HP: Dance of the Veela

Reijar, Ordo System…991 ARR…

Luna sat in the meditation grove, in tune with the force as she held her son in her arms, Lorcan had a very deep connection to the force and even though he was still so young they connected deeply.

She smiled and let her son know how much she loved him, Lorcan was smiling and she could feel his good dreams.

Luna was so content that she almost forgot about the growing sense of danger she was feeling in the force. It brought a frown to her face as she knew something was upsetting the balance of the force, it was growing and she still had no idea why. She sensed Lorcan's distress as he felt her worry and she pulled herself back and did her best to calm him, he settled down as she hid her worries from him but couldn't help but think about it as she took him back to the compound.

What was it that she was sensing? She pondered with growing concern.

- x -

Meanwhile in the Compound's Medical Bay, Deera and Zara were welcoming the newest addition to their family. Since time had now passed since the birth of their daughter Mari, they had decided to have another child. Since Deera had carried their last child, it was now Zara who would carry and give birth to the second.

Deera held her wife's hand as she fought through the labour, mopping her brow until finally after a long and difficult labour their second daughter entered the world.

"She's precious." Deera said as the baby was wrapped in a blanket and placed in Zara's arms. Zara was struggling to hold back the tears as she held her little girl, apart from Mari she was the most beautiful thing that she had ever seen. She took more after Zara with dark hair and slightly darker skin but still had the same green eyes that all Ordos had. Mari had taken more after Deera with blonde hair.

"She is." Deera said with love in her eyes. "We should name her Treyla, after your mother."

"Treyla Ordo. I like it." Zara said with a warm smile, feeling almost high on joy for the new addition to their family. They stayed like that for quite some time until Haron, Ara, Vysa and the other Ordo children came in to see the new addition to their house.

They all smiled at the tiny little girl nestled in Zara's arms while Haron lifted Mari onto the bed so she could greet her little sister. The little girl looked on with curiosity at the tiny baby and peered at her face with confusion before Deera told her with a smile as she put a hand on her shoulder.

"This is your little sister, Treyla." She told her and Mari made a face as she studied the baby before asking to clarify something.

"Like Astoria and Markus?" She asked, Deera and Zara smiled and Zara told her with a wide smile.

"Yes, and she will look up to her big sister." She said and then Mari came forward to touch the baby and Zara gently cautioned her. "You have to be careful sweetie. She's very small and delicate for now. She needs to grow up a bit before she can play with you and the rest of the children."

"Then we can play together?" Mari asked eagerly and both her parents nodded with a sigh but Deera reminded her.

"Yes, but only when she's grown up a bit. That will take a while Mari." Deeta told her sternly and Mari pouted before sighing in resignation.

"Okay mommy." She said and cuddled into Zara's side, Zara wrapped her arm around her and held the baby in the other while Deera sat on the other side. Haron and the others all left the small family alone, just enjoying the moment, happy times like this were in short supply and should be cherished when they came. So, for now, they let themselves forget the wider galaxy and the civil war that was gripping so much of it…just for now they let themselves enjoy the moment before the chaos came back to remind them of the cold hard reality that was waiting elsewhere.

Coronet City, Corellia…

In an office containing the Corellian Research and Development Bureau for national defence a single person was in there after hours, downloading files to a small data storage device and calmly listening for anyone. Three bodies lay around her, all members of staff here and she had killed them to steal files about projects being worked on both with and for the Rift Alliance.

She smirked as she completed her task only for the door to open and as she looked up, she found herself being flung against the wall and held there by something she couldn't see. She stared at the doorway as Corellia Security Agents came in alongside people in green robes, she signed in annoyance and resignation as she recognised them as Corellian Jedi.

"Rasha Bex, you are under arrest for espionage on behalf of the Empire." A woman younger than her said as she came through the door. "Bind her." She ordered and the Jedi let their grip fall enough for the security agents to move forward and try to cuff her but she whipped out her hold out blaster the moment she was free but the lead officer had a blaster already in hand and shot her in the head immediately.

Rasha's body fell to the ground with the smoking hole in her forehead and Qi'ra who holstered her blaster and smirked as she looked down at the Imperial Spy they had been watching for several weeks and then turned to Rivi-Anu, the Jedi who had been assigned to help this case.

"Thank you for your help, we appreciate it." Qi'ra said with a more genuine smile towards the Jedi who had been a big help in finding the spy ring and all its members. Rivi-Anu nodded and told her.

"It's our pleasure to help Corellia, this world gave us sanctuary when nowhere else would. It is the least we can do to help you now." Rivi-Anu said with complete honesty. The Empire had been chasing her and other Jedi across the galaxy every single moment so having a place that they could be safe and live as Jedi was truly a gift from the force itself.

Imperial Science Centre, Coruscant…

The personnel working at the Advanced Projects department of the Science Centre were busy with a number of important projects that most of the galaxy had no idea even existed and today two new projects were being started which had great potential.

