Glorious Beginnings

Lucien loved going on missions with his parents; it always made him feel so independent. He felt so in charge of the galaxy when he had his blaster and bes?kad at his side. With his parents he could accomplish any mission, take down any enemies. He was quite an astute student of combat, and at age 11 he was already known to be an efficient killer and skilled fighter. He was in the storage bay training with a combat holovid. He spent most of his timestudying various martial arts. Not just the Mandalorian arts, but also what little bits he could find from the Echani, and something his parents had picked up from a group called the Followers of Palawa. Lucien had deemed the Teras Kasi to be a difficult style, thus worthy of his attention. The Mandalorian fighting arts were challenging to learn, and Lucien was still learning more.  However he liked to divide his attention between a few styles, and Teras Kasi had been his favorite martial arts style of the day.

                                                                     Lucien could always tell when his father was watching him, but he never really knew how. He couldn?t help but smile knowing his Dad felt pride when watching hisson train hard. Lucien was covered in sweat, but for some reason he never got tired of doing martial arts. He hated running, but he loved the feeling he got from training in the art of combat.  Fale watched Lucien from the door; his son was peculiar in the fact that he could always tell when someone was watching him. Fale had watched Lucien from the time he was born, and none of his friends were ever able to sneak up on him. Fale always called it a warrior?s instinct, and no one ever argued with him on that point. Lucien finished his kata and turned to face his father, ?So what?s our status sir?? Fale smiled, ?We our estimated time of departure is about 5 minutes, we?re waiting for confirmation from Unra that our job is finished. You know how that slug likes to check in on us.? Lucien made a disgusted face ?Yeah I get the feeling he doesn?t trust us dad.? Fale laughed, ?That?s because he?s a slimy piece of osik!? The boy and his father shared a laugh at the expense of their employer when blasts rocked the ships. Fale?s reflexes were faster than anything Lucien had ever seen. ?Get to the guns boy; hold off whoever the hell is dumb enough to shoot atus!?

                                                                     Lucien responded with his boots running down the corridor; he reached the guns in record time put on his headset and strapped himself into the crash webbing. Therewas a collaboration of freighters that had circled them up. Lucien could probably have named them off if he wasn?t so busy trying to track them in his sights. Lucien would land a few shots on some of the freighters but it was clear that their shields were modified to handle his gun?s firepower.Lucien could hear his mother?s footsteps through the ship even through the sounds of battle. Lucien?s heart raced, sparring was one thing, training drills another, but nothing was like the thrill of combat. He both loved and hated the feeling he got from the adrenaline response he got. He destroyed one of the freighters with a lucky shot to the ships main generator. Lucien was glad he found the weakness in that freighter, but it was the only one of its kind so getting that lucky again wasn?t likely. His luck held out, he managed to pick off another one. Lucien heard his father in his headset, ?Great shot son, kill with honor!? Lucien smiled and responded, ?To victory or death!?  Lucien swore he could feel his parent?s ship being torn apart, the Phoenix Blade was built to take a beating, but not a full assault from a fleet of pirates.

                                                                     Fale received a transmission from the leader of the assault. A rather narcissistic man was before him on the screen with a smug look on his face. ?Good day to you Fale Kane, I?m Captain Tank, I suggest you stop firing so we can discuss terms of surrender.? Fale grit his teeth, he knew Tank to be one of Unra?s top paid privateers, ?Very well then.? Fale spoke to his son through the comm system, ?Lucien cease fire immediately.? Lucien was puzzled but obeyed, ?I don?t understand Dad we can take them!? Fale didn?t respond, he was too angry to respond. Tank smiled ?There that?s better, now we can talk.? Fale bared his teeth and practically growled his response. ?What do you want from us?? Lucien?s anger was boiling, why was his father toying with this lowlife scum? Dawn, Lucien?s mother, commanded him to follow her. Lucien obeyed begrudgingly; she took him down to the escape pod launch bay. Lucien could hear a ship docking, and boots hitting the deck of his parent?s ship. A man introducing himself to Lucien?s father on behalf of a captain Tank Tarshing, though Lucien could only hear bits and pieces. Lucien?s mother spoke, ?Alright now son, get in the escape pod.? Lucien shook his head no firmly, ?No mom I will stay here and fight with you.? Lucien?s mother smiled, ?You are so much like yourfather, you don?t have a choice here I?m afraid.? Lucien?s mother moved so quickly he didn?t have time to react. She used a technique he knew too well, a precise shot to the nerve cluster at the base of the neck that caused brief unconsciousness.

