The Mandalorian Wars, a Star Wars fan fic Options

[Agent Griff]

So this is my newest fan fiction, generated by my love of the excellent game Star Wars KOTOR. I warmly recommend it to everyone out there who wants to experience an epic story filled with memorable characters first-hand. My story will not actually take place during the time covered in the game, but will take place before it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

You might also notice some references *cough*rip-offs*cough* from Star Wars films.

~~~
Night was falling outside an unknown mansion in a great city. The owner of the house, obviously an important person, called his security guards to him to report. There were about eight of them, all armed with weapons ranging from Blaster pistols to Blaster carbines. They all wore dark crimson outfits with the logo of the security firm on the right side of their shirts. The owner stood on a chair as a security guard with a braid of hair hanging from the back of his head emerged from a door and reported that the back-door was clear.

"Very well. Resume patrolling the house." the owner said with a relieved voice. He seemed to be afraid of something. The guard gave a nod and was away. The owner then turned to the leader of the guards, which was standing besides him. "Any more news of the terrorist?"

"They just found the body of a senator in the lower quarters of the city." the leader of the guards said with a cold voice. He didn't seem to care much for the deaths of others.

"Dreadful. I trust you will handle this situation well. That's why I hired you in the first place." the owner, who seemed to be a senator himself, said with some relief.

"That's our job sir...and we're the best in the branch." the guard leader said with obvious confidence in his men.

"I hope so...not for the sake of the money I spent to buy your services, mind you, but for the lives of your men. So far, the vigilante has left no survivors when dealing with the bodyguards of other senators." the senator said with an amount of fear returning in his voice.

"They were not enjoying our services weren't they?" the leader of the guards said, starting to appear annoyed by the senator's questions.

"Yes...of course." The senator said, realizing that he was stressing the leader of his bodyguards.

As soon as the senator stopped talking, bursts of blaster fire could be heard outside the house. All the bodyguards around the senator, 3 of them, drew their weapons. Their leader soon raised a com-link to his mouth and barked out a few orders to his men. He also asked the guards outside what the situation was.

"That's for you to find out." a sinister voice mysteriously replied.

As soon as the com-link from which the voice responded was shut down, the lights of the chamber were shut-down. All of the guards were alerted by this. Soon afterwards however, they all switched on their portable flashlights which were mounted on their blasters.

"The vigilante, he's here! He cut the power!" one of the guards yelled with a panic-stricken voice.

"Stay cool. There's one of him and three of us, we'll blast him to pieces." another guard said.

"Yeah, but outside there were five of us and one of him...and they're all dead!" the panicked guard said once again.

"Shut up! He'll hear us! You two get the senator out of here! I'll stay and handle the vigilante." the leader of the guards said as he split up his men. A possibly dangerous move.

The panicked guard and the one which tried to confort him based on their numbers took the senator out of the chamber through the door which led to the back-door. It was a secret passage meant especially for times like this. The senator was still frightened, despite he had 2 guards with him. Some of the murdered senators were killed in broad daylight, yet none had managed to see the assassin...and live to tell the tale.

Blaster fire could soon be heard from the chamber from which they had left. A few blasts were heard before everything went quiet. The security guards accompanying the senator urged him to continue on by himself while they stood and held the assassin in place. Without much choice, the senator accepted. He ran on, almost reaching the back door. As he ran, he could hear screams and blaster shots behind him yet it was too dark to see anything besides the flash of blasters in the distance of the passage. The senator soon reached the door, yet it was locked. As the senator stood for a few seconds, trying to think of an alternative, he could feel a hand on his shoulder.

As he quickly turned around, he was relieved to see that it was the security guard with the braid of hair which had reported on the situation of the back-door. Given his position, he would surely be one to have the keys. The senator smiled as the thought of surviving the vigilante dawned on him.

"Are you alright sir?" the guard asked with a relatively calm voice.

"Yes...gladly. I thought you were the vigilante when you touched me on the shoulder." the senator said, chuckling. "I thought I was dead for a moment!"

"I managed to catch the killer by surprise when I came back from outside. I wasn't with the others when I heard the blasts. I think I managed to drive him off...for now." the security guard said.