The Extremis Project was a very interesting form of genetic manipulation, created using nanotechnology which was primarily geared towards healing and strength amplification and potentially even fix deformities and psychological damage. Even to the extent that it could regrow lost limbs but the first batch had a nasty habit of potentially causing the subject to explode but it was of little concern. It actually was a potential argument for the resuming cloning so they could be used as cheap exploding cannon fodder but that was a decision for the Imperial overseers to decide.

The second project was something that had been inspired by the first, due to the dangers with Extremis it had been decided to try and create a more stable version for longer term use. It used a mix of Extremis along with several other elements in a device that would constantly pump the compound into the subject that would do many of the same things. It gave many of the same advantages that Extremis did but it didn't cause people to explode even if removing the device would kill the subject.

They had even created a side project which would add cybernetics into the subjects to increase their effectiveness in combat. Ugly ones that weren't easily hidden but that mattered little to them, if it was effective then what did it matter.

Work on the projects would be top priority given their usefulness, the scientists were all very excited to get to work and see just what they could make of these exciting new developments regardless of the cost in lives.

Solis, Outer Rim/Unknown Regions…

Solis was a planet settled by humans over five hundred years ago, colonists from the Core Worlds who had been desperate to escape the built-up nature of the core planets and find a new and unspoilt world to call home and get back to nature.

On the edge of known space, they had found such a world, verdant and untouched by any intelligent life and had wasted no time settling down there only for their haste to settle on the seemingly perfect planet, they had failed to do several studies including a geological one.

A couple of years after they arrived that oversight had come back to haunt them as a period of massive geological instability struck the planet. It happened only once every thousand years or so but they had chosen to settle right at the wrong moment.

The earthquakes had been so powerful that they destroyed just about everything the colonists had built and most of them along with it. The survivors had been forced to start from scratch, scattered and divided without the means to contact anyone on the galactic stage or get into space. Internal Combustion Engines were the most they could manage although solar electric power had now begun to be used in their small cities. The idea that there were ships that crossed the stars and massive numbers of aliens out there a forgotten myth passed down through the generations.

But like some other new worlds they were in for a rude awakening when they looked to the sky and saw an enormous triangle shaped ship appeared in the sky overhead. They were stunned at the sheer size of the thing hovering above them, unsure of just what it was or where it had come from. Then the air was filled with a pitched droning sound and they stared at the sky as small little dots started appearing and seemed to be getting bigger by the second.

That was when people realised that they weren't getting bigger, instead they were getting closer. The sight of flying machines the likes of which they hadn't even imagined before coming straight at them terrified them and all started running for cover as Tie Fighters and Landing Craft approached.

They would ironically rejoin the galaxy community, by force as Solis became yet another planet conquered by the Empire.

Hidden Path Base, Thyferra…

The humid environment of Thyferra was something that took getting used to especially if you had little exposure to such jungle weather.

The abandoned Bacta processing facility which was the unofficial base for the organisation and a makeshift Jedi Temple was surrounded and mostly covered by the thick vegetation which aided in keeping it hidden from prying eyes.

Obi-Wan was meditating as he considered his own predicament, the pressures of the sort of work they did sometimes get too much and so when he and Tala had gone undercover to find a force sensitive child posing as a married couple they had stayed in the same room and the same bed as part of their cover.

How they had had ended having sex had been as much a mystery to her as to him, he still didn't understand what had possessed them to do it but they had and it hadn't stopped there. They had carried on doing in private after the mission and it had become a way to mutually comfort each other and provide affection that was missing in both their lives.

Then Tala had gotten pregnant, despite the precautions they had both taken it had just happened and he had to imagine it was the will of the force. He was deeply concerned though as he would regardless of the reason or not become a father this late in life. He had never really wanted a family; he was content with his life as a Jedi and his sense of duty.

He and Tala had both mutually decided to accept the baby rather than abort it but as to what their relationship would be like they weren't sure. Their feelings for each other were a mess and very awkward at times so co-parenting sounded like the best decision.

How that was going to work they hadn't yet decided.

Tala was now giving birth to their child; he heard her cries and did his best to comfort and reassure her as the labour continued. He mopped her brow while Master Denia, an elder Jedi who had been recruited by the network helped with the delivery.

"Not long now child." Master Denia said with a kindly smile and then told her firmly. "Now push!"

Tala cried out in pain and Obi-Wan held her hand which nearly crushed his with the pressure she was creating until finally the moment finally arrived.

Tala's head fell back in relief and Denia cut the cord and cleaned up with practiced and experienced hands, cleaning the baby and wrapping her in a blanket to keep her warm.

A daughter, Obi-Wan thought to himself is slight awe of the child that gently placed in his arms by Master Denia who smiled, feeling the pure and untainted presence of the baby and the force within her. She was at least as strong as her father Master Denia thought with a smile before leaving the new parents to bond with their child.