                                                                     Lucien regained consciousness, as his mother activated the escape pod launch sequence. She smiled and waved as the locks engaged and the pod shot into the depths of space. The escape pod moved faster than Lucien had expected, he pounded the hatch of his escape pod until his knuckles bled. He watched helplessly as his parent?s ship exploded. This was supposed to be a routine mission, they had to track down a known informant on Dantooine interrogate him and leave. Everything went fine until the pirates showed up; Lucien immediately knew they had been set up by one of the hutt cartels on Nal Hutta. Everything pointed to it, the evidence was clear. Lucien may have only been an 11 year old Mandalorian boy, but he knew in his heart who signed their death warrants. He would make it his life?s work to see that sorry slimy hutt Unra killed at the end of his Bes?kad. Dantooine, the planet they just left was well in view, but it would take his tiny escape pod a standard day to reach the planet. Such lengthy escape pod trips were risky, but better thanbeing on a doomed ship. Lucien knew his parents scuttled the ship, Lucien knew that they could have fought; they could have at least died trying. Lucien also knew that his parents did it to save him, and that was what made him so karking angry.

                                                                     Tears stung the boy?s face until he couldn?t even see; he just sat there in the silence of the pod fuming, in rage and grief over his parent?s deaths. If they had died in glorious combat he would have understood, he could accept that, but they just gave up, they just stopped trying. Yet he knew they did it for him, so that their family legacy would survive. So that the name, Kane would still live on to strike fear in the heart of the galaxy, but even so, he sat there for the full time that it took him to reach the planet in agony arguing with himself. He didn?t sleep, and there was nothing to eat in the pod, his anger kept him occupied.  Lucien shook violently as his escape pod entered the atmosphere, and gravity started exerting friction on the tiny vessel. When the pod struck the ground everything went dark, and suddenly nothing mattered anymore.

                                                                     Lucien woke up with a start, he was no longer in the cozy escape pod, and he was in some sort of dingy home. He lay in a makeshift cot that smelled strongly of whiskey and kolto, likely the medical supplies of a farmer. He tried to get up, but when he moved sharp pain emanated from his collar bone. He rested his head back on the folded blanket that served as his pillow, his weapons were removed from his black flight suit, and he couldn?t find his datapad anywhere. He was about as uncomfortable as he could be, no weapons, no supplies, and at the mercy of a stranger. What a disgrace of a Mandalorian he was. Only revenge could bring back his honor, he would track down that karking hutt, and then he would go after the pirates who executed the job. He already knew their captain?s name, they had hailed down their ship before boarding, the captain had identified himself as Captain Tank Tarshing, he obviously used Tank as a nickname, but any reputable informants would know the nickname well. He clearly liked to leave an impression, and had a theatrical flair, so most spaceports especially those on Nar Shadda would recognize him.

                                                                     Lucien chuckled at his plot for revenge, he had a busted collarbone and happened to be stranded, but he was determined to get the bastards responsible for his parent?s deaths. Once the pain finally dulled Lucien carefully sat up, his left collarbone was broken, he had a few cuts and bruises that had all been treated with kolto, and what he could guess was whiskey. The boy stood up and began to search the homestead he had been taken to. He couldn?t imaginesomeone taking in an armed stranger such as himself, but stranger things had happened. He felt such a warm sensation that he couldn?t explain. He brushed it off figuring that it was the whiskey talking, he took cover behind a shelf when he heard the owner of the estate talking to a visitor at thefront door. ?I?m sorry master Jedi, I haven?t seen anyone new around these parts.? The older gentleman said to the hooded figure standing in the doorway. The hooded figure was about 2 meters tall, a large imposing figure of a man dressed in simple brown robes with gleaming armor flashing beneath them. The farmer who stood before him was half his height and well advanced in years, but he gave no ground before the intimidating Jedi. The Jedi was obviously unconvinced ?Be mindful, Llorian we Jedi are not so easily deceived.? Llorian smiled ?Well we can?t all be as special as youJedi think you are. If you?re done here I have work to do.? The Jedi smiled back, but he was definitely unconvinced. They were obviously investigating the escape pod crash site, and Lucien was now being hunted.