"Wonderful. Could you open this door?" the senator asked with a relieved voice.

"Of course sir. That's why I locked it in the first place, so the killer couldn't enter through this entrance." the guard said as he went over to the door and started tinkering with it.

"Good thinking. You'll make a nice profit from this affair, now that all your colleagues are dead. You'll get all their money." the senator said with a smile. He was trully grateful.

"Hm...regarding profit, did you truly rig that pod-race on Malastare sir? That's the word on the streets, and a lot of betters are angry that they lost their money." the guard said, idly bringing unrelated matters into discussion.

"Well...I do own a racing team...and the betting corporations were offering me a lot of credits if my team lost the race...so I did." the senator answered.

"Hm...easier to receive money than to properly earn it right, huh?" the guard said as he was working on the door.

"I was down with debt and that was the only way out. Besides...the opposing team had helped me before with another rigged match so I returned the favour." the senator said, showing that he felt he did the right thing.

"Do you feel sorry about it?" the guard asked as he turned around from the door, facing the senator.

"No. Now why do we keep on with this nonsense? Your job is to defend me, not ask me random questions." the senator said, finding it hard not to use the word 'stupid' instead of 'random'.

"Too bad, that was your chance to change your ways." the guard said with slight disgust.

"What do you..." the senator was cut short by a lightsaber piercing his chest.

As the senator fell down, slightly gasping for air, the guard, which turned out to be the killer, looked at him with disgust. Just as the killer was preparing to leave, a lightsaber lit up behind him. It was a Jedi which had come to stop him. As the killer turned and lit up his lightsaber as well, the two of them had a short chat.

"Your killings stop now murderer!" the Jedi said as he raised his lightsaber.

"Then I suppose you're content with the corrupt senators dragging our Republic down with them as they fall to lower depths. Well, it's not like you have much of a choice do you? You do what your masters tell you to do, in the end." the killer said with a somewhat sarcastic voice.

"I do not think you are in the position do consider yourself a member of the Republic when you murder its leaders in cold blood." the Jedi said with a calm voice.

"Hm...that's the beauty of democracy isn't it? You get the leaders you deserve. If you support these corrupt vermin, fight for them!" the killer screamed as he attacked the Jedi with his own lightsaber.

As the two combatants suddenly drew together to attack each other, it all ended in a blur. It was all just a dream. One of many such troubling and detailed dreams that Jedi padawan, Korben Jeross, was having in the last days. These dreams were considered troubling because Jedi had deep consideration for dreams and visions. Through the future could be predicted, the methods to reach the predicted outcome however were hard to predict.

As Korben woke up from his bed, he went to his master to talk about the dreams. It was another new day in the capital of the Galactic Republic, Coruscant. The corridors of the Jedi Temple were as lively as ever, as Padawans and Younglings scurried around to do their daily tasks. Both humans and aliens alike filled the hall, yet they were all attuned to the Force. Korben pretty much kept to himself since he never really grew a liking for the other Padawans. He found them interested in learning and meditation and nothing else. They were also hard to talk with since they often did not respond, their mind drifting to other things. The only person Korben was really attached to, and used to talk to daily, was his master, Jedi Knight Maik Daasrad.

As he entered his master's chambers, he could see that he was meditating quietly. He tried to walk quietly and not disturb his master's meditation as he approached him from behind. Korben also wanted to give his master a little surprise.

"It's no use trying to surprise me Korben, I know you're there." master Daasrad said.

"Sorry master, I forgot about Jedi mind-reading." Korben said, apologizing.

"You have been very absent minded as of late Korben, forgetting many things which are deemed important by the Jedi Order. Mind-reading among them. What is troubling you?" master Daasrad asked with a slight 'know-it-all' tone that Korben loathed.

"I have been having these visions master...very disturbing visions. I do not know how else to call them." Korben said with a concerned voice.

"Hm...why don't you describe one of these visions?" master Daasrad said, curious about the content of the visions.