Tala took their daughter from him carefully and held her close, the girl snuggling into her for warmth which made both of them smile.

"What should we call her?" Obi-Wan asked knowing they couldn't keep calling her 'baby' or 'child' forever. Tala was slow to answer but asked him.

"Maybe after one of our mothers. What was your mother called?" She asked and Obi-Wan frowned before admitted to her.

"I was taken by the order when I was very young, I am not even sure she named me."

Tala looked disgusted at that before she felt her child make a fuss, maybe sensing her distress so she stopped and let her hold her finger while they considered just what to do.

"My grandmother was Vala, she was always nice. Taught me right from wrong, I wouldn't have gotten involved with the Hidden Path without all that she taught me." Tala said with a considering look on her face before she came to a decision. "Vala Durith-Kenobi."

Obi-Wan smiled before looking down at 'Vala who was now sleeping peacefully as she was watched over by her parents. Both of them smiling at the name.

- x -

The Next Day…

Obi-Wan was taking a walk of the base as he left Tala and Vala to sleep in the Infirmary, he looked in on the younglings they had who were busy learning from Masters Elaiza and Tsui Choi. He was glad the senior masters had joined them here to teach the younglings they had managed to save from falling into the Empire's hands. Teaching them to be Jedi and keep the light of the Order alive despite all the misery of the galaxy around them.

He was just passing the mess hall to meet Kalifa when the first explosion happened.

Obi-Wan staggered, so did Kalifa as they looked around, feeling the cold presence of the dark side descending on the place. Without wasting a moment Obi-Wan hit the evacuation alarm and ignited his lightsaber as did Kalifa which was well timed as Stormtroopers came rushing in, shooting wildly.

The pair quickly started deflecting the blaster bolts back at the enemy and moving close enough to cut them down when they could before Obi-Wan's blood ran cold as he felt Tala's distress.

He turned and ran for the room while Kalifa confused at the sudden hurry went to look for more people in trouble.

Obi-Wan ran straight to the Infirmary where he was greeting by a pile of dead storm troopers, coming into the room he expected the worst but saw to his immense relief that Tala was crouched behind the overturned bed with Vala in one arm and a blaster in the other. Seeing him she gasped in relief and came out of her hiding place.

Kalifa meanwhile was moving through the facility looking for those in need, she felt the air leave her body as she saw Masters Elaiza and Tsui Choi laying there dead but what worried her more was the younglings were gone. She ran around looking for them and found Morvet Storm and his family hiding with another class of younglings while Vanzell Mar-Klar and their former padawan Nedriss Norr did their best to protect them.

"Come on, we need to get out of here." Kalifa said feeling nervous but the Master and knight nodded and the small group made their way to the hanger bay where they hoped they might be able to find a ship to flee in.

Along the way Obi-Wan and Tala ran into them and they all joined together, arriving in the landing bay to see a massive group of dead Storm Troopers along with the dead bodies of Denia, Kai Justiss, Selrahr Eluos and even Kara Shuba who had rejoined the Jedi Order after having been failed her trials before the Clone Wars.

The sight of so much death was horrible to witness but there was something else that grabbed their attention.

Master Ylenic It'kla, Joc Sah and Niebur Boton all were engaged with three of their own people while the missing group of younglings sat terrified in the corner!

Danann Kerr, Vivert and Mill Aliberth all fought the other three Jedi with cold dark side auras raging around them and it didn't take a genius to figure out just who had betrayed them.

But then another more chilling figure emerged as Gerrick and Roganda Ismaren the last unaccounted-for Jedi arrived, emerging from the end of the hanger bay. They all knew the harsh and disturbing breathing sound or knew what it meant.

Darth Vader.

Obi-Wan was afraid as he knew these creatures were cloned from Anakin and to date only two people had ever defeated one, neither of whom was here now. But seeing Tala holding their child in her arms with fear on her face made his resolve harden and he gave his orders to the others.

"Help the others deal with the traitors, I will deal with Vader." Obi-Wan said and the others especially Kalifa and Tala looked worried.

"Master! You can't face him alone!" Kalifa said despite her previous encounter with the monster she wasn't willing to let down her former teacher and role model by letting him face Darth Vader alone.

But Obi-Wan was stern as he spoke to her and the others.

"I will be fine, now go deal with the other traitors and get a ship ready to take off. Either way." He told her, hinting what they had to do if he lost this fight.

They all reluctantly did as he said, Kalifa looking mutinous but did as he commanded and Tala as she passed by looked at him with pleading eyes and asked him.

"Don't let our daughter grow up without a father." She begged him and he nodded, knowing he couldn't promise that but he would do his best.

"I won't, now go." He said and she nodded, running forward with the others to help the other Jedi, free the captured younglings and get a ship ready.

Obi-Wan meanwhile turned to face Vader.

"I know you are cloned for Anakin Skywalker and that the Emperor made you to serve him but if you want to then we can help you break free of him." Obi-Wan said, trying to buy the others as much time as he could. The deep and menacing voice of Darth Vader that answered was nothing like Anakin.