                                                                     Llorian turned after the Jedi left and saw Lucien hiding haphazardly behind the shelf that had holobooks mainly about farming techniques. He smiled ?Well hello there, it appears you?re quite popular with the authorities here. My name?s Llorian Bralend? Lucien wasn?t sure what to say, ?Umm, I?m Lucien, and I can handle myself. I appreciate the hospitality, but I?ll be on my way now.? Llorian smiled, ?Nonsense, sit down and have some food, you must be hungry.? Lucien frowned, but listened to the older man, it looked as though he was the only occupant of the homestead. The older man brought out some nerf steaks, and some sort of carbonated beverage that Lucien had never tasted before. Llorian smiled and simply stated that it was an old family recipe. Lucien sat there in the silence of the dining room with the old man, he ate his food but everything was just gnawing at him. Finally he spoke, ?Alright old man I give, what?s going on, why you have brought me into your home, and what is it you want from me?? Llorian slowly finished chewing his food, paused, then swallowed his food, and then just stared at Lucien with a grin for a bit.

                                                                     Lucien felt so uncomfortable, he was out of his element, he had no weapons, and this old man was toying with him. ?Did you ever stop to think that maybe people just do things to be nice?? Llorian said flatly. Lucien laughed, ?I don?t know anyone who does something for nothing, and I?ve been all over this galaxy old man.? Lucien was so sure of himself. Llorian smiled and nodded as he spoke ?Well I agree there aren?t many people who do somethingfor nothing, and I know what you are, I suppose that?s something.? Llorian brandished Lucien?s custom Mandalorian blaster that had been passed down to Lucien by his father. Llorian waved it, and then slid it across the table to Lucien. Lucien quickly put the pistol in its holster, feeling slightly more comfortable that he had his weapon back. ?Uhh thanks.? Lucien said decidedly, the man seemed to have good intentions, but Lucien couldn?t be too sure about that. Still though with a broken collarbone and no starship Lucien was stuck, so he didn?t want to be too inhospitable. Llorian waved Lucien down ?Think nothing of it boy; I can?t have you tearing apart my house looking for your weapons. I know how cranky you Mando?s get when you don?t have your weapons.? Lucien frowned, ?I don?t need the gun to deal with you old timer? Llorian laughed ?Don?t get cockykid, you may have training, but I?ve got wisdom.? Lucien didn?t bother to respond, he was a guest as far as he knew, and the man could have turned him over to the Jedi who was hunting him.

                                                                     ?What?s the matter kid, nothing to say to that? I thought you Mandalorians were supposed to be quick?? Llorian smiled knowingly, Lucien didn?t have patience for being mocked, and he drew his blaster so quickly that most normal beings wouldn?t have perceived the fact that he actually unhooked his holster before drawing down. It was perfect, just like he learned from the day he could hold a pistol, his blaster bearing down on the old man?s forehead.Lucien didn?t pull the trigger; he just wanted to show that he wasn?t to be messed with. That was his second mistake; before he could react he heard a mechanical whir behind him. A small pressurized firing mechanism was the last noise he heard before electricity coursed through his entire body,he dropped to the ground convulsing his collarbone shooting renewed pain through his entire body. It took what seemed like an eternity for him to black out from the pain.

                                                                     Lucien woke up the next morning with a headache, feeling like he?d been punched by a rancor. Llorian walked in the room as if he was waiting for Lucien to stir,?How do you feel boy? I can?t imagine that was too pleasant, but I told you wisdom beats training any day.? The cocky old bastard chuckled as he redressed Lucien?s injuries. Lucien knew the man was right, he had made a child?s mistake; he assumed he had the advantage on the enemies? turf. He should have known that Llorian had taken precautions. Llorian smiled ?Oh don?t beat yourself up too much boy, I?ve been dealing with Mandalorian raiders here since before you were born.?