"Well, I'll tell you about the latest one. It's in a house, a well guarded house which I think is owned by a Senator. The Senator starts talking about a supposed assassin which has been killing senators lately. After he finishes talking about the assassin, blaster fire can be heard from the outside. The senator is whisked off by two of his guards as the killer pursues him. The two guards are eventually killed and the senator is left alone, cornered. As he prepares to be killed, one of his guards appears and conforts him. The guard, after a short discussion, then draws a lightsaber and murders the senator with disgust." Korben said.

"I suppose this lightsaber has a red blade, does it not?" master Daasrad asked.

"Yes, it does. After he kills the senator, a Jedi appears and draws his own lightsaber, a blue-bladed one. He calls the killer to battle, telling him that his killing streak is over. The killer denies that and says that he is doing these things for a right purpose. They then start fighting. After that, the vision ends." Korben said with a troubled voice.

"Can the faces of any of these combatants be seen?" master Daasrad asked.

"No master, their faces are all clouded and their voices sound strange. Do you have any idea what it could mean?" Korben asked seeking the help of his master.

"Just that. An assassin starts killing senators and a Jedi pursues him and fights him. This is an obvious vision of the future, yet these visions are treacherous, even to the most talented Jedi. They are the conclusion of a number of actions, yet these actions are unpredictable. Great troubles loom ahead for those with such visions." master Daasrad said with wisdom emanating from his words.

"Do you think I could be the Jedi fighting the assassin master?" Korben asked with a rather enthusiastic voice. He always thought of ways he could improve his own renown.

"Do not be so hasty to seek power for yourself padawan, for it could have unforseeable ends. Whether or not you will be this Jedi, remains to be seen." master Daasrad said, mysteriously.

"I understand master." Korben said with a rather dissapointed voice. He was dissapointed by the fact that the Jedi often supressed any amounts of personal ambition in a padawan.

"Now, padawan. Go to the Archives and study the war of Exar Kun. It will teach you a few things about why such ambition to gain personal power is...frowned upon in the Jedi Order. I don't like using the word 'supressed'." master Daasrad said with a slight smile. He had read Korben's mind and had seen the frustration he had regarding the Order's views on personal ambition.

"Yes master." Korben said as he left his master's chamber. He also reminded himself not to think too much about personal things around his master.

As soon as Korben left, Daasrad opened a small hologram receiver which showed the hologram of Jedi Master Vandar Tokare, one of the leading Masters of the Order.

"What wish is it you have, Maik?" the small Jedi Master said in the voice specific of his species.

"Have we received any more reports regarding the movements of the Mandalorians?" Daasrad asked with a rather concerned voice.

His concern would grow true in the coming months.
~~~
That's it for the first part of "Mandalorian Wars"! I hope you enjoyed it. Comments are appreciated!

This post has been edited by Agent Griff: Jun 18 2007, 03:11 PM

[Agent Griff]

I'm glad you liked the last update. Let's get on with the show. And sorry for dissapearing like that, but it happens. Pretty often in my case it seems.

~~~
Back on Coruscant, Korben Jeross, the Jedi Padawan had advanced greatly in his training. After finishing with the academic studies required from a Jedi, he could proceed with his favourite activity, lightsaber combat. Lightsaber combat had seven main forms, from which Jedi usually created their own preferred style using combinations of moves from other forms. The seven main forms were Form I, also known as Shii-Cho, Form II, also known as Makashi, Form III, also known as Soresu, Form IV, also known as Ataru, Form V, also known as Shien, Form VI, also known as Niman and, finally, Form VII, also known as Juyo.

The seven forms were not merely swordplay moves; they represented seven different kinds of philosophy. In addition, a lightsaber was not necessary to execute the seven forms: each form could be applied in unarmed combat. Each Jedi chose the style of lightsaber combat that best suited him or her. Jedi also learned elements of each form, though few ever mastered all of them.

Korben had developed his own philosophy for lightsaber battles, considering that, in order to win, one should overwhelm and dominate his opponent completely, leaving him no chance to retaliate properly. Thus, because of his own philosophy, Korben came to regard some forms as weak, especially the defensive Form III, or Soresu. Korben came to use the seventh form of lightsaber combat, Juyo. This form was named after an aquatic creature native to the planet of Sarapin. The juyo was a predator with multiple tentacles which moved at amazing speeds. One could only tell how many tentacles a juyo had once it was dead since it moved too fast for the tentacles to be properly counted.

