Apologies if this chapter is abit short guys been very busy with starting this new job along with class needed for it so thank you all in advance for waiting also a great thank you too everyone whom has enjoyed this story. I'm currently writing out new chapters including our two other stories for Grave Effect and Dead Effect so in the meantime if you want check those out you'll enjoy them :) we both hope you all have a great day and night from _ SaibotReaper Productions

Chapter III: The Shadow In The Force

/Takodana/

Inside Maz Kanata's castle, the young girl Mara sat and watched as different kinds of aliens, smugglers, and bounty hunters walked in and out of Maz's Castle all the time yet she continued to eye each one carefully. Maz herself watched the girl seeing how she acted toward everyone who entered and left the castle but turned away for a moment contacting a friend from Coruscant. The image of Jedi Master Plo Koon came over the holo-image and he was surprised to see Maz contact him.

"Ahh, Maz Kanata," Plo stated. "I did not expect to hear from you again for some time what troubles you?"

"No not trouble, master Jedi," Maz said as she looked to the girl. "More like someone who needs your help. Get to my castle as soon as possible it's urgent."

"Very well. I shall be there at once." Plo Koon stated as the holo dissipated.

"Get here soon master Jedi." Maz's tone was evident with worry as she could sense something coming but it was shadowed from the force.

In the expanse of space, a single Kom'rk-class fighter exited hyperspace appearing over the world of Takodana, inside the vessel Revan along with a small group of Mandalorians arrived over the planet. The vessel began its descent but before landing dropped off its detachment of Mandalorian warriors, while Revan landed the vessel beyond the tree line to avoid detection.

As he left the vessel Revan could feel something within the force not simply on this planet but something that was soon to arrive. Making his way to his followers he was soon met by them who were scouting the area while Revan made his way to them.

"Lord Revan. Rook and our men have scouted ahead this place has little defenses but it has bounty hunters, smugglers, and the like within. No sign of your target yet sir." The soldier stated.

"Understood Saxon." Revan took a look for himself. "The target is a human girl with red hair. I want her alive and unharmed, casualties amongst the smugglers and bounty hunters I don't care about."

"Of course my lord it will be done," Saxon noted. "Rook get our men into position I don't want anyone getting in or out of that castle."

"Gotcha," Rook said as she jetpacked off with her men.

Revan looked on in silence at the castle he could feel the force resonating throughout this site as his hand touched the ground he could hear it. The echoes of a long-forgotten battle echo throughout the site where the castle now stands, looking to Saxon he gave a simple nod as he and Revan walked forth to the entrance of the castle.

Inside, however, Maz could feel the presence and quickly hid Mara away while she went back out along with Arfuul in tow. The doors to the cantina opened and many different aliens and scoundrels turned to see as Revan and Saxon entered, many-eyed them with some measure of worry while others remained quiet.

Revan looked throughout the bar seeing all of the different aliens and beings who were for lack of better word laying low. As he made his way to the center of the bar he gathered everyone's attention as he spoke up.

"I'm looking for the owner of this...establishment where are they?" Revan asked as he looked to everyone in the room.

"Down here spooky," Maz yelled.

Both Revan and Saxon looked down with only Saxon letting out a small chuckle at the small alien who ran the castle and this cantina.

"I take it your Maz Kanata, the pirate queen of Takodana," Revan stated.

"And your someone who wears relicts of dead men I see hmm?" Maz said as she kept a calm and unnerved exterior.

Revan remained silent for a moment as both stared at each other until he finally spoke up. "Where is the girl?"

"What girl?" Maz said standing dead in front of Revans path.

Revan looked around and sensed for the girl but at the same time he felt a familiar presence but not in the castle itself but high above and this caused his fist to clench in anger as he looked to Saxon.

"Saxon." Revan turned his head to Saxon and gave a simple nod. Which Saxon returned as he left Revan alone in the castle with Maz.

Above the planet, a single Arquitens-class light cruiser exited hyperspace over the planet as aboard Jedi Master Plo Koon along with members of the Wolf Pack Battalion had deployed to the surface in a single shuttle.

"Remember men we are here for a rescue mission. Wolffe secured the area with your men I alone will go to meet with Maz Kanata, if anything is out of the ordinary contact me at once." Plo Koon stated.

"Understood General. We got our orders boys lock and load." Wolffe barked to his troopers.