                                                                     Lucien had heard of pockets of Mandalorian?s living on various planets throughout the galaxy, usually deciding to keep to themselves, most of them were violent.Lucien had to guess that didn?t sit too well with most beings. He had actually been taught from childhood that many couldn?t understand the Mandalorian way of life, it was about living by the sword, dying in glorious battle. A Mandalorian had no greater honor than in finding the one worthy of killing them. That was the main reason the Mandalorians had started wars with the Republic on various occasions throughout history. The Jedi always obliged such a good fight, or so his clan historians had claimed. Lucien had never met a Jedi before, he?d seen a few Sith, they were so lifeless, most of them it seemed were only being held together by whatever fire it was that burned in their eyes. He didn?t bother too much with either faction because they were both the two sides of the same coin. Neither of them fought for the right reasons.

                                                     Lucien had obviously zoned out because when he noticed Llorian in the room, he was being given a stare that told him he was daydreaming for longer than a few minutes. Lucien had heard all he needed to hear, ?Alright, where is the Mandalorian camp, I can make it there on my own from here.?  Llorian laughed, ?I?m not letting you leave, especially not to go back to those monsters.? The man?s face was resolute; he wouldn?t just let Lucien leave. Lucien was angry, ?You can?t keep me here that?s kidnapping!? Llorian didn?t laugh, he didn?t smile, and his face was now so somber Lucien was actually a little unsettled. ?Listen boy, your people killed my family and made me watch them do it. All because I couldn?t pay them not to, and if I let you go to them you?ll become just like them.? Lucien was astonished, he had learned about fighting worthy opponents, but killing women and children was dishonorable, at least his father had taught him that. ?Why do you care?? Lucien managed to ask after a long pause. Llorian smiled, as a tear ran down his face,?You remind me of my son, he was about your age, and already such a good man. You seem like a good man, and I don?t want that ruined.? Lucien didn?t know what to say, he?d never seen such kindness from a stranger before, it was more than he could take in at the moment. He finally worked out a response, ?Alright fine, I?ll stay here until my collarbone heals, and then I?m gone, I have business to attend to offworld.? Llorian grinned, ?Nothing like a little revenge to get the blood working.? He said as if Lucien had just told him all about Unra and Captain Tank Tarshing. Lucien?s eyes were fiery, ?They need to pay for what they did to my family.? Lucien set his jaw as if he could move mountains with his will. Llorian?s grin faded, ?I wanted revenge too, more than anything. Kill them and you?ll never stop killing, there will always be one more person out there who has to pay. You?ll be a slave to your own vendetta.? Lucien was too stubborn to listen, ?My collarbone heals and I?m out of here. In the meantime, at least give me some chores to do around here, I hate sitting around.?

                                                                     Llorian chuckled, ?I wasn?t planning on letting you stay here for free. Rest up for today, tomorrow you?ll start doing a real man?s work.? The old coot obviously meant farming, Lucien wasn?t thrilled about it, but that would help his healing process. Lucien had always been able to heal quickly, and he anticipated a full recovery within a matter of about three weeks. He might be overestimating his abilities, but at the most it would take six standard weeks. Lucien would take Llorian?s advice and rest for the day. He was pretty sore, and the faster he healed up, the faster he could get off this backwater planet. The day was pretty boring, Llorian brought Lucien food a few times, and he also brought Lucien his Bes?kad and returned his blaster again. Lucien spent most of the day trying to tinker with a broken droid. His technical prowess extended to blaster technology, but he wasn?t much with droids. It didn?t stop him from trying from time to time.

                                                                     Night fell Lucien was restless; there was something about the house that left him feeling so unsettled. Maybe it was the fact Llorian?s family had been killed here. That usually wouldn?t bother Lucien, but knowing that they had been killed in cold blood, by his people really made him mad. Lucien didn?t sleep the whole night, so he decided to go explore around the farm. His night vision was very good for a human, so much so that he hardly ever used the optics other Mandalorians had access to. He could see in the light of the Dantooinian moons that the old man didn?t have much land, but he had enough to make a few credits by selling his crops. As Lucien looked around he noticed the telltale signs of Mandalorian raiders. There was carbon scoring onmuch of the house, crop fields had gruesome empty paths where speeders had left their marks. The fence surrounding the grounds had been destroyed in several places. Lucien was so angry; this wasn?t how his people were supposed to behave. Mandalorians were supposed to be fierce warriors, but theyweren?t supposed to be mindless killers. At least that was what his father had taught him.

