No introduction needed. As always, enjoy!

It was the next day and Kayla grew to love the base and everyone in it. She got along with everyone, especially Sabine.

Since they're both artists, I'm not entirely surprised.

I was out on the edge of the base training with the Lone Wolf Saber.

I know with absolute certainty that there are more secrets to this saber than what Atlas said. Only time will tell...

I stopped when I felt three recognizable presences coming my way. Turning around, I saw Kanan, Ezra, and Kayla.

"Hey guys," I said.

"Hey Z. How's the training going?" Kayla asked.

"Good, I guess."

"Well, why don't we help you train?" Ezra suggested.

"It'll be good training for the four of us." Kanan said.

"Sure, why not?"

The boys stood on the opposite side of Kayla and me. All at once, the four of us ignited our lightsabers.

"This should be fun." I said.

"You can say that again." Ezra said.

We charged at each other and our lightsabers collided. Raising my weapon, I brought it down on Kanan who swiftly moved out of the way. Kayla's lightsabers soon connected with Ezra's and Ezra got blown back by the impact.

"You're really strong, Kayla." Ezra said.

"Thanks, kid. You're not bad yourself." Kayla said.

Kanan was really putting on the pressure; I was lucky enough to keep up with his attacks.

"I swear Kanan, it's like you know my every move," I said.

"When you become blind, you basically know what move is coming next. You're just predictable." Kanan said.

"Oh yeah?"

Remembering a special trick Kayla and I did once, I looked her way and called out to her.

"Kayla, ZK 927!" I said.

Kayla nodded and pushed away Ezra. Kayla walked up to my side and sized up the boys.

"Whatever you guys have planned, it probably won't work." Ezra said, twirling his lightsaber.

"We'll see about that, kid." Kayla said.

When the boys ran up to us, Kayla and I raised our lightsabers to block their attack.

"Now!" I cried.

Kayla nodded and tossed me one of her lightsabers. When Ezra brought down his weapon, I locked down his blade in between the two that I had.

"Try getting out of this one, Ezra." I said.

When Ezra tried to pull out the blade, it was pointless. Grinning at my Padawan, I forced him on his back and pointed my lightsaber to claim my victory.

"Kayla!" I cried.

I tossed her back her lightsaber, and when she caught it, she did the same to Kanan.

"Check and mate, boys." Kayla said.

Deactivating our weapons, we helped the two Jedi on their feet.

"I have to admit, that was a good strategy." Kanan said.

"Thanks, Kanan." I said.

"You two weren't bad either. It has been a while since I have fought a formidable opponent such as yourselves." Kayla said.

"Thanks Kayla." Ezra said.

I looked at Kayla and smiled.

"I'm surprised you remembered ZK 927." I said.

"How could I forget? It's one of my favorite ways to win." Kayla said.

I rolled my eyes while shaking my head in amusement.

"You guys certainly have a history together." Ezra said.

"Would you believe me if I said that she almost tried to kill me when we first met?" I asked.

"Really? I don't doubt it." Kanan said.

"Hey!"

"But it is true. When we first met, Zelara was no more than 13 or 14 years old. I grew up very timid and for me, it was really hard to trust people. So, let's just say our first encounter was pretty rough." Kayla said.

"Oh yeah. I was still learning how to use a lightsaber to defend myself, and I still have the scar on my leg you gave me, Kayla."

Kayla couldn't help but laugh at my comment.

"It's not funny! I could've lost a leg because of you!" I shouted.

"How did Zel earn your trust?" Kanan asked.

"Since Zelara trained in the ways of the Force, she looked older than she really was, so I initially thought it was someone out to kill me. When I met her again and she told me how old she was, I felt so much regret for hurting a kid." Kayla said.

"After that day, Kayla became the only friend who I really stayed in touch with."

"What about Diella, and Isen? And your ex, Nuka?" Ezra asked.

"All people who I thought were long gone. If I'm honest, I really thought Diella was dead until Aluma told me she wasn't."

Ezra smiled fondly and nodded.

"Thanks for training with me guys. I feel so much better than what I was feeling yesterday." I said.

"No problem." Kayla said.

"Anytime." Kanan said.

"Yeah. You can be pretty scary when you're mad." Ezra said.

Half offended by what Ezra said, I shot a cold glare at my Padawan, allowing my eyes to shift from brown to ice blue. Ezra stepped back in shock and fear.

"Mind saying that again, Ezra?" I asked.

"Nothing! I-I didn't say anything!" Ezra stuttered.

I laughed at my apprentice, letting my eyes go back to brown. Then, one of the workers at the base came up to us.

"Commander June, there is someone here requesting your presence." he said.

Letting him lead the way, Kayla, the boys, and I followed him to the command center. When we got there, I saw Nerezza leaning against a wall, twirling her dagger.

"Nerezza!" I said, igniting my weapon.

Kayla, Ezra, and Kanan didn't waste any time doing the same.

What is she doing here?

"Whoa, easy there Jedi. If I were here to assassinate you, I wouldn't be standing out in the open where everyone can see me. Plus, your lightsabers and blasters wouldn't even be able to penetrate me." Nerezza said.

She makes a valid point...

The others and I looked at one another and lowered our weapons.

"Why are you here?" Kanan asked.

"I'm here to see Zelara, obviously." Nerezza said nonchalantly.

I crossed my arms and stared at the Umbaran calmly.

"Go on," I said.

