Revan had stood on the streets of the lower levels. He kept himself dressed in civilian attire with his hood over his head, so he wouldn't attract attention. Last night, he had felt something occurred through the force, which brought him to where he is now. He tapped into the force to try and sense why he was brought here, but it didn't work after staying in the same spot for an hour. Revan decided to move towards the docks where he tried to feel events that had transpired last night using the force, but that didn't work either. The Jedi Master sighed as he was ready to give up. Bastila had joined, walking towards him, dressed in the same attire as he is, "Find anything?" she asked him.
Revan shook his head, "No, I swear last night I sensed something was wrong, now its nothing. Have you reached out to Jolee at the Temple?"
"No, according to the Jedi Council, he had already left for his mission" she told him, "Logs had already confirmed it as well" Revan walked around the docks again, but eventually gave up. He turned to Bastila, "Alright, there is nothing more we can do here. Even though I sensed his presence last night, I must have been wrong. I just hope whatever I sensed was in my head" Bastila put her hand on his shoulder, "Come on, there is nothing we can do here. Let's go back to the Temple" reluctantly Revan agreed, he had followed Shan out of the lower levels, and decided to forget about what he felt.
Above Telos IV the Republic station has been circling the planet. The station was built to circle the planet to help rebuild after the Sith Empire destroyed the planet. A year after rebuilding, the Republic has extended their agreement to keep watch on the planet as the population tries to get back to normalcy. Many of the people that lived on the planet didn't trust the Republic after someone from their ranks used clearance codes to bomb the surface. The people were even more resentful after the Republic didn't come to their aide right when it happened. Progress was being made, but the rise in protests had interfered with the work to rebuild. Carth Onasi volunteered for the past year to stay, as he ensures a peaceful transition happens with the people of the planet as they try to help them recover. He looks down at the planet through the window of the station after just getting back from a meeting with the leaders of the planet. As a former General of the Republic, he became a representative, as he was able to go down to the surface, seeing the devastation that had happened. Homes were destroyed, and lives were lost. Many of the population had stayed at the citadel temporarily. Now after a year has gone by, some people were able to return to their homes after the refunding of the Republic. Carth and sighed, while looking at the window, recalling the days where he led military forces against the evil of the Sith Empire, now he is just a representative, making sure his homeworld was back to the way it was. A member of the station had walked in, making his way towards Carth, "Someone is here to see you sir" Carth turned around to see who it was, not expecting anyone to be here around this time. He looked to see if it was Canderous Ordo, the Mandalorian that had helped him and his company on the Ebon Hawk destroy the Star Forge. He came down the stairs to greet his friend. His arm touching Canderous and his touching Carth's, "Well, Well, I was not expecting you" Carth told him. Canderous laughed, "You and me both, I was nearby, so I figured that I would stop by. How does it go over here?" Canderous asked Carth about the planet.
"Things are going quite well, but the amounts of protest from the people make things difficult"
"That so? Good thing the Republic has someone who grew up here working with the planets government"
"Yeah, well remember it was also a Republic member that had started their destruction" Carth remarked it was his mentor Saul Karath that had given the order to bomb the surface. Thinking about that made his skin crawl, so he changed the subject, "How long are you in the area?" he asked his friend. Canderous gave a slight chuckle, "Well about that, my shuttle is actually low on fuel, so I thought that I would come here and crash before I depart"
Carth just gave him a smile, "That is fine, you can stay as much as you want. Although you could stay here and work for the Republic. They haven't forgotten the deed that you've done during our travels"
"I'm good, just here for the night. I was actually thinking of going down to the surface for a drink. Why don't you come with me?" Canderous asked him.
Carth smiled, seeing that his friend hadn't changed. He shook his head, "I rather not. Still have work to do here, but I will arrange a shuttle to bring you down to the citadel" Canderous shook his head as a thanks. He steps in and departs from the base, going down to the surface.