Despite Korben's liking for Juyo, Master Daasrad never truly approved of his Padawan's philosophies and preferences, telling him that they verged too much on the Dark Side. Korben, of course, dismissed his master's warnings since he never really appreciated the precautionary ways of his master. Despite that however, the danger was there and it was very real. Jedi who liked to overwhelm their opponents with attacks and dominate them often fell victim to their own anger and hate, allowing their combat form to master them, not the other way around. Jedi who fought like this walked a fine line between the Light side and the Dark Side. Thus, Korben could become the very thing he swore to fight and destroy, if his anger got hold of him.

Moral philosophies aside however, it was time for a practice match between Korben and his master. They had been fighting practice matches between each other for the past few weeks, Master Daasrad trying to teach Korben the subtleties of Lightsaber combat. Korben had not created his own lightsaber yet, and he was using a training lightsaber set to merely stun his opponent. His master however, was using his own lightsaber. Master Daasrad had a green-bladed lightsaber which he had constructed several years ago, during the war of Exar Kun. This lightsaber was his second; his first one had been destroyed during the war, in a duel with a fallen Jedi. Korben sometimes asked his master about the war, but Master Daasrad was reluctant to talk about it.

As they both activated their lightsabers, they approached each other. Korben looked his master in the eye as he made his first move, or better said, set of moves. Korben never really made one move then expected the enemy to counter-attack; he made a set of 2-3 moves since it gave him more time to predict how the enemy would counter-attack. Korben made a quick vertical slash which was parried by his master, followed by a diagonal slash from the left, also parried by his master, and a quick thrust to his master's stomach, which his master dodged. He made these moves quickly so that his opponent wouldn't have time to counter-attack. After this set of moves, Korben stood for a second to see if his master would counter-attack.

"Fast my young Padawan, but not fast enough. An opponent could have easily dodged your thrust then attacked you when you were in a vulnerable state." Master Daasrad said, pointing out Korben's mistakes.

"I would have quickly drawn my lightsaber to defend against his counter-attack." Korben said as he catched his breath.

"We shall see. Defend against my blows!" Master Daasrad said as he started attacking Korben.

Master Daasrad swung his lightsaber diagonally from the right, aiming for his Padawan's head. Korben however quickly parried the blow by raising his lightsaber almost diagonally in the way of the blow. Master Daasrad then swung his blade horizontally from the left, aiming for his student's arm. Korben however ducked and avoided the blow. Master Daasrad then swung his blade in a wide arc aimed at his student's feet. Korben however did not disappoint and jumped backwards doing a backflip thus avoiding the blow.

"Very well Korben, you have assumed the defensive positions well, yet I did not attack you as fast as I could. If an opponent was bent on killing you, he could have penetrated your defense." Master Daasrad said.

"Then I will move faster, master." Korben said.

"Now show me what you have learned." Master Daasrad said as he approached his student once more.

As Master Daasrad approached, Korben did the same, raising his blade and attacking. As their lightsabers connected, they had a slight contest to see who could push the others lightsaber out of the way. As Master Daasrad seemed to be winning, Korben kicked him and pushed him away.

"You'll do anything to win eh, Korben?" Master Daasrad said, surprising Korben by the fact that he wasn't annoyed by his student's "improvisation".

"I try Master. In a battle with an opponent bent on killing me that move would have saved my life." Korben said, trying to motivate his actions.

"Good point. Let me see you do that again." Master Daasrad said.

They both approached each other again and locked their lightsabers once more. As Master Daasrad seemed to have the upper hand once more, Korben prepared to use one of the hands with which he was holding his lightsaber to punch his master in the stomach. Just as Korben drew his fist, he could feel his feet rising in the air and himself being immobilized. He was then placed down on the ground several meters away from his master.

"In a battle with an opponent bent on killing me, a move like the one you were trying would have prevented me from killing my opponent. Thus, I neutralized his defense completely by using the Force." Master Daasrad said with a smile. He had gotten back on Korben for his previous improvisation.

"I understand master." Korben said with a humble tone.

"Now, back to business." Master Daasrad said, engaging Korben once more.