"Anakin Skywalker was weak; he was a fool that didn't take the great power that was offered to him and I will destroy him the moment I find him. As I will destroy you now!" Vader said before his lightsaber ignited with a snap hiss, the red blade coming to life and Obi-Wan igniting his own and without any more hesitation they crossed blades.

Obi-Wan was not as young as he used to be and these heavy cleaves from Vader were soon wearing heavily on him but he kept on using his tried-and-true Form 3 against him, doing his best to parry and deflect blows away from himself so he could hold him off long enough for the others to escape.

But Vader was persistent, regardless of how much effort he put into his defence Vader was slowly battering his way through, Obi-Wan had to grab the blade with the force and hold it to keep it from harming him.

"You are weak!" Vader said to him. "Just as that child you think of is weak now! The Empire will make her strong." Vader said as he picked up the worries Obi-Wan had about Vala.

Obi-Wan was not given to bouts of anger but the mention of the Empire forcing his daughter to become an Inquisitor infuriated him. He felt the spirits of Master Qui-Gon and even Count Dooku in that moment and so for the first time in this duel, Obi-Wan went on the offensive.

He leapt back from Vader and began to engage in the altered version of Form 4 that Master Qui-Gon had taught him, mixing it with the Form 2 he had learned from Count Dooku's holocron which was safely nestled in his pocket. Engaging Vader with thrusts, jabs, counter attacks and cleaves that were unlike anything Vader had been prepared for.

Obi-Wan's change of style forced Vader on the defensive which was not his strong suit as it turned out, Obi-Wan managing to get a few strikes in before using the force which again was something Vader had not been prepared for when facing Obi-Wan.

He lifted all the loose bits and pieces, all the shrapnel from destroyed ships and blasters that were laying around and sent it all at Vader. From the ship the others looked on as Vader was pummelled by all the debris. It was so harsh it forced Vader back against the wall and when the bombardment finally stopped Obi-Wan was on him again. Moving around and moving the blade out of the way before he smashed the butt of his lightsaber into the chest unit that not only injected Vader with the stimulants that gave him greater strength but also helped stave off the physical degeneration of the cloning process. These clones grew quickly but they also decayed quickly and so the unit helped keep them active a little longer.

The damage to the unit robbed Vader of much of his strength, his anger and the dark side now the only things keeping him up but Obi-Wan was not going to let that continue and so with a final leaping strike, he cleaved Vader straight through his head.

Obi-Wan stood over his fallen opponent and was sorrowful to have to kill it but glad to relieve its pain and misery, the Emperor had a lot to answer for making such things he thought with revulsion.

Turning he saw Tala and Kalifa standing on the ramp of the ship that was taking off and Obi-Wan ran towards it, jumping most of it helped by the force so he landed on the ram as it swung closed.

With that done the ship blasted free of the now ruined base and rushed away, Obi-Wan exhausted by his fight with Vader managed to make it to the small galley where most of the survivors had grouped together. All of them were looking at him with awe as if he had just singlehandedly brought down the Empire, Tala sat next to him as he all but collapsed in the seat and her presence along with Kalifa who returned just having made sure they had managed to escape the planet and jump to hyperspace.

"Master, that was unbelievable." Joc Sah said with a very impressed look, no one but Anakin Skywalker and the Mandalore Haron Ordo had ever defeated a Vader and yet Master Kenobi had done just that.

"There might not be such a thing as luck but making sure you master what skills you have and learn as much as you can to the best of your ability and you'd be surprised what you can do." Obi-Wan told him and the others. They nodded in acceptance especially as with the other masters dead, he and Ylenic It'kla were now the senior masters here and he seemed content to follow whatever decision Obi-Wan made for now.

"Should I set course for Corellia master?" Niebur asked, the Zeltron Jedi knight wanting to know their destination.

Obi-Wan considered that, Corellia was the smartest place as it was a haven for Jedi but he didn't want to put too much of the Order's survival, not least his own loved ones in danger by keeping so much of the Order there. There was a galaxy wide civil war going on and everything was always changing, so it might not remain safe forever. The rest of the Hidden Path network thankfully should be safe enough, they kept no data on the base that could lead the Empire to any other safehouses and apart from him no-one else had any real knowledge of them.

So, with that information and reasoning he made another decision.

"We'll go to Master Cordova and Master Junda before making any decisions." Obi-Wan said, not wanting to risk any of their safehouses till they knew they weren't being tracked.

Raxus Prime, Liberated Separatist Space…

San Hill stood in front of the reunited Separatist Parliament, smiling as they applauded their latest success recapturing their old capital and even better, they had the wealthy world of Serreno back with them again.

