9 But my Vibroblade is gone...

"Very well padawan. Dont you dare die. I do not wish to explain to your Master what happened." Master Myr said as she did a triple strike downing a Rakghoul and retreating. "Pew," a blaster bolt went out crippling a beast that tried to strike her. Alex leaned in striking against it with his vibroblade. Seeing it didn't work he stepped onto the creature's knee and shoved the blade into its chest.

"Crinng," the blade cried out against its the armored beast hide. Pulling on his reserves of strength Alex made one last harrumph and pushed the vibroblade all the way to the chest of the creature. "Arrroooo," it screamed as its body was cut open. This drew the attention of the others. Disengaging from the other's they ran toward Alex. The beast that were out past the line started to turn back.

'Are they coming after us specifically due to the sword style I am using? That would explain why they attack Master Myr and my self more. It's the dark side energy the form draws out.' Keeping his thoughts focused Alex kept pace. Drawing on the dark side energy around him his legs bulged from the strain. "Argh, damn it."

"Fire, everything at them now!" Alex's droid screamed. The creatures were all in a huddled circle trying to tear away at him. It was the perfect chance to fire. Alex pulled his blade free and notice the condition it was in for a second before running pass the remains of the barricade. As all the creatures ran back into the bottleneck the troopers fired everything they had. It wasn't enough. With the creature falling onto the back's of the others, their bodies also worked as a shield. Once the wave of beast made it through they chased Alex through the city.

A tired Kirell asked Master Myr "where is he going?" Out of breath, the young man didn't know what to make of everything. Master Soruda tended to the other injured troopers. Some were so maimed, that if they did not receive proper treatment the only thing left of them would be death.

As Alex ran through the city he fired pop shots behind him from both the blaster pistol and rifle. Just enough to piss the creatures off and kill one to reignite there anger. Alex had to let the dark side energy leave his muscle after just a minute. Anymore and his legs would have ruptured.

"Do do do," the blaster pistol ran out of energy. Then the rifle. Alex was getting tired. But he refused to stop. Unfortunately, fate had a funny joke for him. He turned down an alley that had no way out. Looking up he thought about scaling the wall. Dismissing that as a no he took a breath. "Haaaa." With his body drained the way it was, that would not work. Turning around he pointed his cracked vibroblade at the overwhelming horde.

"Well, shit this.. was definitely not the plan." Gritting his teeth he took his last stance. 'Force Apex it is. Should be able to take out at least 20 or 30 of them before I collapse.' Staring at the few who stuck their claws into the walls he lamented at that thought. 'Who am I kidding?! I will be lucky if I get five.' Stepping forward at them Alex was ready.

"Arrroo!" The Rakghouls howled. The momentum made the buildings in the vicinity shake. They were all ready to rip Alex apart. A collective of dark side creatures at the ready.

Little arcs of lighting started to gather between the buildings. At first, Alex thought it was from all the damage throughtout the city. Then he felt the presence. A strong presence that he knew only one person had. Looking up he saw a figure falling from the sky cloaked in force lighting. Jumping back with the last of his strength he hit against the wall.

Standing before him was a pissed of XoXann. Not the regular annoyed piss. The super pissed. You ate the last slice of cake pissed. Looking back she stared at Alex causing him to audibly gulp.

"Gulp, haha haha hi Master," Alex said waving his hand with the vibroblade. At that time the blade cracked into several pieces. Staring at it, Alex could not believe his luck. "You see what happened was.."

"Not another word my apprentice." As the Rakghouls charged ahead, Master XoXann turned and extended her dainty little hand. "Pay close attention, my apprentice. This, Is what it means to wield power!" A giant arc of force lighting traveled out around her palm, tearing a hole through the Rakghouls. Before they could escape in the back, the lighting jumped to the rear enclosing them all inside. "You dare try to kill my apprentice! You must want to die!" With a flick of her other hand, the energy in the buildings nearby drained. All the lamps and electronics in the housing units drained to zero. With the added energy another blast of lightning travelled from her arm.

Alex watched in wonder. 'If she keeps this up she could die!' Unknown to him, he stood up and walked behind her. Placing his hands around her back he leaned into her. "Master it's ok." Alex had no idea he said it. He became to weak and the force guided his body. His glazed over and his body slack. But XoXann was grateful he did. His touch eased her worries and she reigned her power in. In a few seconds, all the Rakghouls perished.

Alex did not hear the sound of quest completion. A few deposits landed in his inventory.