"During our first encounter, you told me that my life was in grave danger. How so? You don't know the first thing about me." Nerezza said.

"Yes, I do. You are a noble from Umbara who ran off with Crowvern to become more powerful."

Nerezza straightened up off the wall and stared at me in surprise.

"How do you know that?" she asked.

"Kayla here told me. That's why she was here the other day." I said.

Nerezza nodded calmly and leaned back on the wall.

"Back to my first question, why did you say that my life was in grave danger?" Nerezza asked.

"Because Crowvern is a killer. He would kill anything and anyone that dares to stand in the way of what he wants. He'd kill you too if given the chance," I said.

"Yeah right."

"He killed my parents..."

This surprised everyone.

"I thought you said an Inquisitor killed them." Ezra said.

"The Inquisitor was sent by Crowvern to find me, and he told him to strike down anyone that stood in his way... even if it meant killing my parents..."

Just the thought of what Crowvern did made me tear up.

"When we were on Alvar that one time, I saw the bounty that was on Crowvern's head; a large one at that. I'm assuming he had you kill every bounty hunter in that system that was hunting him down?" I asked turning to Nerezza.

Nerezza averted my gaze and nodded.

"Riddle me this, did you want to do it?" I asked.

"...No... I was only following orders..." she said.

"But why would Crowvern train you to become an assassin rather than in the ways of the Force?" Kanan asked.

Nerezza let out a sigh and faced us.

"Well, it all started when he was training me to fight with a lightsaber, but with sticks. Not once could I beat him... One day, he then told me to meditate; told me to find a kyber crystal. I had a vision that led us to a dark planet with a darker temple. Inside the temple was a guide of some sort; a large black bird named Ravenna. I can't explain it, but she made Crowvern a new lightsaber," Nerezza explained.

"The Dark Wing Saber," I said.

"Precisely."

"I have its counterpart, the Lone Wolf Saber."

"Ravenna did mention that you acquired said weapon. Crowvern asked her if she knew where we could find a kyber crystal for me. She said I didn't need one. Crowvern then gave me a choice if I wanted him to continue training me in the ways of the Sith, or as an assassin. He said that I was far more suited to become an assassin than anything else. Since my luck with finding a kyber crystal wasn't getting any better, he started training me to be an assassin. He had me assassinate people who caused him trouble in the past."

"How did you acquire the cortosis then?" Kayla asked.

"When I was meditating, I remembered that cortosis was one of the few things that can beat a lightsaber. I went to a planet called Dinzo to acquire it. Reinforcing my armor and creating daggers with the special metal, I was able to hold my own against Crowvern and his Dark Wing Saber. He even said that he wouldn't be able to beat me without his lightsaber."

I paced around the command center to take in everything Nerezza just said.

"Yes, he could have," I said.

"What do you mean?" Nerezza asked.

"Crowvern could've killed you without his blaster and lightsaber. I'll demonstrate."

I held out my hand to Nerezza and started bringing my thumb and finger closer together. Nerezza then started choking up; gasping for air. Releasing her, Nerezza dropped to the ground, taking in the much-needed oxygen.

"Force choke. He could've killed you with that. You and I got lucky." I said, extending a hand to her.

Nerezza looked up at me and cautiously took my hand.

"I didn't know you could that, Zela," Kayla said.

"My Master was a Sith. What'd you expect?" I asked.

"Fair enough."

I turned back to Nerezza who was back to leaning against the wall.

"Why are you trying to help me?" she asked.

"Because it's what we do. You have so much left to live for Nerezza, and I don't want to see Crowvern take another innocent life." I said.

"But all those people I killed... I don't deserve a second chance at anything..."

I smiled and placed a hand on Nerezza's shoulder.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, no matter what wrong they've done. You only did what Crowvern told you to do. In the end, Crowvern is the real killer, not you." I said.

Nerezza looked up at me and gave me a small smile.

"Thank you..." she said.

"Of course." I said.

Nerezza straightened up and placed her daggers back in their sheaths.

"Just a heads up, Crowvern has been training hours on end, nonstop, day in and day out. His power is greater than I could ever imagine. How will you beat him?" Nerezza asked.

"My friends have been helping me train. I also have a fail-safe trump card in case things go south." I said.

"Really? Mind telling us?" Ezra asked.

I turned to my apprentice and shook my head.

"Sorry, no can do." I said.

"Is it because I'm here?" Nerezza asked.

I sighed and nodded regrettably.

"Don't be sorry, I understand. I wouldn't trust me either." Nerezza said.

Trust is something you have to earn after all...

I went quiet for a while before looking back at Nerezza.

"Nerezza, where are you and Crowvern at the moment?" I asked.

"I honestly don't know. Why?" she asked.

"What is the terrain like?"

"Well, it has a lot of cliffs and drop-offs, but mainly cliffs. In a way, it's kind of deserted."

I pulled away from the Umbaran in shock.

"...No..." I muttered.

"Zelara, what's wrong?" Ezra asked, rushing to my side.

"Crowvern, he... he..." I stammered.

"Calm down. Breathe." Kayla said.

I took in many shaky breaths.

"Where is he?" Kanan asked.

"Crumore... the planet where I found out he was a Sith... The planet that was supposed to be my grave..." I said.

I love cliffhangers, don't you? More secrets will be revealed in the next part. Hope you enjoyed! May the Force be with You!

💎DiamondJedi18⚔