                                                                     Lucien wasn?t sure of much, but if the Mandalorian raiders came, he would show them what real honor meant. Lucien retired to his quarters until dawn, and then hegot to work.  He was much slower than Llorian, as he did minor jobs like cleaning up debris from the field, and repairing the fences around the farm. Weeks passed by, as Lucien?s injuries healed, almost a mirror of Lucien?s recovery the farm recovered as well, only a month passed before Lucien?s collarbone, and the farm were fully operational.  It was now midday, Lucien wiped the sweat from his brow, and took the shovel he had in his hands to the field.

                                                                     He was about three kilometers away from the homestead working in the south field when he started to feel uneasy. This feeling had always been a precursor somethinghorrible happening. The first time he had felt it was when he was 4 and a kinrath had made its way into his room. His father had shot the kinrath, but he never forgot that feeling he had. He had also felt the same uneasy feeling right before the last mission he had with his parents. His mother andfather simply thought Lucien was being paranoid; Lucien should have pushed the issue more.  Now they were dead, and he was going to be forced to deal with something really bad really soon. Lucien started running back towards the homestead; he could hear the whine of military grade speeders roaringin the distance. It wasn?t nearly as unsettling as when the speeders stopped he could tell that the speeders stopped at Llorian?s home.  Lucien ran harder; he could hear the muffled sounds of things breaking, and he saw blaster bolts being fired into the sky. He wouldn?t make it in time, butthat knowledge didn?t stop him from trying.

                                                                     Lucien reached the home as black smoke billowed into the sky the house was on fire, and Lucien only managed to get a few pot shots off at the raiders as their speeders tore off into the distance. They likely didn?t even notice anyone was shooting at them, and that made Lucien even angrier.  When they were gone he realized Llorian wasn?t anywhere to be seen, that meant he had to be inside the house. Lucien dashed into the burning home without thought forhimself; he didn?t have to go far. Llorian was right inside with a blaster bolt wound to the knee. Lucien grabbed Llorian and carried him out of the house. Llorian coughed from the smoke inhalation, Lucien sat the man up against a boulder and gave him some water.

                                                                     Llorian didn?t look good, Lucien frowned, ?Don?t worry old man; I?ll kill them for what they?ve done to you.? Lucien swore to him, and Llorian manageda pained smile. ?Don?t seek out revenge my young friend; it will only kill you in the end.? Llorian choked on the words as he said them. The house burned as Llorian?s life force faded away, and Lucien felt helpless. Lucien could have used a bacta solution to heal the old man?s lungs whichwere ravaged by the fire.  Llorian managed a faint smile as he passed. Lucien closed the man?s eyes and after a few hours of digging, buried the only friend he had left in the world.

                                                                     Llorian had told him not to seek revenge; Lucien wasn?t quite ready to listen to that advice yet. His Bes?kad had been in the house, but Mandalorian Iron wouldnever burn.  Lucien fumed for a day as he waited for the smoldering remains of the house to be safe to sift through. He retrieved his sword after another entire day of searching; his other weapons had been on his person before the fire. Lucien readied himself for the trip he would take to the Mandalorian raider?s camp. As he loaded up Llorian?s speeder, he saw a very official looking speeder pulling up to the destroyed homestead. Lucien recognized its pilot as the same Jedi who was snooping around when Lucien first came to Dantooine, this time he had a young female apprentice with him. She looked to be about his age, and she was pretty for a Jedi Lucien caught himself being distracted and quickly regained his composure.  Lucien started subtly gearing the speeder up for a quick getaway as the Jedi got out of his speeder. The apprentice stayed put as if she had been given a silent order to stay still. The Jedi spoke in a gruff manner, ?Excuse me young man, what happened here?? Lucien?s expression was steel, though his stomach felt queasy, ?I dunno, looks like thieves.? Lucien said in as unassuming of a tone as he could.