"It is a great day for the Separatist Alliance." San Hill said to the gathered Separatist representatives who had gathered here for the first time in years. "We have been liberating worlds taken from our embrace by the Empire and restoring our independence from the corrupt and ruthless Galactic Empire. A fight that will go on to make sure that we are not oppressed by them again. We will continue to resist, to carry on and one day we will witness the fall of Emperor Palpatine and his rotten Empire once and for all." San Hill said to his people, the speech being broadcast to not only the worlds that they had already kept free or liberated but to other worlds that were still oppressed as a statement. The symbolic and practical investment in retaking these two planets was substantial he thought with some concern of the amount they had invested in this but it was worth it for the political relevancy and moral boost it brought them. So much so that they would continue to support the war and more pressingly his leadership San thought with satisfaction, sure that for the future his position as head of the alliance was secure.

Rebel Alliance Base, Unknown Location…

"The new Thranta class light cruisers and Foray class blockade runners have been proving immensely useful in engaging the Empire in space and running planetary blockades." Garm told Bail, Mon and Padme who had all gathered to discuss the future of the rebellion.

"Which we shouldn't be doing." Mon told him with anger. "Antagonising the Empire is only going to make the oppression it brings worsen for others! We should be gathering more support in the Senate and to sway public opinion."

Garm scoffed at her naïve opinion while Bail and Padme sighed as this old argument came up again.

"And what sways public opinion? You making pointless speeches to a room of his sycophants who don't care about the people they're supposed to represent as long as it doesn't affect them? This is war Mon, the time for debate is over and we need to take the fight to the Empire if we hope to have any kind of freedom in future."

"Enough!" Padme said with frustration knowing that these two would go around and around this debate for hours if she didn't put a stop to it. Honestly, she thought with exasperation, couldn't they at least look at each other's viewpoints to find some kind of middle ground? Why did they have to be so stubborn she thought with anger before forcing it down and Bail thankfully got the meeting back on track.

"We need both military action and peaceful protest to make any kind of change." Bail said calmly, deep down feeling as disappointed as Padme in the inability of his colleagues to find some kind of middle ground. "That is why we have managed to secure a new starfighter design for our fighting forces from a sympathetic shipwright. The Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter. It has relatively light armament but it has very long range and the capacity for three people which makes it very useful for missions where a carrier isn't available. It looks to have great promise." He said, a hologram of the large fight/assault ship appearing on the table but the scowls being sent between Mon and Garm only made him and Padme feel more like they were managing two extremely difficult and unyielding children.

Kaitain, the Pasdisahah Imperium…

The capital of the Imperium was alive with expectation as word of the Paul Atreides' consort and wife both being pregnant spread through the city and through the Imperium beyond. The question of just which would provide them with a new heir first was a subject of much debates and betting pools.

As it happened, Chani won the unofficial race.

Irulan and Lady Jessica sat with Chani as she gave birth to her twins, Irulan was disappointed by not having given birth first but seeing just what she was in for she was somewhat nervous of what would happen when her turn came. Paul was outside, not permitted inside due to culture so he had to contend himself with pacing outside the room.

A midwife was tending to Chani alongside them, neither recognised her which confused and worried them but Chani was the main focus of the moment. Her face screwed up in pain and Irulan mopped her brow before Lady Jessica went to get some medicine that might help.

A sudden snap hiss shocked both Chani and Irulan and they saw the midwife had ignited a red lightsaber and held a blaster in her other hand. She shot before either woman could do anything and hit Chani in the chest making her scream out in pain, Irulan would be next as she swung her lightsaber at her but fear combined with her deep-rooted desire to defend her unborn children made her call on the force in a way she had never done before.

She managed to hold the woman with the force and push her back against the wall, the woman seemed shocked at what she was doing and tried to fight but Irulan knowing this was possibly the most important thing she would ever do continued as not only her life depended on her keeping this assassin under control but so did the wounded but still living Chani and the children that they were both carrying. However much it hurt or put pressure on her she had to keep her pinned!

"HELP!" She screamed out, desperate to get help. Paul and Royal Guard burst into the room much to her relieved eyes and saw the wounded Chani and Irulan struggling to hold an assassin who was holding a blaster and lightsaber against the wall.

Paul immediately ignited his own lightsaber and took over restraining the assassin till she was properly disarmed but before they could question her, she activated some suicide implant and died right before their eyes.

They stood shocked as Lady Jessica came back into the room and looked at the scene with horror then looking at Chani who was barely clinging to life and ran forward to her. Irulan exhausted by the effort but still conscious sagged on the bed next to her and looked to Chani, who was struggling to breathe.

"We need a medical pod and a surgeon!" Jessica called out but Chani with her last bits of strength managed to push both twins out with some help from Jessica and Irulan as they desperately waited for the surgeon.

Chani was close to death when she saw the twins for the first time, looking at them with the smallest smile which was all that she could manage with her limited strength. Irulan and Jessica could both feel how close to death she was and Irulan took her hand while Paul held the other and made perhaps the most important promise of her life.

