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Jaster stood with his hands folded on top of his gun belt. He did not currently have any of his weapons on him. They were all locked in a case aboard his ship guarded by several of his ori'ramikad. He still looked an impressive sight. He'd made sure to apply a fresh coat of paint and polish to his armor. He had a new pair of boots and gloves. His cape was hand woven by one of the best Hariswee weavers with a fringe of thick black fur sewn into the collar. He looked every inch the ruler of the Mand'alor sector.

Jaster and Myles stood in a visitor pod, awaiting to be called upon as the Republic Senate came to order. The Mand'alor had been "summoned" by the Republic to appear before the Senate at the next session. It seemed a united Mandalore frightened them. The Republic wanted reassurance that the Mandalorians would not start another galactic war by way of a peace treaty. One that would infringe on Mandalorian trades and shackle them to the Republic's whims. Jaster would do no such thing. He would tell them so bluntly for the supreme satisfaction of seeing the fear and surprise on these pompous bureaucratic faces.

Myles, his aide de camp, stood by his side ramrod straight to hide his nerves. "How are you not anxious?" He hissed.

Jaster smiled, "I have no need to be. They can do nothing to me, and they fear angering us. This a pathetic attempt at control. So long as Ky'ram stands at my back I fear no being."

Myles swallowed thickly, "He is here?"

"Ky'ram is always with me," Jaster declared calmly.

Din's palm pressed into Jaster's backplate. "I look forward to seeing how my Mand'alor presents himself to the Republic senate."

A thrill swept through Jaster.

Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum's voice rang out through the cavernous Senatorial rotunda. He stood, addressing the hundreds of senators, in the the thirty meter tall podium that rose up tall from the center of the Grand Convocation Chamber. The Vice Chair stood on one side of Valorum, and the Chancellor's Staff aide on the other. "Mandalore has become united for the first time in a thousand years. The last 5 years have shown unprecedented growth and solidity in their sector not seen since the Old Republic. Further, the manner of ways in which Mandalorians are stabilizing their economies puts them in opposition to the Republic.

Mandalmotors sells a majority of their crafts to those known do profiteer work, piracy, or by providing space forces to worlds not aligned with the Republic, or worlds in civil wars with the Unions or Republic protected governing bodies. Mandalorian mercenaries are also bolstering standing armies to these same afored mentioned worlds. This leaves the Republic with concerns that Mandalorians may be taking up their conquering ways once more. As such, the Mand'alor, Jaster Mereel, has been summoned to speak on behalf of his people. Our intention is to request a peace treaty be signed to ensure Mandalorians do not take up their crusading once more." Chancellor Valorum looked to Jaster's waiting repulsor pod. "At this time, I call Mand'alor Mereel forward."

The pod Jaster and Myles were standing in flew down to hover across from the Chancellor's podium.

Valorum offered a welcoming gesture and nod. "Thank you for joining this electoral body, Mand'alor Mereel. This is a historical moment as no Mandalorian has ever presented to the Republic's senate."

Jaster nodded his head, "Thank you, Chancellor Valorum."

"With due respect, Mand'alor, would you remove your helmet so we may address one another properly?" Valorum tried to be polite but it was an underhanded request. Purely one made from distrust and prejudice.

Jaster tilted his head. "Would you ask the same of any being here who needs a rebreather to survive other atmospheres? I find this request rather insulting. I have already made concessions in removing all of my weapons for the Senate's comfort. My armor is an inherent part of my religion. What you are asking is a volition of my rights as your own government dictates. However, since I know the argument will be my sector is not aligned with the Republic, thus I do not have rights within it, I will remove it for the sake of brevity. I do not intend to be here longer than necessary."

Valorum's face had gone stony. That amused Jaster. He reached up and removed his helmet. He clipped it to his belt.

"To address your biased opinion about my people and our current endeavors that are driving the recovery of our economy, we are warriors. In our culture and religion, we believe in wearing ancestral armor and defense of our people. As warriors, our skills give a unique skill set which we use to take on work that best suits us. We do so honorably by completing all contracts we take on unless those contracts are found to violate our code or tenets according to our Way of life. We do not support slavers, abusers, or murderers.

Which seems to put us, as you mentioned, in opposition to such entities as the techno union that is draining Republic worlds dry of their resources. Or the banking union that taxes worlds into poverty by destroying their economies. Or the trade federation that goes unchecked by exploiting loopholes in the Free Trade Zones your government created to hold planets hostage until they submit to their demands to pay for access to shipping lanes and shipping protections. Is it any wonder then when those peoples' revolt and hire outside forces to assist them? Further, you use Jedi like the Republic's personal attack dogs to "negotiate" for peaceful outcomes which none of the unions abide by.

You protect slavers, abusers, and unions that regularly exploit, murder, and enslave your supposedly protected Worlds. I find your audacity to be on par with the Hutts. That you would request me to sign a treaty that shackles my sector to the Republic out of fear.

I have no intention of EVER signing any such treaty. I have no interest in ever becoming a sector under the Republic as I have personally seen what such protections mean. My people and I no interest in a new crusade. The only faction that did, I ended by removing them—permanently. We wish only to be a united people with a strong economy and to practice our Way, which includes being warriors. Those are the only assurances I will provide to this senate.

The last thing I will declare is this: stay the kark out of my sector. I have no quarrel with the Republic. Should any Republic aligned ship, party, or otherwise invade our borders uninvited, then I will provide a swift punishment. That is a promise.

