."

Arnea blinked as Aliste' held Nat's hand and added, "And I'm lucky enough to find love."

The Consular sister glanced at Sinde, who smiled, and Arnea nodded with a tired look.

"I did say I was happy for you both - and I am. I just didn't expect you'd take quite this much of a turn, sis," she said, smiling sadly.

Aliste's smile warmed Nat, as she replied, "Neither did I. But the journey was worth it."

--------------
Rift:
--------------

Karina sniffed the air - even 2 days after the battle, there was still a smell of ozone and a distortion in the Force from the Infinity Gate.

Teleportals aren't natural ... but I suppose most people don't think the Force is natural, either, she thought, watching some of the Jedi Council members and a scanning team examine the Prime Infinity Gate.

The gate itself was impressive - it felt ancient in the Force - but the surroundings were primitive, without even a platform or control panel. It was kind of anticlimactic, really.

But is that what I feel about the trip as a whole? Karina wondered, smiling as she glanced at Jysella. The human girl was wide-eyed, watching Masters Betsy Braddock and Tionne Solusar, and Master Braddock's Padawan K'urod Var-Tasik, examining the data collected by Master Braddock's astromech Neal and HK-47.

"Btweep-bleep-dwoot," Neal observed, scanning the portal's metal ring in the ground.

"Statement: Yes, I can detect the energy potential in the portal's metallurgic makeup, also. It is delightfully ripe with destructive power," HK said, a little too eagerly.

Master Braddock frowned over at HK, but smiled when Jysella whispered, "HK really doesn't change, does he? He's always ready to fight - I mean, he's an assassin droid, but ..."

"It's just a matter of thinking outside the box for how to use HK, Jysella. Being Jedi means working on adapting to situations, and the tools you have to work with," the purple-haired human woman said, squinting at the portal.

Jysella blushed, but smiled a little - Master Braddock had a gift for teaching without lecturing, and Karina hoped to be as good a Jedi mentor as the human telepath was.

Master Braddock listened to K'urod, asking him questions, and kept him involved in the work, so Karina took a page from Braddock's book. She asked Jysella, "If this gate was built by ancient Ewoks, why do you think they made it?"

Jysella jumped a little in surprise, making her porg Ketsor cling to her shoulder a little tighter. "Oh ... well, maybe they had enemies they were hiding from? Master Durron said they were in stasis - I read his report," she said, focusing.

Karina nodded, glad Jysella had taken the initiative to research the topic. "Makes me wonder what kind of enemies they had. Maybe the Rakata fought them," she wondered aloud, watching Master Braddock approach.

"Well, we won't be awakening those Ewoks any time soon. I can't get the portal to cycle back up. And there's no sign of external controls, so we couldn't set a destination, anyway - at least, not without studying how to use the Force to activate the gate," Braddock said, frowning a little.

K'urod looked over in concern and asked, "Master? Did you want to use the portal?"

The telepath half-smiled, shaking her head in reply. "Just hoping I could use the portal to visit home. But if Kyp did encounter Rachel Summers - at least a Rachel - and I have no reason to doubt him, then how she knows about the Ewok involvement raises more questions than answers. At least she said I'm on the right path," she said, her voice distant.

Some people would be worried when such an accomplished Jedi admitted she didn't know what to do next. But Karina was oddly comforted - she didn't have to know all the answers in advance, she'd learned.

I thought I'd find all the answers when I saw Dad again on Ilum. But now, I have to figure it out for myself and Jysella ... and maybe that's OK, she admitted, smiling with her Padawan.

Another memory crossed Karina's mind as she glanced at Jysella's lightsaber, and Karina murmured, "I need to call someone else before we leave ..."

-------------
Praxeum:
-------------

"They - they don't want me back."

Tarvis Buan looked up from packing his first aid supplies, concerned at the despondence in Tol Bakkil's voice as the human teen sat on a cargo crate, his head on one hand.

"I talked with Master Sinde about rejoining the Imperial Knights ... but they think I'm 'compromised' because of my coral implant. And my parents died on Dantooine - I was a refugee from Dubrillion, and I got redirected to Bescane," the youth said, clearly sad.

Buan asked, "Won't the Jedi take you? You're a healthy human for your age, other than the implant, and it's not leaking or anything."

Tol shrugged as he said, "I want to do something to help fix the galaxy, sir - 'specially after I told the Vong about the Rakata - but I don't like fighting, and I don't know if the Jedi would let me be a healer."