"I will take care of them." She said to Chani trying to reassure her as her fate was all but sealed. "I will raise them and treat them as my own, and when they are old enough, I will tell them of their brave mother." Irulan swore to her while Paul just begged Chani.

"Don't die! Please don't die!" Paul was close to tears as his love was dying before their eyes but Chani smiled to him and then to the twins not having the breath to speak but then to Irulan and gave her perhaps the first genuine smile to her that she ever had, squeezing her hand gently as if thanking her for that vow.

Able to rest easy knowing her children where in safe hands.

Irulan did her best to return it before Chani's eyes slowly closed and she drifted off before their eyes, Paul continued to hold her hand while Jessica and Irulan both sighed in grief.

Today should have been a day celebrated by all as the next generation of House Atreides was born, only to tainted forever by the murder of Chani. Paul was inconsolable and sobbed as he held Chani's hand, Jessica and Irulan reluctantly left him and took both of the children one each to be away from here.

Irulan held the boy while Jessica held the girl, both looking down at them with sorrow and Irulan told them both.

"Don't worry little ones, I'll keep you safe and take care of you. Leto and Ghanima will be your names." Irulan said with a warm smile at them both. Jessica frowned as she looked at them, not sure she was okay with her naming them but Irulan wouldn't budge on this. Paul was in no fit state to do it and if she was going to take care of them and raise them as if they were her own then Irulan was their mother now. The name would stay and she would not let anything else change that.

Irulan was conflicted, not sure if she could do this but she had made a promise on Chani's literal deathbed to take care of them and she wouldn't break that vow. She felt Ghanima become unsettled and gently too her from Jessica to hold her too, letting her feel safe and content despite all that was going on around them. The twins felt her reassurance and settled down which made Jessica raise an eyebrow as Irulan while strong in the force had little skill in using it but she was already creating a bond between her and the twins.

She would keep an eye on her but Irulan was a strong woman, she would see to their wellbeing.

- x -

The following day was a mournful one as the news spread of what had happened, the woman was a mystery to many but their Mandalorian allies managed to fill in some of the gaps. An Emperor's Hand, a personal assassin of the Empire. Lady Jessica vowed to make sure that they didn't get infiltrated like that again or would at least try too.

Irulan went into labour herself a day later, under extremely heavy guard and with Lady Jessica and a full medical team around her. Leto and Ghamina were in the room with her and like Chani, Irulan gave birth to twins of her own, naming them Steven and Zera. All four children cried at first but when placed together all fell silent and slept at ease. This confused many and Irulan looked down at them with Jessica and smiled gently, connecting together in as siblings should in the force even if they had different mothers.

Kodoh, the Outer Rim…

An isolated planet in the middle of nowhere with only a stellar anomaly with which it shared its name the planet Koboh was a rocky and rugged world with a shattered moon. There were wrecked Separatist ships that had crashed here and scattered settlements, Bedlam Bandits with their reprogramed Separatist droids roaming the surface.

It was to here that Obi-Wan and his band took refuge after fleeing Thyferra, they knew two of their people were working here but not specifically where for operational reasons. They went to the point of contact they had listed for emergencies, an owner of a local cantina in one of the small settlements who was a friend of Cere Junda.

Obi-Wan entered the cantina while the others remained on the ship out of sight. He looked around and saw the male in question behind the bar and walked up to him.

"Denbian Devil." He ordered, using the code word that the Hidden Path had decided on to act as a password. The bartender looked up, blinking in surprise for a moment before handing him a glass filled with red liquid and asked.

"Will you want something to eat with that? It can make you hungry if you drink it without a meal." The bartender asked and Obi-Wan smiled slightly before giving the last part of the conversation.

"I will take a loaf of Novi Bread and some cheese with a side order of fruit."

"You Jedi can't help but come up with some weird codewords." Greez Dritus said with a smirk as he cleaned a glass.

"It helps when no-one thinks we'd go to such lengths to just say hello." Obi-Wan said before becoming serious and saying the reason that he was here. "I need to see Cere Junda and Eno Cordova."

"Thought you might." Greez said with a frown.

- x -

Hidden Jedi Base, Koboh...An Hour Later…

The cave where the two Jedi Masters had made their base was extensive and full of salvaged technology from many different sources as they worked to reassemble some semblance of the Jedi Archives and the galaxy's true history. The party of Jedi entered the caves and Master Cordova and Cere greeted them accompanied by an old droid.

"Master Kenobi, welcome to Koboh." Master Cordova said with a kind smile before noticing the defeated expressions on the face of those with Obi-Wan and felt their heavy hearts he knew something bad had happened. "I take it that Thyferra has fallen."

"Indeed Master Cordova." Morvet Storm said with a beaten look on his face. "We came here to hide until we could decide just what to do next."