I would say it has been an honor and privilege to speak to this governing body, but it has not. I have no interest in ever coming here again."

He put his helmet back on and hit the controls to withdrawal his pod.

"Mand'alor Mereel, if you leave like this with refusal to sign our treaty your sector will be censured!" Valorum declared angrily.

"Do what you will, Chancellor. You have my answer. I would suggest you weigh whether or not you wish for Mandalorians to become hostile. Do not give me a reason. We will be leaving Coruscant peacefully after visiting the Jedi Council." Jaster nodded farewell. His pod retreated. Soon as it had docked, he and Myles withdrew from the senate chambers.

"You handled that like a true Mandalorian. We bow to no one," Din remarked with pride.

"Thank you, cyare," Jaster smiled, chest warming.

Myles snorted. "I assume Ky'ram approved of that ballsy display of authoritative power."

"He did, yes," Jaster's smirk was obvious in his tone.

They started walking around the corridor that circled the rotunda to get to the exit. They'd only made it half way when a pale skinned human male with blond hair going white at the temples in an expensive royal blue and burgundy outfit stepped out to meet them. Jaster came to a reluctant stop, assessing the man. There was nothing truly remarkable about him. At one time, he might have been passingly handsome. He now reminded Jaster of an aging Uncle or grandfather type. Non-threatening in appearance but something about him set Jaster's teeth on edge. But then the man was a politician. Jaster never trusted any of them.

"Darjetii," Din hissed a warning, sounding angrier than Jaster had ever heard.

Jaster did his best to keep his posture and feelings from shifting. "Senator..."

"Mand'alor Mereel, I was hoping to have a moment of your time," the man smiled perfectly pleasant.

"I have other matters to attend too."

"I understand. Please let me introduce myself, I am senator Sheev Palpatine of Naboo. I have a matter of some delicate importance I believe you will find of great interest," Palpatine's smile stayed fixed in place.

Jaster tilted his head. "You're certain?" He asked Din in Mando'a.

"Entirely. His spirit taints the Manda around him with evil."

Jaster hummed, "I have only a short amount of time."

"I understand. Would you follow me to my office. It is best not to discuss this matter out in the hall," Palpatine folded his hands in front of him.

"Lead the way," Jaster consented.

Palpatine turned and led them to a nearby lift.

"What the kriff?" Myles mumbled.

"He is a threat. Guard the office door when we get there. Do not come in no matter what you hear," Jaster warned over their internal comms.

Myles agreed. "Understood."

The ride was silent. Jaster followed the Senator into a spacious, airy office decorated in burgundy with a massive wood desk. The senator led him further in. The door swished shut leaving them alone.

"Would you care for a drink?" Palpatine asked, voice mild and soothing. The man was a phenomenal actor. He truly did appear mild mannered, kind even.

"No thank you." Jaster folded his hands over his gun belt. "I am pressed for time, Senator."

"Yes, of course," Palpatine stepped back to rest his hand on his desk. "Your speech upset many. You obviously do not have any care for the Republic."

"I do not."

The senator nodded. "There are many who feel the same as you from within the Senate. This Great Peace, as it is called, has created bloated, powerful organizations like those you mentioned with more rights than many of the Republic's citizens. Worlds are begging for relief with none coming. The Jedi are as complicit in the subjugation of Republic worlds to these Unions. Their efforts are practically useless. Only small censures and no true help. They are so deeply indentured to the Republic that they can do little without approval and have been rendered vulnerable if efforts grow hostile. They have no backup on missions and no armor.

There have been rumors of a secession of planets from the Republic. Just whispers...that could become more. You mentioned your people were not interested in conquest. Would you not be interested in leading these worlds that wish to leave the Republic?" He looked boldly into Jaster's T- Visor. For an instant, Jaster saw the evil beneath. There was a thirst for power in that brief expression. "Mandalorians are warriors, as you say, would they not be willing to help others? To fight against this government if it meant freeing worlds and dismantling these bureaucratic structures and organizations that enslave and exploit millions of beings, the galaxy over? The Jedi would hardly be an obstacle for the Mandalorians, who have already learned ways to defeat their use of the Force. You could dismantle the Republic. Create something new and far superior to the Republic."

Jaster wanted to clap for the man's performance. But that might come off as to mocking. He remarked in Mando'a to Din, "He is very good."

Din snorted. "A trickster. A silver-tongued and power hungry like all darjetiise. There was a reason Hod favored them."

"I admit while that is tempting and your speech almost convincing, I will never again embroil my people in dealings with Sith. We no longer wish to build a Mandalorian Empire, nor do we worship war as a divine path any longer," Jaster cocked his head to regard the Senator.

The man stilled. Then he laughed, dismissive and amused, "Sith? The ancient enemies of the Jedi? They are extinct."

"Yet here you stand in the heart of the Republic, darjetii. I can only imagine the trickery it took to get here or how long those machinations took," Jaster remarked thoughtfully.

There was a flash of yellow in that pleasant blue gaze. It was gone so quickly that another might have thought it a trick of the light. The man's pleasant voice fell away. His tone went flat. "You should not accuse me of something so dangerous. Even a rumor could mean death."

"Then it's a good thing I brought death with me," Jaster grinned viciously. "I know you can sense him."

Fear flickered across Palpatine's face. He straightened up, covering his fear with anger. "Whatever darkness follows you can't harm me."

"Oh, he is terrified," Din chuckled. "Many a being is made weak and gutless in the face of death. For all his power, he's no different."