Master XoXann turned around to yell at her apprentice for taking such a risk. She stopped when noticing he was passed out. She smiled even though she was angry. "Glad you passed out, gives me the chance to think about how to punish you." She poked his cheeks and ran her hands across his chin. To an outside view, one would think she was staring at a work of art. Her art to be specific. Her masterpiece and culmination of her research. Standing up XoXann felt the pulse of dark side energy in the distance. "Those idiots have found an entrance to the underground tombs. How stupid."

"But don't think you are out of the woods just yet." Reaching down she started to heal Alex. A few tears fell from her face. "What is this? Am I actually crying?" Wiping the tears away she started to think about the last words she spoke to Matta Tremayne.*

*Flashback.*

"No matter what you do.. never think you can do it all alone. It is the reason the Dark Jedi had trouble. The reason the Sith had trouble. And the reason the Jedi are flawed. In time you will learn my apprentice. Guard this Holocron well." The image of XoXann in her old body disappeared. The young woman held the Holocron tightly.

"Master XoXann... I am a devout follower of the order. Master of the Jedi. With your teachings, I will make the Order more powerful than ever. Protecting the younglings and paving a wave to a brighter future." Matta Tremayne. A young female that always showed promise. Petite of the body, but a master duelist. Cut down by her own padawan. XoXann felt her death cry in the force.

'Hahaha, no. You are not her. I wish I could have taught her in the flesh but it was not meant to be. My clone body was too damaged at the time. I will not fail you, as my teachings failed her." Picking Alex up she headed to where she felt the energy at before jumping down.

Alex was up a few hours later. First thing that assaults him were the messages.

(Mission Upgraded. Complete trials on the first run through. Completed. Reward: You will be sent to Coruscant to aid in the Senator's protection no matter the location you are at the time. Negated. Window missed. Chance to recruit Zam Wesell shape-shifting bounty hunter. Negated)

(Padawan trial completed. Report back to XoXann to collect rewards and report. Completed.) Jedi Master Cylin Myr, Jedi Master Soruda, Jedi Knight Kerill, Balfour, and troopers have all given the information to Master XoXann.)

(Quest Upgraded. Find the base of the Rakata. Completed) (Map has been unlocked as a reward. Follow to location. Enter the base. Rewards Vary.)

(Optional: Join the underdwellers in taking back the slums. Completed) (Civilian units obtained.)

(Optional: Get the locals to return to the surface. Completed.) (Jedi forces have increased. Warning Current planetary missions must be completed to keep forces in the order.) (Bonus: Master XoXann can recruit a padawan or an acolyte.)

(Convince the Masters to return to the council. Progress 27% Ongoing.)

(Help protect the Corscanti. Completed Rewards Droid upgrade parts, Blueprints to lost tech, Cortosis lightsaber belt ring.)

(Level Up x4 Bonus points awarded. 25)

'Tch would have probably gotten more if I defeated those Rakghouls and not XoXann. Need to spend these points.'

Name: Alexander Primus

Rank: Force Guardian

Title: The Quiet One, Defender of the Corscanti

Race: Human Adaptive

Bonds: 2 Allies: 3 Enemies: ???

Vitality: 12-4

Strength: 6-4

Muscle flexibility: 6-2

Speed: 5-5

Force Energy: 14-2

Intelligence: 5-1

Mental Endurance: 7-2

Mental Aptitude: 6-2

Willpower: 6-2

Resistance: 6-1

Equipment: None

'Well, this will have to do.' Alex started to get of the table when everyone came in. XoXann started to explain want transpired while he was in dreamland. The Republic reinforcements arrived and swept any Rakghouls in the area up. With the help of the local commander, it would be a week until a full sweep was done. Two more weeks for stability. In three weeks repairs would begin. Till that time everyone one remain topside. Mace Windhu stood in the room during the briefing as well as two other Masters Alex never knew. Despite himself, Mace could not help but smile. His Master was safe and several people had been saved. It was a good day for all. On a side note, he could feel his own personal connection to the force strengthen.

"Then I guess we go after them then," Alex said staring at XoXann. "There is no way we can just let them open that place up. Not counting the fact they will become stupidly powerful, the chance of them getting possessed by a force ghost is way too high." Alex started to walk away but was stopped by his Master and members of the council.

"Hold on there. We cannot just let you go there my padawan. Rest for an hour or so then you will go. You will not go alone either." XoXann moved back then stepped to the side. Walking back up to Alex she placed a box in front of him. "Just enough time to build your lightsaber. You will attune your self later with it." Lifting him off the table she pulled him ahead to another room. Stopping at an empty building with no prying eyes she removed a crystal from her left pocket. Then a smaller crystal from the right. She then pulled out her own lightsaber removing a small nodule from within. The first two were standard focusing crystals. Well, kind of standard. The nodule was a part of her primary crystal mount.