                                                                     The Jedi was clearly unconvinced, ?This looks like a Mandalorian attack.? Lucien?s blood boiled, ?I guess, I wouldn?t know.? Lucien kept his answers short, and the Jedi probed further. ?Well that?s a mighty nice sword you have over there, looks like Mandalorian iron. Haven?t had any dealings with them lately have you?? Lucien scowled, ?Look, I?m not looking for trouble from a Jedi; I just want to find the bastards responsible for this,and make them pay for what they?ve done.?  The Jedi seemed astonished, ?Wait a minute, you are the pilot of the escape pod that landed a few months back. I tracked the trajectory back to a Mandalorian vessel that was destroyed by pirates.? The Jedi made a motion for Lucien to stop, but Lucien was already moving.

                                                                     He jumped in the speeder and took off like lightning, the Jedi gave pursuit faster than Lucien intended.  Lucien took the speeder down the path he saw the Mandalorian raiders take, there were a few forks in the trails, and Lucien blindly chose trails, he didn?t know if he was going to make it to their camp or if he was just trying to lose his Jedi tail. He was running out of time, and his speeder didn?t have the speed capability that the Jedi?s speederhad.  Lucien?s blind trail following had paid off, he stopped his speeder right in the middle of the Mandalorian raider?s camp. Lucien?s anger was bolstered, and his adrenaline prepared his body for combat. Lucien jumped out and immediately began shooting at Mandalorian warriors who quicklyreturned the favor.  Lucien took cover and managed to see the looks on the faces of the two Jedi who arrived at the scene. Lucien must have looked savage with his red eyes flashing behind his blazing blaster pistols, the Jedi were immediately brought under fire as well, but they seemed to be able to handle themselves pretty well. Their blades of energy flickered to life and began dealing death out to the lost warriors of this planet. Lucien shouted at the Mandalorians he was fighting ?You disgrace Mandalore, you disgrace our name!?  He savagely fought, but he was young, and the Mandalorians quickly destroyed the cover Lucien hid behind.

                                                                     Lucien ran and dove over a stack of supply crates, he rolled once he hit the ground on the other side and brought his blasters back to bear. The Mandalorians had no stake to this particular campsite, so they were grabbing what loot they could and getting out of the small battle zone Lucien had created.  The Jedi were dealing with the last of the Mandalorian raiders, but not the leader who was a big man even by Mandalorian standards. The leader had decided totake out the little troublemaker who started the fight. Lucien was almost caught off guard as the giant of a man came up behind Lucien?s position.  Lucien turned just in time to put his hands up for the massive blow the man dealt. Lucien?s arms cushioned the blow a little, but not much, Lucienwent flying through the stack of crates he had been using for cover. The leader drew his bes?kad and slowly walked over to where Lucien was laying. Lucien drew his own bes?kad and rolled free of the area the man was striking. Lucien could have sworn the blow shook the ground, but he didn?t have time to think about that. He was back on his feet, and trying to defend against the large man?s flurry of strikes. Lucien was exceptional with the bes?kad, but he was no match for a fully grown Mandalorian warrior.

                                                                     Lucien defended valiantly and even managed to cut the man?s left arm. It was a shallow cut, but a small victory for the young Mandalorian boy. The raid leader looked at the cut on his arm and grinned, ?So you must be a Mandalorian, no one else wields a bes?kad in the traditional manner. For that matter few in the galaxy have beskar who aren?t Mando?ade.? Lucien snarled, ?So, what?s it to you?? The raider looked at him sideways as he circledaround the boy, ?So why are you trying to kill your own people? Join us, and we can rule this backwater planet.? Lucien laughed despite his nervousness, and he looked to the Jedi who were still defending against a few of the raiders. ?You aren?t real Mandalorians, you left your heritage whenyou decided to become nothing more than common thugs. You?re no crusader.?

                                                                     Lucien?s voice was resolute and all fear was gone from the young boy. The raider?s humor was gone, ?You pathetic little brat, the Crusaders are all dead, they died out during the Mandalorian wars, what is left is the need to survive and thrive in a galaxy that hates us. The Jedi hunt us, and you boy will never grow up to see the truth!? The large man attacked Lucien with all his might. Lucien had been taught as a child that using strength was great, but strength could fail so rely on wits. Lucien suspected this brute of a man had never received such wisdom in his life. As the man brought his blade to bear where Lucien?s head should have been, Lucien closed his eyes and ducked the blow. He tucked himself into a roll and slashed out to the sideas he moved away from the strong blow. Lucien?s blade managed to sink into the Mandalorian raider?s Achilles tendon. The man howled out in pain and fell to the ground. Lucien stood and proceeded to finish his kill when he felt his body leave the ground. Lucien turned to see the Jedi?s outstretched hand, the last thing he would see before his head slammed into a rock.

