StarWars; The Saga of Den Rune, a Mandalorian Grey Jedi

Chapter One

The dream was distorted at first, just a jumbled collage of dim images and sounds, but the feelings they generated were ominous and foreboding.

The dreamer tossed and turned in his sleep as the images and sounds started taking on clarity, he slowly began to make out the blurry silhouettes of two cloaked figures, one with a distinct purple bladed lightsaber, and the other one with a red blade, and they were engaged in a tense dual of shadow and light, as seen from the dreamers perspective.

A third, darker image made its appearance right as it would seem the cloaked image with the purple light saber would prevail over the darker, yellow eyed shadow, which was on the floor pleading for his life.

This new cloaked specter was alternating between a really dark blur to a lighter one streaked with blue, and the dreamer instinctively knew, this newcomer was fighting an internal conflict as intense as the one going on before him.

Suddenly, when the dark, yellow eyed blur began pleading to the third shadow, the darkness totally enveloped the newcomer, and he intervened on the dark shadows behalf, and Ja’on Windu became wide awake with his estranged cousins, Mace Windu, voice screaming “Anakin NOooo!” echoing in his head.

Ja’on sat upright in his tiny, modest bed in a cold sweat, his greying beard and hair glistening in the dim light with the perspiration. He could still smell and taste the ionization of the Force Lightning that had enveloped his estranged cousin.

“Oh, no, it can’t be”. He muttered to himself, as it dawned on him this was a Force induced vision of a tragedy that was taking place halfway across the galaxy.

“Ja’on, come quickly, something terrible has transpired in the Force.” He felt the head mistress, Gan Mal, summon him telepathically.

“I felt it too.” He replied as got to his feet, and hastily donned the white tunic and grey robe of a mentor in Gan Mal’s Grey Jedi council.

Strapping on the belt that his lightsaber hilt was attached to, he was wondering how hidden they truly were, on this planet in wild space, called Tara Dor.

A rocky, mountainous planet, with light blue skies, a single yellow sun and large rust colored, airless moon. The vegetation was mostly course blue-green grass, short stubby trees and thorny brush. The gravity here was just slightly heavier than what the aliens here were accustomed to, but not drastic enough to affect them adversely, and they adapted to it quickly.

Ja’on entered the hall outside of his chambers, and hurried down the corridor leading to the main chamber for the teachers of this obscure Jedi Sect, called Mentors Hall. Gan Mal had left the Jedi order nearly two centuries earlier due to a conflict of theology, and sought out and started this sect in the far reaches of wild space to teach her interpretation in the ways of the Force.

She forbade the term “Master”, and substituted the word “Mentor” instead, though the trainees still retained the title of “Padawan”.

As Ja’on was dwelling on these things, he was joined by a Rodian, who emerged from an adjoining room, also attired in the same colored grey cloak and white tunic as a Mentor.

“Did you sense the disturbance as well?” the Rodian inquired in rough basic, his green snout twitching.

“Yes, Gordo. And I hope I am wrong, but I sensed the death of my cousin, Jedi Master Mace Windu, in that disturbance. I feel troubled times are before us.” Ja’on replied, thoughtfully stroking his course, grey peppered beard.

The Rodian looked down and shook his head in sympathy as he replied, “My condolences, my friend. You never got to meet him, did you?”

“No.” Ja’on replied, thrusting his dark brown hands into the voluminous sleeves of his robes. “My mother forbade it. That is why she agreed for me to come here with the late Dobo Kol when it was apparent I was attuned to the Force, instead of sending me away to Coruscant. She didn’t agree with the Jedi way of separating their Padawans from their families. She visited me several times here, before the Summertime War claimed her life on Haruun Kal.”

The Rodian mused on this in silence as they entered the massive Mentors Hall, the main conference room for Gan Mals small staff of mentors.

They greeted Kera Kol, daughter of the late Dobo Kol. She was a Twi’lek with green hued skin and piercing green eyes.

A human female entered from another doorway with short black hair and tanned skin, Raena Verus of Tatooine, followed by a furry, canine looking Bothian, Bolo Dare. The last two mentors, a red skinned Zeltron male with dark hair, Maris Tay and a Neimodian female, Perna Drury, also entered the chamber.

The last person to enter was a diminutive, wizened human female with long flowing white hair who entered from the back of the chamber via huge double wooden doors, her voluminous grey cloak swirling around her, bearing a kyber crystal topped, ornate walking staff.

She approached the large round table where her inner circle of Mentors stood waiting behind their respective seats, her piercing blue eyes looked troubled as she acknowledged each and every one with a slight nod.

With a heavy sigh, she motioned for everyone to be seated, and with a slight manipulation of the Force, she pulled her own wooden chair out, lowered her 5’1” slight frame into it, and scooted back up to the table, leaning her ornate walking staff, topped by a blue-white Kyber crystal the size of a fist mounted to the top of it, against the table beside her.

Her age was hard to determine by studying her face, though she was well over 250 standard years old, she radiated strength and vitality despite her age, and when she spoke, her voice was commanding and strong , yet at the same time melodious with kindness and wisdom.

“Ja’on” she leveled her piercing gaze onto him, “please describe for this council the Force vision you just had.”

Ja’on cleared his throat, rubbed the top of his head covered in short, coarse black curls.

“Very well, Head Mistress” he began. “In my vision I saw the death of my renowned cousin, the Jedi Master Mace Windu, at the hands of a Sith Lord, and the turning of a young Jedi with great promise, to the Dark Side, causing a severe unbalance in the Force, which threatens the entire galaxy.”