Jaster chuckled. "It's a good thing I never feared you then."

"The first that ever refused to March when I came," Din sounded so very fond.

Jaster forced himself to focus back on Palpatine. "Death can't hurt you, no... but I can." He dropped his hands from his belt.

"You have no weapons," Palpatine's expression was losing its benevolence.

"I don't need any."

"You are arrogant. You may not fear for yourself, but you should fear for those close to you," Palpatine's face had gone cold and eyes flat.

Jaster narrowed his eyes. "You really want to threaten me?"

"A threat. It is already done," The senator sneered. "You would have been wiser to keep your son at your side."

Jaster didn't move. He blinked twice and his comm came online. Jaster transmitted without breaking eye contact with the Sith in front of him. "Myles get to the ship right now, Check on my son. Go!"

"Oya!"

"You are to late," Palpatine's grin was vicious. "You may have survived your death the first time. I will ensure you do not this time."

"You can certainly try," Jaster taunted.

The snap hiss of a lightsaber flaring to life almost caught Jaster off guard. He barely had time to get his vambrace up to block the fury red blade. It screamed against the beskar. Palpatine moved so quickly he had been nearly a blur. Jaster threw a punch. The man flipped back. Jaster engaged the hidden blades in his vambraces. He set his stance. Palpatine's eyes had turned a sick acid yellow. He bared his teeth.

"Did you really think they could ever truly disarm a mandalorian?" Jaster scoffed. "Now, let's give this a fair go, huh?"

Palpatine sneered, "Your overconfidence will be your undoing." He surged back towards Jaster.

In the Sith's favor, he was fast, strong, and a master with a kad. Jaster would have held his own for a while maybe before his death. But he would have lost. Now it was admiration at the prowess but fury over this darjetii's manipulations and arrogance. Jaster blocked another slash, following it up with a double slash of his blades. Palpatine skipped back and threw his hand out, palm up. Jaster felt something like the buffet of a strong breeze. Palpatine's eyes went wide.

"The Manda was used to bring me back to life. Trying to use it to harm me is an effort in futility. But good try," Jaster taunted.

"Impossible!"

Jaster shrugged and leapt forward. They battled their way around the office. The desk ended up with a burning slash in it, smoking lazily. Chairs were flipped. A stand up lamp shattered. Palpatine was getting more angry and desperate, as though he could tell Jaster was toying with him. Jaster deliberately left himself open. Palpatine took the bait. He cut his blade at Jaster's throat. The blade burned right through and kept going. Jaster drove his left blade in to the Sith's chest under his arm, between his ribs, into his lung.

Palpatine collapsed. Jaster stomped down on the man's hand clutching the lightsaber. The Sith hissed in pain. The kad fell from his fingers and the blade flickered out. Jaster reached down to pick it up. He thumbed it back on. Palpatine's eyes were petrified. The red glowing kad was mirrored in the man's pupils. He panted like a cornered dog. He tried to crawl away, wheezing in agony.

"Looks like it's arrogance that will be your undoing. Death will ensure your spirit dies here too," Jaster swore before bringing the kad down.

The terror in those yellow eyes was deeply satisfying. Palpatine's head tumbled to the floor a moment later. Jaster burned out a swatch of cloth from the Sith's elaborate coat. Jaster wrapped Palpatine's head up. Din stepped in when Jaster moved away. It was so unfairly arousing to watch the demigod spin his beskar spear in his fingers before bringing it down with a wet crunch in the center of the Sith's breastbone. If Jaster wasn't pressed for time, he would have ripped their helmets off to make out over the dead hut'unne's corpse.

"Myles?" Jaster commed his aide de camp, "Sit rep?"

"The guard was under attack when I got here. These were hired thugs from the techno union. They were trying to take Jango. They escaped when I arrived. Jango's here and mostly unharmed. Looks like they took a chunk out of his arm. He'll be fine."

Jaster frowned. He didn't like the sound of that.

"What was this all about?" Myles asked, disgruntled.

Jaster scoffed. "Hut'uunla darjetii was trying to blackmail me."

"Darjetii!?"

"I'll explain later. Get the dha'kad and meet me at the Jedi temple in 30 minutes. Tell our people to get on the ship and lock it down until we return," Jaster ordered, then ended the transmission.

He stalked over to the desk. He turned on the computer. He was immediately met with the demand for a face scan. He pulled Palpatine's head out. The scan ran and the computer unlocked. Jaster took a data stick out of his gun belt. He always kept extras, typically with a copy of his codex to provide to his people if he met one who had not read it yet. That occurrence was dwindling down to a rarity these days. He slotted the stick into a port and began to copy everything off the computer. He was met with a set of encrypted files. It demanded a passkey to scan it to unlock. Jaster went back to search the body. He found a data scan chip around the stump of the neck buried beneath the elaborate outfit. He scanned the chip. The files unlocked and Jaster copied them onto his data stick too. Moments later, the transfer was complete.

Jaster wrapped the head again. He tucked his data stick into a belt pouch. He took out a different data stick, took off his helmet, and plugged it into the port under his audial. He pulled the footage off his HUD from the last 15 minutes. He took the stick out and put his helmet back on. He strode out of the office with the wrapped head in one hand.

"Just going to leave the body?" Din asked.

Jaster shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not my concern."

"I enjoy this side of you," Din sounded so pleased.

"It's because of you. I am what you have made," Jaster chuckled.