Canderous had arrived on the planet, looking around him, he saw the crowd of protests outside the citadel, demanding that the Republic leave the planet. The Mandalorian ignored it, as the shuttle landed in the docking area. Canderous stepped out, keeping the hood of the poncho over his head, and keeping his blaster at his side, knowing that he could potentially see the worst of the worst on this planet. Walking up the stairs, he saw the military of the station working. Some put their eyes on him, but Canderous ignored it. One of the officers asked him for weapons before he could get into the elevator. He thought about just walking by anyways, but Candderous didn't want to start problems for his friend in space. He handed his blaster to the officer, but kept a hidden knife in his belt. After getting in the elevator, it took him up the stairs. Stepping out, he could already tell there were problems with this station, having to notice the danger ahead, he could see gang members in the hall smoking. Having to be who he was, Canderous could smell the danger, but he walked by them, making his way into the cantina. He already saw that there was the worst of the worst inside. Canderous scoffed at this, knowing there were victims still inside this station, since not everyone has been able to leave yet. He sat down, ordering a drink. While he was waiting, he saw the news on the tv. Carth was on it, being able to reach an agreement with the Chancellor of the planet. This caused an uproar between the crowd in the room that was watching it. Each of them drank to the point that they didn't know what they were talking about. It was pretty clear that no one was happy that the Republic extended their agreement to help the people, blaming them for abandoning them. They didn't know it was part of the project the Republic was doing. If they succeeded with Telos, then the project would move to other planets, or that's what he heard of. Canderous didn't really care about politics. He took his drink and had a sip, ignoring the bickering from across the room. He turned around to see a species he hadn't seen before and looked directly into his eyes, "Can I help you?" he asked the species. His eyes squinted before shaking his head, causing him to walk away. Canderous looked confused, but at the same time he felt like he had seen another one of that person's species before. Skin was gray, and I had brown eyes. He ignored it and ordered another drink after finishing his first. He then sat down where the other scoundrials were playing pazaak. One of the players offered to let him play, but Canderous said no, he wanted to just watch. The same person that was up didn't lose a game. It was a Twi'lek with green skin that was guarded by two of his species. Canderous watched closer, moving to the winners side. He looked closely, realizing he went three steps ahead of the second round. That is when he came to the conclusion that this winner was cheating. Canderous had decided to step up, he pushed one of the next players aside and sat in front of the champion. The champion looked at Canderous's belt, "Nice belt, I would like it"
Canderous smirked, "Alright how about a wagger. I win. I take all the credits you just took. If you win, you take all my credits and belt" the two shook hands as they started to play. Canderous barely ever played. Carth and Mission had taught him on the Ebon Hawk, but he wasn't good at it, but he wasn't going to let this cheater get away. He placed the first move, putting his number two in front in the top row. The game went for several minutes. It was an even game, the two were on their last row. His opponent put a double on the board, but Canderous put a four, which negated his move. He could tell his opponent was getting frustrated, which gave the Mandalorian a smile. The Twi'lek moved a six on the board, but that is, which Canderous counted on, knowing he did that all the matches. He pointed it out, remembering what he was taught, "You sure, you want to do that. Doesn't seem like a good idea"
"You are just saying that because you are losing"
"Alright, whatever you say" Canderous smirked. Twi'lek set his cards, double the six. Everyone thought it was over, but Canderous tripled that with a double six and a two. The crowd gasped in shock. The one who held the title of champion for so long was taken aback, "But how?"
"I told you not to do it. Watch you the whole time, you play the same move. When it looks like you lost, you switch your cards around, so it doesn't happen. You also double shuffle your cards, which isn't allowed. On top of that you keep baiting your opponents with the same cards when you are not allowed to do that. You cheated my friend, and now you lost the game, so I will be taking everything" Canderous told him, but Twi'lek had other plans. His men pulled their blasters, each aiming at Canderous, "Sorry, but my table, my rules, now give me your belt and credits" Canderous side, he was getting ready to remove his belt, but he grabbed the hidden knife from behind, and threw it at one of the guard's shoulders. He then flipped the table, as one of them started blasting at him. Canderous jumped up and punched the hentchmen. He then kicked him, and grabbed the blaster, aiming it at the Twi'lek. The Twi'lek panicked as he held his arms up. As he was about to surrender, security guards came in, ordering them both to surrender. Canderous tried to explain, but ended up being tossed on the ground. The Twi'lek was also placed in handcuffs.