Gan Mal nodded emphatically, “Well said, well said indeed. A Dark Lord has indeed revealed himself, the Sith have returned, and this Dark Lord has an apprentice that is very powerful, very powerful indeed. We here, as well as the other Force sensitives in the Galaxy, are in grave danger. We need to spend what little time we have left in preparing for our defense, not only for ourselves, but for our gracious hosts, the Tarahorkii, as well. They have granted us asylum here, and they must be made aware of threat we all face.

“As soon as the sun rises, muster your Padawans, and train them in the defensive arts more aggressively, stressing they must maintain balance between the light and dark side of the force during the stressful conflict that we will be facing soon. “

“Bolo Dare, as soon as he rises, bring the Mandalorian Dain Rune to me and I will brief him personally, he will be needed to help the Tarahorkii organize an effective defense of their village outside these walls, and will be instrumental in the defense of this walled fortress as well.”

“As you wish, Head Mistress.”, Bolo Dare acknowledged.

“Maris Tay”, she addressed the Zeltron, “When is the next shipment of supplies from Captain Tym Pellus due to arrive ?”

The Zeltron answered promptly, “The Wanderer and her crew are due in two days, Head Mistress.”

“That is well.” Gan Mal replied, “Hopefully he will have news as well as supplies from the civilized parts of the galaxy. Right now, we need all the intel we can gather.”

Just then, a tall man with thick greying red hair and wearing a jet black flight suit entered the hall, holding close a young man of about 14 years of age that was visibly upset, his bright red hair all disheveled and intense green eyes red rimmed with tears, although now, he was fighting to put on a brave face before the council. He was tall for his age, and built like the man that was embracing him.

“My apologies for interrupting your early morning meeting”, the man stated, “but Den here has had a terrible nightmare that I feel should be very important to you, Gan Mal.”

Gan Mal rose from her seat, grasping and leaning heavily on her walking staff, came to lay a reassuring hand on young Den Runes shoulder.

“Indeed, did you have a Force induced nightmare as well, young Padawan? Please share your vision with us.” Gan Mal addressed him softly, assuring him.

The young Padawan cleared his throat, which cracked only a little, visibly ashamed for showing weakness, not only in front of the council, but most importantly, in front of his grandfather.

“I had a vision of a yellow eyed demon calling my name, and fire and bodies lying everywhere. I saw my friends, Darrawoo the Wookie, My Mentor, Ja’on Windu, my Tarahorkii friend Kiva Blut, and yourself, Head Mistress Gan Mal, all dead, and then, worst of all”, his voice cracked involuntarily here, ”I saw a black cloaked, heavily armored giant slay my grandfather right in front of me.”

Gan Mal hugged him close, laying her head on top of his.

“A very powerful vision for a Padawan to have, indeed.” She stated. “But one we will heed, for you see, that is the reason we are all gathered here, for we all have felt the same disturbance in the Force. Go get some sleep, much training we will begin when the sun rises and I would have a word with your grandfather and the council now. We need you rested up for the morning.” At this point, she grasped the youth by his shoulders and gazed intently into his eyes, “ You have great potential, Den Rune, don’t let fear eclipse that potential.”

“Yes ma’am.” He answered, and glanced at his grandfather.

“Go ahead, Den. I’ll be there as soon as I am done here. Heed all that the Mentors and I teach you. We will step it up with your Mandalorian Martial arts training as well.” Dain instructed.

Den nodded, and squaring his shoulders, left the chamber.

Dain turned to Gan Mal as Den left the room, “How serious is this vision, and how may I be of assistance?”

Gan Mal’s blue eyes were intense as she gazed up at Dain, and informed him gravely, “ For whatever reason or method, a Sith Lord and his powerful apprentice have materialized and threaten the Galaxy. The danger is very real as they are very strong with the Dark side of the Force. We need you to get with the Tarahorkii elders and organize a defense of their city, as well as our small stronghold here. I will send Gordo and Maris Tay with you at first light. The Pel tribal warlord, Balak Pel as well as war Chief Zorvo Fey must be included, I understand Hovo and Colvin Blut have entered a truce and trade agreement with these neighboring tribes.”

Dain nodded, “No problem. Young Kiva Blut and Dez Orun were staying here in the compound with us, she was awakened by Dens nightmare. We will prepare their Saga-hel mounts so they can ride back to their village and prepare them for the meeting in just four hours. I would also advise you to have Tym Pellus to acquire more orbital based defense weapons, and personal weapons as well, on his next visit.”

Gan Mal nodded in agreement. “It’s short notice, but taken under advisement. This meeting is adjourned for now. We all will need our rest for the days to come.”

The rest of the council rose to their feet, and nodding to Dain and Gan Mal, filed out of the room.

Gan Mal turned toward Dain one last time, “ May the Force be with us, we are going to need it.” She stated solemnly.

“Indeed.” Dain replied dryly, “the only thing worse than a Republic Jedi is a Sith, and I thought they were long extinct.”

“Just in hiding, it would seem,” Gan Mal mused, “and the Jedi Council, with all their arrogance, failed to sense them until too late, and now, I’m afraid, the whole galaxy will pay for their collective arrogance.” She sighed heavily and turned to go, ” Good night, my friend.”

And with that, she turned and headed back to her chamber, Dain watched as she left for a few seconds, rubbing his stubbled chin in deep thought, then he pivoted on his booted heel and headed back to his quarters.