We Have Returned!

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... It is a time of war once again as the ancient threat of the Sith empire has returned after a thousand years. The republic has once again invoked the Jedi's wartime protocols. Each day the republic takes back more and more of the core planets the Sith had taken over and the recent victory of Jedi master Satele Shan over the empire and Darth Malgus on Alderaan has dealt a fierce blow against the Sith. But the Sith aren't ones to take such a loss lying down it is only time until they respond in full force.

" Master Zallow, how goes young Skywalker's Training? The boy's midichlorian count is the highest our order has ever seen. So, I can't stress enough how important his training is." Grandmaster Kel Dor Zym asked as he and Zallow drank tea at a table in the Jedi Archives.

" I'll tell ya, he's more of a handful than Aryn ever was. He's reckless, cocky, a smart mouth." Zallow explained. " But he's a great student. He's further along in his training than Aryn or even I was at his age. The boy's always training no matter what he's doing even something as simple as a game of chess or hiding seek can be training. He thinks like a man thrice his age sometimes and others is just reckless and yet still he's succeeded at every trial I've put in front of him. And that speaks nothing for his combat skills. He's already well adept at Ataru, nowhere near as much as I am, but adept, nevertheless. His skills for Soresu are just as refined. But his skill in Makashi and Shii-Cho are unparalleled. And despite his small size, his use of Shien is brilliant. He strikes hard, towards his opponent's legs to throw them off balance. He is the best duelist amongst the padawans. I'd go as far to say he's even better than some of our knights." Zallow explained in depth to the man.

" I'm glad to hear such that the young man is advancing well." Kel Dor exclaimed before taking a drink of his tea.

" Yeah, well he'd be the perfect Jedi if he wasn't such a smart ass." Zallow stated. " But then again he's my smart ass."

Kel Dor let out a hearty laugh alongside Ven Zallow, the two masters enjoying their brief moment of peace before Kel Dor would depart for the peace negotiations on Alderaan.

" Well, I'm glad to hear we have such a promising future. But I believe it is time for me to depart. Hopefully I will return but I trust you to look after our people until I do or unless I don't my old friend." Kel Dor told the man as he finished off his tea.

" Of course, Kel Dor. May the force be with you, my friend." Zallow told the man.

" And May the force be with you." Kel Dor nodded, and the two men bowed to each other in respect. Kel Dor then left the archives and headed towards his personal shuttle and joined up with the other Jedi knights and master's to head towards the peace negotiations.

Zallow sat in silence and sipped his tea before speaking once again. " So, have you had fun sneaking around my Smart-ass?" Zallow asked.

Hopping down from the top of one of the bookshelves, was a young boy with sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar over his right eye. " Heh! Sorry master."

" Jacen, I've told you many times not to eavesdrop?" Zallow asked the boy.

" I don't know. Something about not eavesdropping on the masters. Or something like that, I wasn't really paying attention when you said it master, I was too busy eavesdropping on Jedi knight Satele's conversation with knight bakarn." The young boy named Jacen rubbed his head as he replied to his master.

Zallow shook his head and grabbed Jacen by his neck. " Come here you little-"

" Ah, master that hurts." Jacen complained.

XxX

" Ah, man master. Did you have to do it so hard?" Jacen asked as he walked alongside his master through the main hall of the temple.

" Of course, I did. If I didn't you wouldn't learn anything. But I'm sure you'll ignore me and do it again later, so don't worry I'll think of other creative ways to punish you." Zallow told the boy.

" Wow, master. That's evil." Jacen replied. " Anyway, what's on the table for today? More sparing sessions, meditation, physical training? What?" Jacen asked.

" Nothing, we're on standby until the Peace negotiations are over." Zallow told the boy.

"Well, that sucks. Guess I'll just... Master." Jacen suddenly stopped mid-sentence as he gazed upon the man cloaked in black walking through the front doors of the Jedi Temple with a twi'lek woman. " Someone's here."

Zallow turned his gaze from his student to the front of the temple and his eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing the figure cloaked in black and the woman. Zallow then turned back to Jacen and nodded.

Jacen, understanding what his master meant, nodded back and followed his master as the man approached the intruders.

" Who are you?" Zallow asked as he and Jacen stood in front of the intruders.

Seeing the confrontation, other Jedi knights, masters, and Padawans began dropping from the varying levels of the temple and stood behind Zallow and his padawan.

" Our time has come. For three hundred years we prepared. We grew stronger. While you rested in your cradle of power. Believing your people were safe and protected. You were trusted to lead the republic. But you were deceived. As our powers of the dark side have blinded you." The man spoke.

The Jedi all immediately began drawing their sabers and practice blades as the man spoke to Ven Zallow and Jacen.

Zallow and Jacen both glared at the man and were carefully watching his every action. However, they found their attentions quickly being draw to the ship heading straight towards the temple. Realizing that the ship was about to break through, Zallow and Jacen both jumped back to a safe distance to avoid being hit.

[ Duel of Fates]

" You assumed no force could challenge you." The man spoke. The ship came crashing through the temple destroying the doors completely and coming to a stop just behind the man. The ship's door opened and the hum of a red lightsaber coming to life sounded throughout the temple. " And now." The man spoke and upon his word many more Sith ignited their blades. " Finally, we have returned." Darth Malgus Declared.