                                                                     Lucien woke up on the nicest cot he?d ever seen, his head was wrapped, and he was in a medical robe. All his weapons had been removed from his possession and hisflightsuit was in shreds next to his bed. He was furious, but if he had learned anything it was to wait and gauge the situation before acting. He wasn?t good at that though, he sat up and waited for his eyes to focus. His head was pounding, but he wasn?t dead. A medic walked into the room clearly surprised that Lucien was awake, she checked her datapad before speaking, ?Umm, well my didn?t you recover fast? Master Kovolt said you took quite the blow to the head, he said you?d probably be unconscious for a few days.?  Lucien attempted a smile, ?Uh thanks, do you know how long I?ve been out?? The medic checked the datapad again, ?Well you?ve only been here for about two hours, so maybe about four hours.? She smiled again and stepped out of the room.  Lucien waved at her on her way out, and once she was gone he quickly began shutting down the medical monitors that would be very annoying should he try to escape.  He started removing the medical pads that connected his vitals to the monitors.

                                                                     Lucien took a peek around the corner, and when no one was looking he darted down the hallway and into a small waiting room. Citizens of Dantooine looked up from whatever they were occupying themselves with while they waited to be seen by a doctor. Lucien walked casually through the hospital finding a solitary place to take the wraps off of his head. There was a small wound on the back of his head but it had closed up nicely. Lucien made it outside the hospital before they locked it down to begin their search for him. He saw a spaceport about a kilometer away, and he began making his way there. It took him no time to maneuver through the small town to the spaceport that was essentially the biggest building there. He ducked inside noticing a few Republiclooking officials that seemed to be on alert. He made his way into the first hangar he could find, and began an attempt to slice the lock. He heard a familiar gruff voice behind him, ?I thought you might come here.? Lucien turned and saw Kovolt and his padawan blocking his only viable exit.

                                                                     Lucien imagined he looked like a caged animal. He spoke low, ?I guess you?re angry with me for dragging you into that fight back there.? Kovolt laughed, ?You know the people have been begging Jes and I to find the Mandalorian raiders camp for quite some time, we couldn?t locate them. You took us right to them; I suppose I should thank you for that. We caught that thug Bralen, because of you.?  Lucien stood, dead still yielding no tells of whetherhe would fight or run. The Jedi were certain that he would do one or the other, Kovolt wasn?t too threatened by the young man however his apprentice wasn?t too sure, her hand remained very close to her lightsaber. ?I know Kovolt, but I haven?t had the pleasure of your acquaintance young lady. I am Lucien Kane, and you are?? Lucien smiled, Kovolt smirked so slightly Lucien barely caught it, he knew what Lucien?s plan was, but he was testing his padawan. Kovolt encouraged the situation, ?Come on Miila introduce yourself.? Lucien was a little puzzled, he hadn?t expected Kovoltto help him out with his little mind game. Miila spoke with certainty, ?I am Miila Skao, are you going to come quietly or do we have to do this the hard way?? Lucien smiled, it was now or never, he dashed towards the padawan with ferocious speed. She pulled her lightsaber faster than Lucien hadhoped she would, she was already bringing her green blade to bear by the time Lucien got within arm?s reach. He managed to get a hand on her saber and the real battle was on.

                                                                     Her first line of defense was a swift kick to the shins, but Lucien had spent years conditioning his entire body so he was able to take the blows. He twisted and turned the hilt every way he could to try and free it from her grasp, but she refused to be disarmed. It was as if she had something to prove to her master, but Lucien?s life depended on this escape. He dropped all his weight backwards and placed his foot in Miila?s solar plexus; he kicked her over his head and managed to maintain control of her lightsaber. Lucien fumbled with the metallic hilt and found the activator, but when he activated it the gyroscopic effect of the blade rendered the weapon nearly useless to him. He couldn?t get a handle on the weapon. It was so counterintuitive toa sword, and Lucien estimated that if he had never touched a sword in his life he might have been able to use the lightsaber effectively. Kovolt was stepping in to intervene activating his own blue lightsaber. Lucien rolled away from the Master to try and get a feel for the new weapon, he swung ita few times and managed to pull off a flourish.