"No, cyare, I only took away your fear. The confidence is your own."

Jaster hummed thoughtfully. He waylaid a protocol droid hurrying by. "I need you to take me to the Chancellor's office."

"He does not currently have available office hours for visitors, my good sir."

"I didn't ask about that. Take me to his office—now. Or I'll make you a scrap pile."

The droid fidgeted in flustered worry. "Oh my! Please follow me!" Minutes later, the droid rang the buzzer outside the Chancellor's locked office.

"Yes?"

"Sir, you have a... insistent visitor."

"Not now. Tell them my office hours."

"I don't plan to be here for your next available appointment," Jaster interrupted. "This is Mand'alor Mereel."

The door swished open. Jaster strode in right up to the Chancellor's desk. He stared the older man down.

Valorum looked vaguely unsettled to see Jaster but smothered it quickly. He began to stand. "Mand'alor, I was under the impression you left. What can I do for you?"

Jaster unwrapped Palpatine's head and dumped it on the desk. "You can better vet your senators."

Valorum jumped back with a cry of shock, visage going green. He raised horrified eyes back to Jaster's T-Visor. "What did you do?!"

"Relieved the Senate of a traitor. This one tried to recruit me to start a crusade against the Republic. He attacked me with this." Jaster ignited the blood red lightsaber. "You had a Sith in your midst and never had a clue."

"The Sith are extinct!" Valorum spluttered.

Jaster handed over his data stick. "They're clearly not. That has my HUD's recording of what happened. I would encourage you to do a deep dive into his computer files and a thorough investigation of his background. I hope this is the catalyst that makes some much needed changes within the Republic."

The Chancellor slowly took the data stick, gaze dropping to the head on his desk with a cringe. "I will certainly do so."

"Good. Best of luck." Jaster turned to go.

"You can not leave! You murdered a Senator!"

"No, Chancellor, I didn't. I defended myself against a Republic traitor. I am leaving and you can't stop me," he looked back over his shoulder. "I would suggest you not try it. I didn't come here to become the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic."

Valorum's face drained of any remaining color. "Safe travels, Mand'alor."

"Thank you, Chancellor."

Jaster left.

"Shame we're pressed for time," Din murmured. "I would have liked to fuck you bent over that darjetii's desk."

Jaster let out a disappointed sigh. "I wish you had mentioned that earlier. I'd have made time for that."

Din chuckled. "I will reward you for your victories later when we are off this cursed planet."

"I like the sound of that. Is this planet really such a pariah?"

"I can feel the heart of it screaming beneath my feet. They have tortured it beyond measure and choked the life all but out of it." Din sounded disgusted.

Jaster grimaced. "Then I agree. Let's get off this planet as quickly as possible."

Jaster stepped out of the speeder provided by the Chancellor. The Jedi Temple rose before him: beautiful and ancient. It was an oasis in the crush of Coruscant's endless, massive cityscape. Myles stood in the courtyard, waiting for him. The aide de camp fell in just a step behind Jaster.

"Are you going to explain about the darjetii?" Myles murmured.

"I will," Jaster assured, trotting up the steps.

A Jedi Temple guard stepped forward to greet them. The white mask had a tan tree emblem painted on it. The design of the mask reminded Jaster of the Mask of Mandalore. This guard, like all the other,s wore pale robes with designs like leaves woven into them. The guard wielded a double lightsaber pike.

"Mand'alor Mereel, your visit has been anticipated." The guard inclined his head.

Jaster nodded back, "I'll admit, I have been wanting an invitation to visit."

"The Council is waiting to speak with you. Before I take you to them, we told us there would only be two visitors."

"There are only two," Jaster narrowed his eyes.

Din shifted at his side. The guard's head turned towards the demigod.

"I sense a third... a darkness...something powerful follows you, Mand'alor," the guard sounded vaguely disturbed.

"Dark but not evil. That is Ky'ram, Death. And yes, he follows me always. We cannot be separated. But he cannot harm the living," Jaster explained.

The guard hesitated a moment longer, masked face unmoving from Din. After a moment, the guard nodded. Finally, they headed into the Temple. Jaster made full use of his HUD to scan the interior. It was so lovely and peaceful. They walked through gardens that reminded Jaster of those in Sundari and Keldabe, though how this one supported arboreal life was a feat. As they moved through the halls, they were met with a myriad of mixed responses. From wonder, interest, wariness, even flickers of fear, and every being's eyes somehow tracked Din's presence. It was eerie and strange. Until now, Jaster's rid'runi's presence had been cloaked to all but a few star-touched Mandalorians. Every Jedi shied away, giving them a wide berth.

Jaster was led up to the tallest tower. His guard announced their presence, then returned to stay by the lift, silent and peerless. Jaster idly wondered what a fight would be like with these guards. They were meant to be the vanguard and some of the most elite warriors within the Jedi order. No doubt it would be entertaining for a few minutes. Though the battle with Palpatine had been the most thrilling since Jaster's revival.

The double doors to the Council chambers slid open. Jaster stepped in with Myles at his heels. Din remained in the scant shadows by the door. The room was bright and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding it, providing an impressive view of the bustling city. Twelve chairs surrounded them in a semicircle, each filled with one of the wisest, most powerful Jedi of the current age. It was the grandmaster of the order that Jaster's eyes were drawn to first. Jaster did not bow. He reached up to remove his helmet and inclined his head respectfully.