Buan nodded, thinking fast and patting Tol's upper arm. "You were enslaved, Tol - don't blame yourself about the Rakata. I know a few high-ranking Jedi, so maybe I can pull some strings. And I can always use a lab assistant who can reach the highest shelves," he offered, and Tol smiled a bit.

"You'd let me travel with you?" the teen asked.

Buan clacked his beak in amusement, replying, "Are you kidding? I'm a little over a meter high. I need all the help I can get at customs."

-------------------
Night Shrike:
-------------------

"It's just hard to believe it's over - I've got the others' comlink codes, so we can call them. But it's been like a lifetime since we left Denon," Mali'yana said in the rear hold, finishing the final mapping data compilation to transmit to the Galactic Alliance.

"Yub. Yeah - been all over galaxy. Nub. Saw Ukio, Vohai, Socorro - all the way from AST Kikorie to Telos," Korlo said, packing cooking tools into his duffel bag and watching Mali'yana.

She nodded, rechecking the transmission parameters - then, she flipped the switch, listening to the familiar hum as the transceiver pulsed, and the data beamed outward.

"That's it," Mali'yana said, smiling a little sadly as she sat down in the hold, feeling - lost?

Korlo patted her shoulder, "yub"-bing in surprise as an astromech's bleep drew their attention.

Mali'yana blinked as she saw a roly-poly astrodroid - a dome on a sphere, one of the new BB units designed by Deist Droids Inc. and sold to Industrial Automaton for a song - appear at the entryway, with a tall, dark-haired human in an orange and white flight suit.

"Hey. You're Master Durron's tech specialist, right? Mali'yana? You calculated the Daalang-Cyrillia-Denon jump - wild work," the man said in a Rim accent with a friendly smile.

"Oh - yeah, that's me. And this is Korlo, my partner," Mali'yana said, as Korlo waved.

The pilot grinned, nodding. "So I've heard. You don't find too many Twi'leks running around the galaxy with an Ewok and a bunch of Jedi. I'm Poe Dameron, with the Resistance, and this is BB-8," he said, nodding at his droid.

The BB-unit chirped kindly, and Mali'yana smiled before she asked, "Is the Resistance still staying together after the Vong War? With Kane' Kwaad dead, it's over ... right?"

"The Vong are finally beaten, sure. But the First Order's running around in the shadows, and the Remnant's still too beaten up to really pull them back in. We can use all the help we can get, especially experienced slicers," Poe said.

Mali'yana and Korlo shared a look, and Mali'yana slowly smiled as she dialed a long-distance commcall. "Let's talk - and I know someone else who's working with Jedi, who can help out," she said, calling Serenno.

---------------
Praxeum:
---------------

"So, you're not looking to compete with the Jedi - you just want to help your Force sensitives get a handle on their abilities," Kyp asked Fett over lunch (they'd found a somewhat-private conference room to talk in).

The Mand'alor nodded between bites of roast nuna, as Beviin and Ejen talked about fighting the Vong (with Qewpee replaying the Shrike crew's various fights with the Vong across the galaxy), and Dalonera and Dal'jira talked in low voices across the room, tense but quiet.

"I won't lie; the bajur'ade will learn to fight. We're Mandalorians before anything else. I may not be the most fervent Mand'alor, but I've seen the alternative with Skywalker and the various dar'jetii. We need to stand on our own two feet, and that includes defending ourselves from Force-users," Fett said openly.

Kyp thought about that, as Fett added, "We've worked with jetiise before, Durron. Dalonera told me you turned Revan's armor back over to the Shan family - admirable. If he could work with Canderous Ordo, you could live with us."

"I don't have any problem with Mandalorians, true ... ah. That's what Mrs. Ordo's so adamant about - she wants me to show I'll actually be around for Dalonera," Kyp mused aloud, glancing at the Milthiad women.

He smiled at Dalonera and said, "How does 'Watchman of the Mandalore Sector' sound?"

A look of growing hope filled Dalonera's face, while Dal'jira nodded, Ejen smiled, and Beviin chuckled.

Fett looked amused, but asked, "What about the Jedi Council?"

Kyp shrugged, replying, "There's Holonet calls."

He grinned wickedly for a moment, adding, "And Corran will seethe."