"I see, well we might be able to offer a potential option." Cere said as she came over to join them with a serious expression on her face. "We uncovered Jedi ruins on this planet that date back some centuries to the era known as the High Republic. It seemed that they came here to study the Koboh Abyss nearby but discovered that not only was there a habitable planet inside it, Tanalorr but a safe path to it. We have been trying to find the traces to plot the path but if we can then it would be the next and far better home for all Jedi." Cere told them and they all looked at her like she was mad for a moment before Master Cordova stepped in.

"Indeed, it was never recorded beyond a scientific expedition that apparently achieved nothing in any archive Jedi or otherwise so there is little to no chance of the Empire ever discovering it. A far safer haven than the last one. My friend, will you help us find the way?" Master Cordova asked him with a hopeful look in his eyes.

Obi-Wan sighed, this was not what he had hoped for but it had the potential to be a true blessing to the Jedi. The others including Tala and Kalifa were looking at him to see just what he intended, he didn't want to have to make the call but he had too. Master Ylenic It'kla, Joc Sah and Gerrick had all left to join the Rebellion in the hopes of helping in the fight against the Empire and provide what skills they had.

That left a much smaller group and him as the senior master in the group now, he was the leader and the one responsible for them all. Tala and their child chiefly among them and while it would ensure their safety if they were right, he could sense danger in this.

Just because the Empire weren't here that didn't mean it was safe.

But it was too big of a chance to pass up.

So, with a stiffening of his resolve, he told Master Cordova.

"Where do we start?"

The bright of hopeful looks in their eyes was a blessing and a relief on his battered soul but at the same time he couldn't help but wonder just what dangers awaited them on this planet.

Mandalorian Outpost, Edge of their Space…

On a small planetoid a small outpost had been built, designed to intercept enemy transmissions and relay them to central command for decryption. Only ten personnel there and hardly any defences, not even the best equipment as the upgrade they had been scheduled for which would also have given more security had been delayed by logistics issues.

The people that manned the station weren't warriors, mostly just normal civilians with technical training.

It was soft target that had been overlooked.

When the attack it was swift and brutal, the warning systems gave them enough time to send a distress call, to lock down the system and deleted any important data before it could be hacked.

But without anything more than a moderate strength energy shield it didn't take the attackers long to get through and it soon became clear that whoever these attackers they were neither Imperials or Kalderans.

The warriors broke in to the installation with incredible speed and co-ordination, moving through the facility they ruthlessly cut down the people stationed there before trying to hack the computers, unfortunately they found themselves locked out as the system was purged despite their best effort, one last act of defiance by the crew.

It was a great disappointment to these attackers in their armour that looked strangely like those used by the Mandalorians themselves four thousand years before during their Neo-Crusader period. It was also uniform in the colour they all had, a simmering gold finish had been applied to each suit and they carried a variety of weapons both ancient and modern.

They fled the facility quickly though as they detected the approaching Mandalorian taskforce, sent in answer to the distress call but with a single act of defiance when they destroyed the facility, they used explosives to leave little of their presence behind.

The report they sent to the Emperor afterwards gave him a small amount of pleasure in the destruction and the fact he had found a force that could finally match the Mandalorians in a fight.

The Sun Guard were worth his work to gain their loyalty and would do well against the barbarians.

Lucrehulk Leviathan, orbiting Reijar, the Ordo System…

News of the raid had shocked the Mandalorian leadership but a spy drone had managed to catch a glimpse of the culprits and now the council was meeting to discuss the issue.

"The Sun Guard are perhaps one of the few forces in the galaxy that can really give us a challenge." Duke Caduruso said with a frown on his face as he and the others thought on their deadly reputation.

"Only because they caught us by surprise." Duchess Farr stressed, not liking these mercenaries at all.

"Why do they wear armour like ours?" Duke Korkie asked, not knowing much about them.

"To mock us." Duke Ijaa said with a sad look on his face.

"They are more a religious order than a mercenary group, and worship the Sith intensely." Duchess Kane said with a frown as she knew they would not see the end of these people until they wiped them out.

"I have my sources looking for their bases, the Underworld Alliance is too. We will find them." Duchess Katale Ma'Gard said with a cold look in her eyes.

"Indeed, that is the only way to deal with extremists. They can't be reasoned with, bullied or bribed. Only destroyed." Haron said as he chaired the meeting before changing the subject. "Now I believe Duke N'Val has something to show us." He said turning to the only none-human duke present who smiled proudly before directing their attention to the ship that hung just out of the nearby window.

"My friends and colleagues, while the captured Lucrehulks have proven extremely useful to us as both fighter carrier and cargo ship a time will come when they need to be replaced. So, myself and my people have designed a new ship that will serve as not only a powerful support ship for our fleet but the backbone of our logistical needs."

"The Spirit of Fire." N'Val said proudly as he showed the extremely large vessel to them.

The ship was very large, not as long as a Lucrehulk or as wide but it shared the harsher and more angular shapes with the Halberd and Gladius class ships. It had heavier armour than the Lucrehulk's as well not to mention Mandalorian weapon systems and shields built in. A much more advanced and powerful hyperdrive had been installed for quick deployment across the galaxy.