Canderous tried to plead his own case, "Sir you are mistaking, this Twi'lek own men tried to kill me, I was just defending myself"
They saw the guards and took them with the other prisoners, "Weapons in here are not allowed in this citadel. We will be taking them with us"
"Did you hear what I said?" Canderous tried to get out of this situation. The officers helped him up after the handcuffs were on, "Save it for the chief, he will be back in the morning" Canderous and the other prisoners were being escorted out. When they were taken outside the cantina Canderous saw the same species that was staring at him, "What are you looking at?" he raised his voice, but like the other prisoners, he was being escorted to his cell. The species just watched as everyone else was being taken away. After being escorted to the end of the hall that led to the elevator, Canderous decided to fight back. He paused for a moment, bending down. Once the security guard tried to get him back up, Canderous swooped his legs, causing that officer to fall. He tackled the other one, who was about to shoot at him. The Twi'leks fought back as well. They attempted to kill the ones that arrested them, but Canderous already held a blaster at them, threatening to shoot them if they didn't let them go. Before a blaster fire could break out, more security guards ran up towards them. Two groups each with their weapons pointed at them. Candeorus lets out a deep breath and gives up. Dropping his weapon, he lifts his hands in the air, as a sign of surrendering. He, and the other prisoners were taken away to their cells. Everyone was placed in their cells with the rayshields activating. The space was small, and the prisoners barely could move their body. The security officers left the room, leaving Canderous and all the other prisoners alone in the dark.
The next morning everyone was still in their cells. A familiar face had arrived, Carth had come in with the security officers, and the Lieutenant. Canderous looked at Carth, as he folded his arms, giving a disapproving look. The Mandalorian wondered who the older man was. The Lieutenant stepped forward, "My name is Lieutenant Grenn, I am in charge here" he turned his head towards Canderous, "We spoke to the civilians last night that was at the cantina, they confirmed your story, and with a good word from our friend here, we are dropping the charges against those officers you attacked last night. You are officially proven innocent" Candeorus finally sighed, "So you can finally let me go?"
Grenn opens the shields for Canderous to step out of, then turns his head towards the Twi'leks, "You three can stay there, those weapons you had were illegal here" the Twi'leks started to complain, but the Lieutenant gave the other two permission to leave. The two stepped out with Canderous finally spoke, "You finally came"
"Well, you never came back last night, so I figured that I would go to the cantina to fetch you, but I heard what happened, so I had spoke to the Lieutenant'' Carth told him, "Finally ready to head back?" handing the Mandalorian his blaster. Canderous, then stopped, "I actually have something to tell you. There was some type of species here last night. He was staring at me twice last night"
"Okay? Maybe he was drunk?" Carth told his friend, but Canderous was not certain about it. He continued, "Thats the thing. I have never seen his kind here. The species looked familiar though"
"Familiar how?" Carth asked, but before Canderous could answer, there was a sound going off. It was Carth's communicator. He picked it up to answer, "Carth here"
"General we are being attacked" the person on the other end said, panicked.
Carth was confused and asked, "What do you mean attacked? By who?"
"The Sith Empire. A star destroyer came out and they started attacking" signal then cut out. Carth tried to call again, but no answer. Canderous was listening to the conversation and looked at his friend, who looked at him back. The two rushed to the elevator, then ran towards the docking area. They looked outside to see something was covering the sun. Both Canderous and Carth looked at each other with shock, and confusion, as the two were trying to figure out what was going on.