-----------------------------

With several teens and a young adult Cathar, Whyren's was a bad idea - but shuura juice was a good substitute as the crew gathered in the Shrike's hold for their farewells.

"To the praxia, and the trip," Kyp toasted, and everyone slugged back their drinks, murmuring approval.

"Korlo and I will get a ride on the Raddus - Commander Dameron said we can pick up Jamor from Socorro, since the cruiser's going to Mon Calamari for a refit," Mali'yana said, smiling as Ejen talked with his brother by holocomm projected by Qewpee.

Kyp smiled, enjoying Dalonera's closeness as she watched Aliste' and Nat examining each other's wedding rings. "Good to see people getting together. Rings are impractical for Mando'ade unless they can fit under gauntlets," she quipped, giving Kyp a happy smirk.

"I'll try to find some simple earrings," he offered, grinning as Dalonera chuckled.

She glanced at where Jysella was talking with Tol Bakkil as he skimmed a Biology 101 datapad provided by Buan, who was eating a large salad and giving Ketsor the fish slices in the pre-made meal. "Where's Karina?" Dalonera asked, curious.

Jysella smiled as she replied, "She's talking with Knight Fahn Rask, a Cathar Knight from here on Tython. They're sharing commcodes."

Well. Go, Karina, Kyp thought, grinning as the Cathar Jedi boarded the Shrike with a male Cathar in tow, and Qewpee poured them shuura juice as HK looked around

"Statement: This is ... not the most irksome gathering of meatbags I have ever endured," the assassin droid admitted, sounding as close to wistful as he ever got.

Dalonera shared a wry grin with Kyp and said, "HK's happy. How many impossible things before lunch does that make?"

"Enjoy it while it lasts. I still have to figure out how to work a hoverplow when we get to your farm," Kyp joked, waggling his eyebrows.

-----------------------------------------
28.7 ABY: Milthiad-Ordo Farm,
Vorpa'ya, Mandalore Sector:
----------------------------------------

Kyp inhaled as the freighter's hatch opened, admitting him, Dalonera, Ejen and Qewpee. There was an earthy, planty smell here, and a sense of stability that gave Kyp an oddly welcoming sense as he looked out over the rolling grain fields.

Dal'jira followed them off the ship, her smirk turning kind as Ejen said, wide-eyed, "It's amazing - it just rolls on ..."

"Not many cities on Vorpa'ya. The soil's slowly getting better after we enforced laws to rotate nerf grazing with planting crops, but it'll take a few decades at least to undo the erosion. Still, it's home, and we'll fight for it like true Mando'ade," Dal'jira observed, nodding as a 20-something man in blue beskar approached them from the house ... with a small figure in his arms.

Kyp tried to hide his fear, smiling as Donic - Dalonera's younger brother - waved in greeting, and Kitiara squealed with glee as Dalonera hugged her and Donic. "Mama! Boo - you home!" the dark-haired child squealed, throwing her arms around Dalonera's neck as the bounty hunter beamed, taking the girl from Donic.

Kyp's breath caught in his throat as he looked at Kitiara - my daughter, he realized, as Dalonera whispered to the girl, who hid shyly behind 'Nera's head between peeking at Kyp with a curious smile.

"C'mere, Durron. You took out your own crazy clone; you have to be able to hold a toddler," Dalonera half-joked, and Kyp carefully accepted Kit from her as the girl patted his face, and Ejen smiled before introducing himself to Donic

"Hey, there, Kit. It's good to meet you at last," Kyp said, smiling as Kitiara looked him over, her brow furrowing.

Finally, she giggled, hugging Kyp as she said with satisfaction, "Dada, home."

He just held her, as Dalonera hugged them both, and something settled within Kyp as he let himself relax, replying:

"Yeah, kiddo. Home."

-----------------------------------

 

I love Luke and Mara's family growing with more younglings a great finale for Aliste' and a sweet warm-fuzzy for Kyp and Dalonera. He deserves to be happy. Congratulations on wrapping up this epic.

 

WarmNyota: Thanks. I've been wanting to get this one complete for a while, but RL was hectic (and there were other issues at play - thankfully, that's wrapped up now).

Especially important was leaving Kyp in a good place. For now, I've got some other projects (some SW'fic, some not) to work on for the immediate future.

But, eventually, I plan to return to the Betsyverse. There's many stories yet to tell - Kyp's family will definitely play a role in at least some of them ...