"Yes sir!" The clones responded.

One of the shuttles soon departed carrying Plo Koon and his men to the surface while on the ground Saxon and his men took up positions in the tree line to avoid detection till the Jedi landed. Inside Maz's castle, Revan was growing impatient as he pushed passed Maz and searched for the girl.

As from one of the overhead balconies, Mara's heart raced as she saw the masked figure skulking around the cantina. Her mind raced with what would happen if she was caught, but at the same time what that voice said to her before she was brought into Maz's home.

"I'll give you one chance Maz." Revan lowered his head to face her. "Give me what I've come for or else this entire castle will be rendered into rubble."

"What do I have to give you hm?" Maz stated. "You come here with your Mandalorian friend searching for someone, I do not know and expect me to hand them over to you just because you say so."

"I grow tired of this," Revan stated as he activated his lightsaber and aimed it at Maz's face prepared to strike her down.

"WAIT!" A voice rang out.

Both Revan and Maz turned to see the young girl jump down as she placed herself between the lightsaber and Maz.

"I told you to stay put did I, not Mara." Maz said a hint of concern showing.

"I'll go with you. Just please don't hurt her she helped me escape the slavers." Mara said.

Revan turned his head slightly toward Maz before looking back to Mara as his lightsaber deactivated. "Fine then let's go girl."

Mara looked back to Maz and simply smiled as she held her hand. "Thank you. I'll be ok I promise."

Maz simply nodded as she held onto Mara's hand for a moment before leaving the castle with Revan. Outside the castle, several clone troopers surrounded Revan along with Plo Koon who stood there in silence as his clones had their blasters trained on Revan.

"Master Plo Koon. I'm not surprised to see you here, yet I am honored to meet such a wise member of the order." Revan said his tone calm and at ease.

"I do not know you stranger, but the girl who is with you is under my protection and that of the Jedi Order." Plo Koon extended his hand for the girl. "Child. Please step over here with me."

Mara couldn't move as Revan looked down at her. Yet she remained where she needed as the voice told her when it said she would be safe, Mara took a step back as Revan stepped up to get in front of her.

"I'm sorry master Jedi. This girl will not be joining your order today or ever, so I suggest you take your clones and leave." Revan demanded as he was ready for a fight with the Jedi.

"I cannot do that, and you are not taking the girl either." Plo Koon stated. "I will say once again step aside I do not wish to strike you down."

Revan took two steps forward as he activated his lightsaber, the amethyst blade ignited which surprised Plo Koon and members of Wolf Pack.

"It's a shame you will be incapable of that Jedi," Revan stated as he twirled his blade pointing it at Plo Koon who ignited his blue blade.

Wolf Pack opened fire on Revan who dodged between the blaster shots sending them back into the clones killing three of them and wounding Wolffe, falling back onto the wall.

Plo Koon clashed his blade with Revan, Mara hid behind one of the stone pillars watching the fight unfold. Plo Koon kept pace with Revan as both individuals slashed and blocked each other's attacks with ease, Revan was using more aggressive tactics pressing his attacks on Plo Koon.

Taking several further steps back closing in on the forest tree line, Plo Koon used the force to uproot several trees sending them flying into Revan. simply cutting through them and jumped high above the last one, Revan came bringing his lightsaber down on Plo Koon blocking it but barely.

Using the advantage Revan kicked Plo Koon back into a tree and sliced at him which Plo Koon dodged and turning back unleashed bolts of yellow force lightning into Revan.

This placed him on one knee for a moment or so as Plo Koon unleashed more onto him, Revan recoiled back slightly using his blade to block the oncoming hits of the lightning.

Using his free hand he used the force to crush a nearby tree to separate him and Plo Koon, dodging quickly Plo Koon jumped back from the tree as Revan lunged over it with both crossing blades once again several quick slashes and blocks between the two followed.

Plo Koon forced pushed Revan back only for him to use the force as well as each other pushed at the other until both were flung backward by their force push. Plo Koon fell to the ground, while Revan dug his hand into the dirt to slow himself recovering he dashed towards his Jedi opponent.

Using small uses of the force to keep Plo Koon off-balance, he ran faster till he was near and unleashed small torrents of Force Lightning onto Plo Koon. Till he slid under him and with a quick flick of his lightsaber cut upward and through Plo Koon's entire left arm up to the shoulder with it falling helplessly to the ground.