"A momentous occasion, it is, to have the Mand'alor in our council chambers. Never happened before, this has. Welcome, you are, Mand'alor Jaster Mereel." Yoda inclined his head back.

Jaster let some of his childish enthusiasm leak out. "I appreciate the opportunity to be here. It is an honor, Master Yoda. This is my aide de camp, Myles."

"Force sensitive, you are," Yoda nodded to Myles.

The kiffar straightened his back, "I am star-touched. My clan trained me. But I have nowhere near a Jedi's abilities."

Yoda nodded. The Jedi Master shifted his attention away from Myles towards the door where Din was lurking. "Another being you have brought, Mand'alor Mereel. Ancient. A void in the Force. Bonded to you, it is. Powerful. Greater than any being here."

Din chuckled lowly. "At least they know when they are outmatched."

Jaster smirked a little at his rid'runi's words before arching his eyebrows at Yoda. "You can sense our bond?"

"We can see it. There is a bond leading back to the being you are linked to," Count Dooku spoke up, pointing directly to where Din was standing. "You also are partially a void in the Force. It bends oddly around you."

"Not meant to be here, you are," Yoda remarked.

Jaster smiled, a touch vicious, "Death came to me, and Death now owns me."

A hush swept over the individuals in the chamber.

"Mand'alor, you visited the Senate before coming here," Dooku remarked, seguing from the previous discussion. "Your staunch refusal to bend to the Senate's demands was admirable."

"Mandalorians subjugate themselves to no one," Jaster stated firmly.

Sifo-Dyas, Jaster recalled from memorizing the current members, interrupted, "I saw a vision. You destroyed a great evil. Death was wielded by your hand."

Jaster looked over, meeting the Master's eyes. Din shifted, setting his spear down to rest on the floor, at Jaster's back. The Jedi Masters in the chamber collectively twitched at Death's moving presence. Jaster suppressed a smirk.

"Visions have warped this one," Din warned his Rid'Runi. "He sees the future but lingers too long there."

Yoda clacked his cane against the floor. Quiet settled. "Tell us, you will, Mand'alor Mereel, if you please."

The politeness lowered Jaster's defensiveness that had been rising. He reached to his waist to unclip the Sith's lightsaber from his belt. He held it out and ignited it. Every Jedi flinched back. "I took this off a darjetii, a Sith, who had infiltrated the Senate. He offered me the chance at a righteous crusade. One that would pit Mandalorians against the Republic and the Jedi again.

I have no interest in such a thing. Crusades nearly destroyed my people. We lost much in the wake of them. Our sector is only now stabilizing after more than a thousand years. For his arrogance, he met Death," Jaster switched off the kad. He held it out to Yoda.

The Sith's lightsaber hilt floated from his hand to land in Yoda's. The grand master cringed at the touch of it. He quickly wrapped it in his robe.

"Our thanks, you have. A great evil, you took from the galaxy. A deepening shadow, we sensed, unknown though. Gone it is."

"Which senator was it?" Dooku asked.

"A Nabooian by name of Sheev Palpatine."

Dooku sat back in shock. "He was a friend to me."

"He was quite convincing. An excellent actor. A master duelist." Jaster remarked, "But in the end, every living thing succumbs to Death."

"Except you, it seems," Sifo-Dyas growled.

"Death already has me," Jaster smirked.

Din chuckled at his back, "In ways that Jetii can't imagine."

Jaster's smirk widened, deliberately answering in Basic, "However you wish, Cyare."

Another hush swept over the Jettiise. This time, Jaster reveled in it. Making powerful beings uncomfortable was far more enjoyable than he had expected. He let it linger a long moment before breaking it. He took the Dha'kad off his belt. "This was the true reason I requested an audience. The Vizsla clan wrongfully invaded your Temple hundreds of years ago and stole this as a means to claim the right to the title of Mand'alor. Even in Tarre Vizsla's private journal and final testament, he requested it be returned to the Jedi. There never was, nor is there, any need for this to remain in Mandalorian hands. I am returning it—" Yoda reached his hand out. Jaster tightened his grip. "—With one concession."

"Name it, you will. Earned it you have," Yoda assented.

"Unlimited access to your library."

Jocasta Nu, Jaster's arch nemesis of info blocking, scowled. "I have denied your requests in the past, Mandalorian. I will not have our records used against us."

Jaster scoffed, "I already said I have no interest in another crusade, and for the record, none in starting another war with the Jetii. Much of our history was lost or disjointed thanks to the Dral'han that destabilized our sector. We have as much right to our history as you do, Master Jetii. I only wish to restore what was lost, much as I am able."

"A reasonable request, it is. Granted, it will be," Master Yoda declared.

Jocasta Nu looked less than pleased. Jaster had to quell the urge to stick his tongue out at her like an ill-behaved child. Years of begging for access, and it was finally his at last. That was a victory of the highest order in his opinion. Jaster opened his hand, and the Dha'kad flew from it.

"May I request a tour of the library and the first installment before I leave today?" Jaster dared to request as well.

"Granted, it is. Master Nu, guide him you will," Yoda assented.

Jaster had to refrain from showing just how happy and excited that made him. But judging by the amusement on the Jetiise faces and Myles exasperation, it was quite obvious. He couldn't help it.

"Thank you, Master Jetii," he nodded his head graciously.

"Appreciative we are, to have Master Vizsla's blade returned. The tour, you will enjoy."