                                                                     Lucien felt confident enough to at least make his escape; he backed his way to the only exit. He tried to make it look as though he was only trying to keep his guard Kovolt  grinned as he closed in, ?Hmm you?re a Force sensitive.? The man was so resolute in the statement. Lucien puzzled kept his guard up, ?What do you mean, I?m like you? I?m nothing like you.?  Kovolt moved in closer, ?No you aren?t anything like me, but you are sensitiveto the Force, it?s a shame you have so much anger.? Before Lucien could respond Kovolt attacked high, Lucien struggled to bring the blade to bear but it was more of the body change he utilized that saved his life. The lightsaber he wielded was struck to the ground, and Lucien had to use all of his strength to bring it back up without dropping it. Simultaneously Kovolt was attacking fluidly while Lucien was trying to synchronize his brain with what the lightsaber was doing. Lucien managed to block another strike before Kovolt expertly disarmed the boy.

                                                                     Lucien looked as the stolen lightsaber hilt deactivated and flew through the air. Lucien wasted no time, he turned and made a mad dash for the exit, but he had failed to remember the padawan he wrested the lightsaber from. She wasn?t too happy with being bested by a being who wasn?t a Force user, and she had expertly placed herself between Lucien and the door. She placed her palm under Lucien?s chin and everything went black again.  Lucien awoke in a small cell, he was laying down on a permacrete bed, and his head once again was pounding. He pretended to be asleep still so he could eaves drop on whoever was outside his cell.

                                                                     He could hear Kovolt speaking with another being. ?What do you mean he stole her lightsaber?? the unknown voice said, it was a voice that carried much weight,and a voice that seemed to be very calming despite its harsh demeanor. The next voice he heard was Kovolt?s ?Well Master Ji?oth, as I told you the boy is a highly trained in the Mandalorian ways and I believe he?s Force sensitive.? Ji?oth laughed, ?A Mandalorian who can sense the Force!?!! That?s ridiculous! If he were to be trained?? Kovolt cut him off ?You can?t be serious, the boy has a death wish, and he?s got enough anger to fuel the dark side by himself.? Ji?oth?s happy demeanor was sobered in an instant, ?From the ashes the Phoenix rises, this boy has been broken down to rock bottom, he has nowhere to go but up.?

                                                                     Both men were cut off by a trooper bursting through the doors ?Gentlemen, our presence has been requested on Coruscant, Master Zallow wishes to speak with us inprivate.?  Ji?oth returned the salute he was rendered as did Kovolt, Ji?oth replied, ?Of Course Lt. Rexler, we?ll meet you in your hangar at once.  Rexler left Kovolt and Ji?oth, who noticing Lucien quickly ended their conversation. Kovolt?s tone was one of reason, ?The boy is dangerous, he should remain here.? Ji?oth smiled wryly, ?We?ll see what happens, and maybe someone will take him as an apprentice.? The two men and their apprentices turned and followed them out of the door. Lucien wasn?t sure what to think, surely the Jedi weren?t stupid enough to try andtrain a Mandalorian to become a Jedi, it was unheard of. Mandalorians and Jedi had fought for longer than Lucien could remember, and Lucien knew that was because Jedi were such a challenge to defeat. He had learned this first hand in his battle with Kovolt. It couldn?t really be called a battle,but it was the best Lucien could do against a Jedi master.

                                                                     Lucien resigned himself to the confines of his permacrete prison cell he studied the cell in its entirety. That task didn?t take long he had a fresher that wasn?t much of a fresher, a bowl and a small dish pan with running water.  The cage he was in was a class III forcefield containment cell. If he touched the walls with any part of his body it would deliver quite a shock to him.

He could see and hear through the cell of course, but everything was tinted with an eerie blue hue. Lucien ran through an exercise routine and then fell into a deep sleep.  He assumed he would receive a trial, but he had no way of knowing when this would happen.