"Aghhh!" Plo Koon held what was left of his arm as he fell to his knees in pain looking upward, Revan's blade was at Plo Koon's neck.

Revan had recovered and with his lightsaber nearing Plo Koon's neck he could kill the Jedi Master here and now, but the moment was cut short with the arrival of Saxon and Rook.

"Lord Revan we-" Saxon was halted as Revan put his hand up.

Plo Koon breathed heavily as the blade neared his neck. Plo Koon looking up at Revan. "You've won this fight. Yet you hesitate to strike me down why?"

"You are strong Jedi but not strong enough," Revan stated. "You won't die this day, so I give you, your life Master Plo Koon."

The Mandalorians had arrived with Mara and Wolffe in tow, Saxon had his blaster at Wolffe's head ready to shoot once ordered.

"My lord are you alright?" Saxon asked.

"I'm fine." Revan disengaged his lightsaber as he looked to Mara and Wolffe. "Release the clone, the girl will be coming with us."

"B-Yes my lord." Saxon nodded to his men. "Rook bring the girl back to the ship at once, will be their soon."

Rook simply nodded as she placed Mara close to her chest and jetpacked away with the girl, Revan looked to the clone and back to Plo Koon for a moment before leaving the two alone in the forests of Takodana.

Plo Koon though badly injured gathered what strength he had and helped get Wolffe back to their transport as overhead the Mandalorians and that force user departed. Yet something to Plo Koon felt familiar in how he fought but it was muddled and muted as if the Force couldn't be felt through him.

Aboard the ship, Mara looked at the Mandalorians who remained helmeted they all talked while she remained quiet and Revan himself was in the cockpit looking over the navigation chart.

"We risked everything for a kid?" One Mandalorian stated.

"Lord Revan wants her for something if you wanna question him be my guest." Rook said.

"I'm not gonna ask a thing unless I wanna end up as Vizsla did." The Mandalorian said.

Mara looked on before turning her attention to the cockpit of the ship as she did the voice returned to her, and began to assure her. "You hold concerns. You have every right to child, but don't be afraid of my apprentice he will not harm you and soon you will understand everything." As Snoke stated.

Mara remained calm as she held her hands together while the Mandalorians each took a seat while in the cockpit Revan rendevous with his capital ship to send Rook and Saxon away along with the others on board.

While he along with Mara traveled alone onward to Dagobah. Making her way to the cockpit she sat opposite her masked captor who simply kept his attention on the controls and the hyperspace route they were taking to their destination. Shortly thereafter they had arrived over Dagobah and descended to the surface below.

Mara stayed close to Revans side as they both made their way along a path that led to Revans master, upon reaching it several figures adorned in all red stood at attention looking to Revan and Mara.

Yet at the center of the cleared area sat Snoke upon a rooted tree-like throne that held him, leaving his chair he stood over his apprentice and Mara as he looked over them both.

"You've have done well my apprentice. You not only brought the girl but you faced a Jedi Master and emerged unscathed..yet you hesitated to finish him." Snoke stated a tone of disappointment evident.

"There would have been no reason to kill him, master." Revan stated as he kept his head lowered.

"Yet allowing Plo Koon to live has given our enemies knowledge of you my apprentice. How long before they learn of me, and Mara." Snoke stated.

"I won't allow them to discover your existence master. I will ensure every Jedi, clone, and all of the Republic is dead before that happens." Revan said his tone more determined now.

"We shall see," Snoke said as he turned to Mara motioning for her to follow. Without looking back he said it once more. "We. Shall. See."

Revan watched as Snoke and Mara disappeared into the mists of Dagobah with his guards vanishing as well. Leaving Revan alone in the silent swamps of this old world, returning to his shuttle Revan left to return to his troops aboard the Leviathan.

In the forests of Dagobah, both Snoke and Mara continued as stone steps formed beneath their feet heading further within as large vines and trees withdrew from the two individuals. Snoke looked down at the young Mara and spoke, his tone was calm and almost fatherly to the young girl.

"I hope what you saw between the Jedi and my apprentice did not upset you, my child?" Snoke said.

"No." She said quickly. "I was just surprised was all." Mara looked down watching where she stepped as the stones formed.