Jaster smiled, recognizing the dismissal. "One last thing, I gave Chancellor Valorum proof of what happened at the Senate building with Senator Palpatine. I would recommend ensuring the Jedi are part of the investigation. The Sith implied he had plans for the whole galaxy. I'm sure his taint runs deep and has a far-reaching impact. He suggested that the Jedi would be easy to destroy with how deeply entwined with the Republic your Order has become.

I would suggest perhaps withdrawing from under the Republic's thumb. You have Temples scattered around the outer rim. You should recover them. I would go so far as to offer Mandalorian assistance. We are attempting to destabilize the slave trades and piracy that are heavily impacting the outer rim. We could use the Jetiise help in making a true lasting difference. It can't be done the way it is now, with your Order practically shackled to the Republic. You all our warriors as great as the Mandalorians, which pitted us against each other. Now we could benefit each other."

The Jetiise Masters swapped considering looks.

"We will think on it, Mand'alor Mereel," Dooku replied after a moment. "It is a consideration some of us—" He glanced at Sifo-Dyas. "—Have brought up recently. With the discovery of the Sith, I believe your suggestion has merit."

Jaster inclined his head. "We may have been conquerors once but we tried to leave the peoples' cultures, traditions, and ways intact when we took over worlds. We were never slavers. The idea is abhorrent. If you wish for Mandalorian assistance in your withdrawal I will ensure you have it. I bid you farewell." He inclined his head.

"Helping Jetiise to freedom," Din hummed. " You never cease to amaze, rid'runi."

Master Nu stood up. "Follow me, Mand'alor."

Jaster followed eagerly. The ride down in the lift was made in tense silence at least on Madam Nu's side. Jaster didn't care. When he was led into the library, he had to stop and take in its glory. It was more beautiful in person. The amount of knowledge contained in these walls made him giddy. It took everything in him not to wriggle like an eager child.

Master Nu's expression had softened seeing his awe. "Do you know what you wish to have copies of, Mand'alor?"

Jaster nodded. He had an ever running, growing list of subjects. "Can I set up a secure way to get transferred files? I know I don't have enough data sticks for all I would ask to copy."

Madam Nu inclined her head. "I can arrange it."

They walked further in with Jaster rattling off his most wanted topics. She filled his available data sticks. He left an hour later with a bounce in his step. Twenty minutes later, and they were putting Coruscant in their view port. It had certainly been a memorable span of hours. And while entertaining and fruitful to his endeavors, he never wanted to come back to that blighted planet again.

Jaster left the bridge of his frigate as soon as they hit hyperspace. He had checked on Jango. The chunk of flesh removed from his arm was perfectly round in shape. It was suspicious. Jaster had to wonder what the Sith had been trying to do or what kind of blackmail he'd hoped to hold over Jaster's head. Hopefully he'd find out when he started going through Palpatine's files. As it was, that could wait until he got some rest, food, and the reward his rid'runi promised him.

Jaster opened the door to his office. Din skulked in after him. The door swished shut and locked. Jaster was grabbed and shoved into the wall next to the door. He gasped at the impact. Din yanked Jaster's gun belt off and dropped it carelessly to the floor. He dragged his palm down Jaster's chest. His kit and kute melted away beneath the demigod's touch, leaving Jaster bare save for his bes'kar'ta fused to his chest bone. Lust ignited in Jaster like a spark of fire in dry grass.

Jaster moaned, wanton and loud, at the tease and tug of his nipples. Sparks of pleasure zinged straight to his cock. He was already achingly hard. Din took his hands away only long enough to remove his gun belt and bandoleer. Then he was grabbing Jaster by the back of the thighs to hoist him up. The manhandling and display of strength had need and heat blasting through Jaster. Sweat broke out on his chest. He hooked his heels on Din's thighs to drag him in. The press of cold, hard beskar against Jaster's heated skin made him groan.

"Eager for me," Din chuckled.

"You are too," Jaster gasped, rutting against the thick, hard line of Din's clothed erection.

Din growled, "The thought of having you like this is the only thing that made that hellish trip bearable. Watching you today was also a great source of entertainment."

"Which part was you favorite?" Jaster grinned. He cupped the divots of Din's buy'ce. "When I told the Senate to go essentially kark themselves, when I beheaded a Sith, or took the Jedi council by surprise, not once but three times?"

"Every moment," Din replied. "You are my pride, my rid'runi. Strong...powerful...Mandokar. Worthy of the title you took by force and keep through confidence and wisdom. You are everything a true Mandalorian should be. And you are MINE."

One hand let go of Jaster's thigh to reach for Jaster's face. That gloved hand cupped his jaw and thumbed over his bottom lip. Din's hand slipped lower. Jaster gasped hard, eyelashes fluttering, at the grip of his rid'runi's big gloved hand around his throat. His cock throbbed and blurted pre onto Din's flake plate. "Yours," Jaster swore, voice rasping around the hand on his throat. "I am what you made me. I love you." He gripped at Din's kute. He bucked his hips in the scant space between them. His cock dragged over the rough material, making him whimper. He needed to be filled, taken— "Din, please!"

Din chuckled: low, raspy, and dark. He released Jaster's throat to reach down to release himself from his kute. Jaster whined hungrily a moment later at the rut of Din's big, turgid cock between the cleft of his ass. Leather gloved hands grasped Jaster's ass cheeks, spreading him open. A ragged gasp escaped Jaster a moment later. Din plunged into him, a sudden inescapable stretching fullness. The bright pain pleasure of it exploded up Jaster's nerves, making him cry out sharply. No one else could hurt him but Death. That made the pain that much sweeter. Tears sprang to Jaster's eyes.