The two once more approached each other. Korben quickly engaged his master by thrusting his blade towards his master's stomach, then quickly turning around while swinging his blade at the same time. His master parried Korben's blow then evaded the other one Korben had prepared. Korben tried once more to break his master's defense yet his blows weren't getting through. Just as Korben swung his blade once more his master quickly evaded the blow then proceeded to counter-attack. Korben was caught unprepared by his master's move. He tried to dodge the blow yet his master still gently bruised him on the side of his hand with his lightsaber. The lightsaber left a charred mark, and also made Korben scream.

"Must you really do this master?" Korben asked, almost shouting because of pain.

"I must, if you are to learn from your mistakes. Your first mistake was that you got relaxed thinking that I would only defend myself. Your blows got less precise, slower, easier to dodge. I managed to surprise you by quickly counter-attacking after evading one of your sloppy blows. Never underestimate a user of Form III, despite that form's heavily defensive if not passive nature, for you never know when he might surprise you using a burst of speed. That is after all the main philosophy of Form III, tiring your opponent while you study his moves, looking for a weak spot." Master Daasrad said, pointing out Korben's mistakes. Master Daasrad mastered Form II, Makashi, yet he used many elements of Form III in his own style.

"Yes, but a user of Form III cannot defeat a skilled opponent who has a good mastery of the defensive moves and tactics. Form III is too passive as well, and it requires its user to move in close to his enemy. If a Form III user's defense falters for one second, then he can be easily defeated." Korben said, pointing out the flaws of Form III.

"Agreed, but do not forget that my preferred form is Makashi Korben." Master Daasrad said.

"I never do Master. I believe we have just reached the part where I disarm you and beat you into submission." Korben said in a mildly overconfident way. His master could clearly see he was joking yet he played along.

"For your sake I hope we truly have." Master Daasrad said. His reply only served to frighten Korben at the thought of another scar.

They approached each other and Korben made the first move, swinging his blade in a wide horizontal arc then following with 3 lightning-fast diagonal slashes which his master dodged or parried. Master Daasrad then swung his blade, attempting a counter-attack yet Korben was quick to parry it and follow up with a thrust of his own, aimed at his master's neck. Master Daasrad dodged the thrust by quickly spinning to the right. His unorthodox evasive maneuver left Korben wide open to a counter-attack and Master Daasrad quickly put his lightsaber to Korben's throat.

"You were saying?" Master Daasrad asked in an ironic tone of voice. Korben closed his eyes and prepared to receive a slight scar to the neck. The blow never came however.

"Why the sudden mercy?" Korben asked with a surprised voice.

"By your actions you forced me to use a few advanced moves which only Jedi Masters have knowledge of. If I were not a Master, you would have struck me down with your last thrust. Thus, I must congratulate you for understanding today's lesson." Master Daasrad said in an apreciative way.

"Thank you Master, I tried to move as fast as I could." Korben said.

"With time Korben, you might become the quickest Knight in the Order. You must however have patience and constantly be ready to learn, even when you are a full Knight." Master Daasrad said.

"Why are you so certain that I will become a Knight? I have known Jedi older than you who are still Padawans." Korben asked, unsure of his skills.

"It is good to be humble Korben, yet underestimating yourself and assuming you will fail before actually beggining is a path that leads only to self-frustration. Frustration with yourself and those around you might lead to...darker mindsets. The temptation of quickly overcoming your weaknesses can be fatal." Master Daasrad said, barely making sense to Korben.

Korben slowly nodded, trying to show that he understood yet in his mind he though another, completely different thing.

I don't understand why these riddles are so popular with mentors. It's more annoying than helpful.

"Very well then, this lesson has ended. Now...I want you to go to the Library and read about the Mandalorians. That would be a fine subject. And don't waste time with your friends, Revan and Malak! Revan has become a Knight so he won't really have time for you anyway." Mater Daasrad said.

"Yes master." Korben said in a slightly frustrated tone as he left. He was also slightly confused about the reason his master told him to study the Mandalorians yet he went all the same.

Thus ended a day's training at the Jedi Temple. These days of peace and tranquility would become precious in times to come.