"Why were you surprised?" Snoke asked, his eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"That a Jedi would come so far for me. A slave girl far from the Inner Rim." Mara turned upwards to look at Snoke. "I mean, I don't know why I'm so special to the Jedi."

"A good question my child," Snoke said as he rubbed the top of her head. "Yet you were spared from the stagnancy of the Jedi by my apprentice. You would have been bogged down by their dogmatic and blind teachings."

Mara's eyes looked to the ground as she opened her mouth. "What about you?" Mara asked, which made Snoke look at her. "What makes your teachings different than a Jedi's?"

"What made you assume I am here to teach you, child?" Snoke asked, his tone sounded amused.

"Why else would you bring me here then?" Mara stated simply.

"Heh." Snoke chuckled as he patted her head. "You question things, that is good but yes I will be teaching you. Though it will not be the dogmatic view of Jedi nor simply the power craving of the Sith only what the force itself is both views undiluted by the two orders."

Mara continued till both of them reached a large encircled field clear of swamp and water, to Mara it felt peaceful and she took a long breath to take it all in.

"What is this place?" Mara asked.

"This place is where I trained my apprentice," Snoke stated as he stood at the center of the field. "It is also the place, I came to so long ago when my master had taught me all she could."

"Where is she now?" Mara asked as she walked over to Snoke.

Snoke tilted Mara's chin up to him. "Gone. Through her teachings and all I've learned since her passing live within me and will pass to my apprentice and then my child." Snoke said with a smile.

"What happens now?" Mara asked still trying to understand her place. "Even if you train me. Why did you choose me?"

"Because you, much like my apprentice are both the same both who have never known a family or place to call your own," Snoke stated. "You will learn to help my apprentice, and you will be his equal."

Mara stood their with Snoke in silence as the two simply nodded to the other as the vines and large trees closed off the path in which they came through. As now Mara's training would begin with her master Snoke.

/Jedi Temple/High Council Chamber

The council was currently in session with all members present along with Anakin Skywalker and his padawan Ahsoka Tano present on the current matter. The matter of which that occurred on Takodana with Plo Koon and Wolf Pack.

"Commander Wolffe's report shows the attacker was indeed a force-user. Yet whom this individual is, remains unknown, due to his mask but he had members of Death Watch present with him." Windu stated.

"What about any information from this Maz Kanata character?" Obi-Wan asked. "She spoke with this person. Perhaps she may be withholding information on this individual?"

Yoda rubbed his chin in contemplation as he thought. "Doubtful it is." He replied. "She knows not who he is. What he wore is of concern, a shadow of the Jedi's past it is."

The council was in an agreement on what the attacker wore to hide his identity was of some concern. The image taken from Wolffe's visor showed the attacker wearing a Neo-Crusader mask of Mandalorian descent.

"Mandalorian the mask is," Yoda stated. "Ancient, forgotten, damaged this mask is. Belonged to a Jedi it did, Revan. Hero of the Republic, Dark Lord Of The Sith." Yoda's tone was somewhat saddened.

"How is it possible, this man would have this relic Yoda," Mace said questioning. "Revan has been dead for thousands of years?"

"Relics hmm," Yoda started rubbing his chin. "Revan is known for leaving behind clues he was, great care we must take in handling this mysterious foe."

In the talks with the Jedi Council, both Anakin and Ahsoka looked to each other as he knew how she felt about what happened.

"Master Plo will be alright snips. He's tough you know." Anakin stated. Yet for him trying to assure her felt impossible as he could see the worry in her face.

"I know master, but it still doesn't seem possible that Master Plo could have been bested like that." She said her sadness ever more obvious.

"We'll catch this guy snips," Anakin stated as he smiled at her. "When we do he'll be brought to justice before the Council then off to prison."

"Yea...I guess." Ahsoka said. "Master I'll speak with you later, I.."

"Go on ahead I'm sure Master Plo will be happy to know you visited him ok." Anakin his smile still present on his face.

Ahsoka gave a small smile back. "Thanks." As she walked off to go check on Plo Koon.

The quietness within the Temple was one Ahsoka though accustomed to never liked on occasions yet when she reached where Master Plo Koon was she saw him floating in the Bacta Tank sleeping. Taking a spot on the floor crossing her legs Ahsoka meditated and stayed in the room with Plo Koon in silence hearing only the bubbles of the Bacta while his wound healed slowly.