It was a glorious conquering whenever Din took him. Jaster never felt more alive, more whole, more real. He pressed his head back into the wall, arching into Din's hold, as he clung to Din's pauldrons. That big dick dragged out before slamming back in: rough and hard enough to punch the air from Jaster's lungs. He always felt like his insides were being rearranged to better fit Din. Jaster perversely loved it. The explosion of ecstasy with each powerful thrust was like crack of a blaster shot: bright, sudden and so damn satisfying. Din knew just how to fuck him to have him losing all sense and control in minutes. Jaster came screaming. His cock pulsed, shooting cum in thick splatters over Din's cuirass. The shock waves of release had him writhing and whimpering. His pleasure had barely tapered off when Din lifted him off his cock and dropped his legs.

Jaster nearly collapsed. Din hauled him up and spun him around. "That was your reward," Din murmured, heated and darkly lustful. "Now I get mine." He marched Jaster across the room to the desk. "Let me show you how I should have fucked you in that Sith's office."

Jaster gasped when he was shoved down over the desk. His feet were kicked apart. His ass was grabbed and spread open. He shivered at the leather covered thumb that traced over his swollen stretched rim. He barely had a chance to brace himself before Din was filling him full again. A wail escaped Jaster at the drive back in. Din pounded into him, keeping his hips pulled back to ensure Jaster didn't get bruised by the edge of the desk. There was no way Jaster could hold back the cries being fucked out of him. Every thrust was so much, so intense, and searing along every nerve. Jaster came again in record time. He didn't know how Din this too him: wrenched orgasms from him with a ruthless intent.

Din pulled out. He yanked Jaster upright, spun him around, and grabbed Jaster's hands. He guided Jaster's hands up to cup the divots of his helmet. "Take it off," Din demanded.

Jaster's eyes widened. He did as Din requested with reverence. Seeing Din's face was always a privilege and a revelation. The demigod was just as breath stealingly handsome as always. Jaster would never get tired of Din's face or those beautiful brown eyes. Din's gaze was so dark and expression so full of fervent passion and possessive lust. It made Jaster's gut swoop. This being, powerful and terrifying, looked at Jaster like THAT. Jaster set the helmet on the desk. Din cupped Jaster's jaw to draw him in for a slow, hungry kiss that left Jaster dizzy and breathless.

He caught at Din's shoulders when he was hoisted up to sit on the desk. Jaster was pushed down by the shoulders. His knees were caught and cradled in Din's elbows. That big cock was spearing Jaster back open a moment later. Jaster flung his head back with a high whimper. Din gave him no time to adjust. The pace was quick enough to have Jaster panting for air between strikes. It was glorious. It was to much. It bordered on painful. Each hit to his sweet spot was a jangle of sensations: euphoric agony. Tears spilled down Jaster's cheeks. There was no way he should be able to come again. He wasn't a young man, but maybe his body was again. He came anyway—wailing and sobbing. His back arched while his body shook through the crash of gratification so intense his vision went dark.

"Look at you, Mand'alor. Perfect for me," Din crooned, voice strained and raspier still.

The clench of Jaster's body seemed to do the demigod in. Din came with a low, raspy groan that had goosebumps breaking out down Jaster's arms. Din's hips rutted, chasing his release. Jaster's come splattered over his belly, mixing with sweat. Din pulled out and let go of Jaster's shaking legs.

Din gently pulled Jaster up for a kiss: tender, slow, and sweet. Jaster twined his fingers through the curls at the back of Din's head. The demigod's frantic hunger had eased to leave this softness that Jaster adored. As strong and fierce as Din was this side of him was Jaster's favorite because only he got to see and experience it.

"Gar darasuum," Jaster whispered. (Yours forever.)

"Darasuum bal ori'shya." (Forever and more.)

Jaster smiled before leaning in for another kiss filled with all his devotion.

Epilogue

Jaster's flagship broke atmo, immediately hit by torrential downpour that was common for Kamino's monsoon season. It had been a month since the visit to Coruscant. It had taken Jaster that long to root around in the Sith's files to find the answer to the threat that had been made in that senatorial office on Coruscant. Jaster's blood had run cold. He hadn't even waited to make plans. He ordered fifty of his best commandos onto his frigate, but Myles in charge of Mandalore, and left. A month the Kaminoans had Jango's blood to replicate it for a twisted plot to create a clone army for the Republic that were ultimately designed to destroy it and the Jedi order.

It all went so much deeper than that. The banking union had been at the Sith's beck and call. Every union was quietly gaining power through the Sith's twisted machinations. Plans that had been taking shape for hundreds of years. All of it finally getting close to fruition. Most enraging of all was the revelation that the Sith had been funneling money to Death Watch. Jaster's death had been orchestrated to further de-stabilize the Mandalore sector in hopes the Pacifists would truly take over. Leaving the Mandalore sector vulnerable to destruction. And it would have worked.

The future Din prevented by resurrecting Jaster had been so disturbingly close. That Mandalore's downfall would have come from Jaster's death made him cold and sick. Worse that, Jango was and had always been part of a master plot to destroy not only Mandalore but the Republic and plunge the whole galaxy into darkness.