"Master... this looks a lot different from what I read," Alex stated inquisitively at the crystals and nodule. "But then again you have always done strange things with me .. so I guess it's whatever."

"Alex grab the remainder of your vibroblade and bring it to me." As he walked over XoXann grabbed the hilt and his hand. Cutting A small hole she dripped the blood on each crystal. Then with her own palm, she cut her hand open dripping blood on the crystals next. "This will bind us togethor. You have a choice to make. Will you continue learning from me or will you part from me and take Master Myr as your new Master?" XoXann bowed her head as she waited for his reply. She watched as the blood pulsed with force energy. 'At least my plans have worked out so far. If he leaves it may be for the best.'

"Yeah, not going anywhere. You are stuck with me. Considering how you have been taking care of me for the longest time. I won't just leave you. I mean if you want me to go, I will." Alex smiled at her. Then unable to contain his excitement. He reached over hugging her. "Besides, there is so much more to learn from you. Why are you so worried?" Watching as she remained quiet he couldn't help but become worried as well. 'Did I miss something?'

"Thank you," XoXann said quietly. Returning the hug she pushed him away and returned to her neutral face. "Enough of that now time to build this lightsaber."

Alex would have asked more but stopped once he noticed the message bubble. Unlike before his mind was too exhausted for him to work through things this time.

(Master XoXann Loyalty increased. Will now teach Dark Jedi techniques regardless of your skill level.)

(Force Bracelet awarded.)

Before he could inspect the item, the droid had entered and spoke up. "I am glad she backed away. I would have shot her I swear I would. Nobody takes my meal ticket." The droids sauntered over and gave master XoXann a once over. Turning to look at Alex she said, "what does she have that I dont?"

"Pfft, she has flesh. And actually likes me. Unlike you. But other than that you lack nothing."

"Eh, I tolerate you, my apprentice." Master XoXann said with a little cheek. "Now build your lightsaber."

Alex barely contained his joy as he opens the old box. Several unrecognizable pieces laid inside. Scanning over them slowly, some looked ancient some looked new. Fresh off the assembly line new. Pulling on the knowledge he could, he started building right away. The droid and Master XoXann watched closely. Anytime he messed up with a part the droid corrected him. When he placed a part in backward Master XoXann advised what would happen if he left it. After 15 minutes it was ready. Looking at it Alex did not turn it on. He took it apart and redid it. Reaching in his inventory he equipped the Cortosis lightsaber belt ring.

"The two crystals I have given you will act as an additional amplifier for you as your focusing crystals. The Diatum power cell is standard so expect no extra power. The insulator has been tempered several times over. The power vortex ring has been tempered in lighting. Guess where it came from. The blade length adjustment are the exact length of your vibroblade. The parts of your vibroblade have been charged as your magnetic stabilizing ring. You can think the droid for that. By the way.. what is her name?" Master XoXann finished standing in front of Alex.

"Yeah oh foolish one. What is my name?' The droid asked.

"Haven't thought of one. Was kind of busy. With the way she acts, I would think she would like to name herself." Alex looked over. Noticing that menacing gaze he tries his best to think of a name. "How about Inferna. Since you like blowing things up it should fit."

The droid walked around back and forth. Stopping she looked at him. "It will have to do. By the way, I need more rockets."

"Ok. It's on the list." Looking at the lightsaber Alex was ready to activate it. Master XoXann reached her hand out taking it.

"Stand up and follow me." Walking back to everyone else XoXann stopped. A few of the padawans made it back with some troopers. Master Myr and Soruda stood to the left and right of her.

Master XoXann stared at Alex. In an extremely serious voice, she started speaking. "Lightsabers were an integral part of the knighting ceremonies of the Jedi Order. During the ceremony, a Padawan would have his or her Padawan braid ritualistically severed by the presiding Jedi Master. The Master would then move the blade near each of the Padawan's shoulders and recite an oath. Kneel before me." Igniting the lightsaber she touched each of his shoulders. Pushing just enough to break the skin. "Me and you are not Jedi. We will not pretend to be them either. However, some things must still be done. Some rights must still be honored." As Alex fleshed healed he looked up into her eyes. "We are born from the force. When we die, we will return to the force. I cut you with this lightsaber for you to remember the pain it can inflict. With each swing against your foe, you will know the pain as they have. Now rise my Force Guardian." Turning off his lightsaber she handed it to him. Alex could swear he saw a smile under her cowl.

Master Myr and Master Soruda stepped forward igniting their own lightsabers. "By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, Alexander Primus, we knight thee as a Jedi Guardian."