Duke N'Val proudly showed them his creation, it had limited armament but did carry heavy and medium turbolasers where possible for defence and to support larger battlegroups not to mention the usual the usual missile launchers and he had even integrated the point defence system used on the Aden class ships into the design. More a carrier than a warship though it could carry enormous amounts of cargo and supplies not to mention large numbers of warriors and ground vehicles to support campaigns. All of which could be dropped quickly due to the large number of small craft including fighters and dropships, the idea it could be converted to carry fighters exclusively occurred to many of them as Duke N'Val talked them through the design.

"It can also act as a command vessel given the large internal space and room for a proper war room to be installed." Duke N'Val said proudly hoping it would attract their attention but Duchess Morli Kast had another question.

"Would they have a peace time role? They are extremely large and would be expensive to build." She asked with doubts given the large number of resources it would take to build such a ship in considerable numbers. Duke N'Val rallied and presented her with as good an answer as he could.

"Indeed, with the massive development of our infrastructure across the new territories the Spirit of Fire could be an essential support ship. Carrying the equipment to wherever we need it quickly. Even in peace, they have a use." He asserted and then silence fell on the room as they all considered what he had said.

Haron eventually spoke when he came to a decision.

"We shall give the new ship a trial period to see how it performs, if it does as well as you claim then they might be put into production." Haron declared and Duke N'Val breathed a sigh of relief as he knew his new ship would do well.

However, there was still a rather big issue to be addressed. The last Duke Ralmiz had died and had no heir to take his place.

- x -

Ralmiz, Mandalorian Territories…A Day Later...

The funeral was a solemn occasion, the Mandalore and house leaders were in attendance along with all the clans that had served Ralmiz as two thousand years of history just came to an end.

House Ralmiz was now extinct…and already the question of just who would be replacing them as the new house was being hotly discussed before the last duke was in the ground.

"He served his people well, a firm but just leader." The functionary said as the coffin was lowered into the ground. "His presence in this war was a reassuring one, one that we could all rely on to stay true to the ideals and principles of being Mandalorian. He will be missed as we enter this new and unknown era."

They all kept silent at least as the coffin containing the last Ralmiz was lowered and the grave filled in. Buried with his ancestors they all thought sadly many hoping for the same thing when their time came or at least that their own special rites were carried out.

They all then returned to the Ralmiz Compound where the matter of just who would take up the title and position of Duke/Duchess would be decided. The counts and countesses followed and Haron made the announcement they were desperate to hear although not as they expected it.

"Today is as much a day of new beginnings as it is of endings. While Ralmiz will be awarded to Clan Xeria who have long been stewards for the late and departed Ralmiz family and know how to run this planet well, who shall take the title of Duke or Duchess over this domain is now up for debate. To ensure all of you are given a fair chance…each of you will present your case for why you deserve the position. We shall see each of you in turn and then when we have heard all of the arguments, we will make our decision. Not before." He added with a warning to not push the matter.

The clan leaders didn't look to happy as they had hoped to be named as the next ruler immediately but it was still an opportunity so they each went to prepare their case before one by one being called before the Mandalore and other Dukes/Duchesses to say why they would be the best choice for the next ruler of this domain.

The hours passed slowly, the council was increasingly bored with the constant declarations of fealty and promises of personal favours that were being offered. Some might have interested some of them but they had resources of their own and for once were all on the same page about this. They needed someone that was not only loyal to the cause but also wouldn't try to undermine them for their own benefit.

It wasn't until the end when Clan Cutter finally had its turn that something finally livened things up.

The head of Clan Cutter was an older human man, Count Greg Cutter stood before them. He was familiar to Haron and N'Val as he was a commander of one of their dreadnaughts and had been decorated for valour and high performance in combat both on the ground and in command of a warship.

Among all of the ones that came before he stood out as while all had fought and bled for their people, Cutter showed the best leadership of all of them.

He was also the most honest of all of them, not promising what he couldn't deliver or personal bribes.

"I offer you only my loyalty and service, along with the clans that might serve under me. My intention is to establish a military academy that will teach our people all matter of capital ship operations. We can work with the flight school to create a new generation of capable space warriors to man our ships. That is my intention." Cutter told them. He had no grand plans, nothing that was too over the top, just practical aims and an idea of how to achieve them. That definitely scored him points with them.

"Interesting." Duke N'Val said with a thoughtful look. They each had a small facility for that in their own territories but much of it was still done by on-the-job training. So, a facility like this would be extremely useful to them especially if it would co-ordinate with Fenn Rau's flight school.

Haron nodded in agreement, one facility that could help standardise their naval training program and set the level to which they were hoping for would be a great benefit for all of them.

That was when the decision was made to appoint Clan Cutter to become House Cutter, a vote that was thankfully unanimous.

The establishment of a new house, House Cutter would be only a day to remember although on Mandalore, they soon had something else to enjoy.