Jaster had a mind to destroy every city on Kamino to ensure none of this plot persisted. He needed to do further investigation in to the Sith's cloning project, first. He would only call the ori'ramikad down if needed. Jango flew them down on a drop ship, docking at one one small landing pads. Jaster stalked out moments later with Din, a silent silver ghost, at his back. Jaster marched in to the facility.

Hours later, he marched out of the facility with an ik'ad wrapped in his cloak in one arm, with a dozen dead Kaminoans in his wake. Din had happily crushed all of the tall, ethereal beings' spirits to dust. The clone facility was burning from the inside. Every computer had been scrubbed then destroyed.

As soon as the drop ship landed in the frigate, Jaster disembarked. Jango met him down in the holding bay. The younger Mandalorian's eyebrows arched at the sight of the ik'ad.

"Who is that?" Jango asked in disgruntlement.

Jaster held out the child. "This is your son. The only one, thankfully. This little soul was their first attempt with your DNA and the only one that apparently "came out right." A dozen others were unfortunately not so lucky. This ik'ad was unaltered in any way to provide the Kaminoans with another template if no more of your sample could be obtained."

Jango blanched, fumbling to cradle the ik'ad properly. "So the Sith's files were true!"

"Yes, along with some other disturbing info that I need to take care of by comming the
Jetiise," Jaster replied.

Jango looked down at the ik'ad. "He's so little..." The young man swept a gentle hand over the child's thick, dark curls. The little boy's brown eyes opened to stare up at Jango. A large yawn escaped the child followed by a coo. Jango swept a thumb over one tiny hand. "I thought the Fett line would die with me." He looked so awed.

Jaster's expression softened, anger cooling for a moment. "Any name ideas?"

"Boba," Jango pulled his gaze from the child to meet Jaster's eyes. "My father's name, so his legacy lives on."

"Your father was a brave man. An excellent choice. How about you go try to feed him?
I'll meet you in the mess," Jaster clapped his son on the shoulder. "Becoming a ba'buir is the best outcome of this whole mess."

"You're gonna spoil him, aren't you?" Jango groaned.

"Of course!"

Jango rolled his eyes and left.

"Boba will be the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. His name will be infamous to all that fear him," Din stated.

"Is that your prediction?"

"It is written in his fate."

Jaster smiled. "A worthy profession for a Mandalorian." He sobered then headed for
the comms room.

A few minutes later he was on a long distance call to Coruscant, specifically the Jedi Temple, with a demand to speak with Yoda. The green Jedi's clawed fists were clenched white around his gaffi stick when Jaster was done explaining.

Jaster stared the Jedi Master down, arms crossed. "Do something about that Sith aligned spawn, Sifo-Dyas, before I have to make another visit to Coruscant to take matters in to my own hands," Jaster snarled.

"Concerns we have had of Master Sifo-Dyas for some time. Betrayal this is to commission a Republic army behind our Order's back. Doubtful it is, that Sifo-Dyas knew the money was connected to the Sith," Yoda frowned.

"I don't care. His manipulations nearly caused my son to be used as a clone template to try to blackmail and manipulate me. Do something about that Jetti, Master Yoda, or I will. You will not be able to stop me. This is your only warning," Jaster growled furiously.

Yoda's brow scrunched. "The issue, I will fix." He was quiet for a moment before venturing to ask, "Still stands, your offer does, to help Jedi?"

"It does."

"Disturbing and enlightening the Sith's personal files have been in manipulations of making indentured servants of the Jedi to the Republic. A distance, needed it is for our order," Yoda remarked.

Jaster nodded, "Take care of Sifo-Dyas then we'll talk."

"An appropriate punishment, I have in mind. Some time it may take," Yoda warned.

"Why?"

"A wandering Master, I must find, to mete out the sentence," Yoda answered.

Jaster arched an eyebrow. "Explain, please."

The comm ended minutes later. Jaster headed for the mess a satisfied smirk on his face.

"Mind wipe," Din hummed in dark satisfaction. "Who knew this generation of Jettise could be so ruthless."

"It's more cruel then a swift death," Jaster agreed. "It seems my next great task is the freeing of the Jedi order."

"So now you will become Mand'alor the Rebuilder and Jedi Protector," Din sounded amused. "My Mand'alor, the future you are creating will be glorious and your legacy etched into our people's history for all time."

"I hope my statue will be as noble and tall as Tarre Vizsla's," Jaster chuckled.

Din chuckled too. "He is most proud of your efforts."

Jaster nearly tripped. "Really?"

"His spirit has been watching you for some time. He is delighted," Din replied sincerely.

Jaster felt giddy. Tarre vizsla! Proud of him!

"After you free the Jedi, what then?"Din asked.

"Well, after the Jedi and Mandalorians end slave trading then maybe take out the crime syndicates—the Hutts, Black Suns, the Pykes, Crimson Dawn...that should keep me plenty busy. If the Republic doesn't fix the unions' power, I'll have to address that too," Jaster started listing off all that he had been mulling over.

"It looks like I will be kept busy too," Din's grin was clear in his voice.

"I plan to keep you plenty entertained, my rid'runi," Jaster grinned too.

Din caught Jaster's arm to draw him to a halt. "Oh, you do, cyare. And I know you always will. I could not have claimed a more true Mandalorian." He caught Jaster's chin, lifting it up, and leaning down to press his helmet to Jaster's forehead in a gentle mirshmure'cya.

"We are one," Jaster swore, fiercely.

Din said, possessively. "We will share all."

"I am yours."

"You are mine."

And they would never be parted.

Finis.