The Master Returns (Open)

[Mak Manto]

Around 700 Years Ago

Despite the dozens of soldiers stationed around the room, it was deathly silent as two men walked in, both of them wearing the same uniform. As they studied the chamber, they were quiet before one finally spoke, his voice quavering.

"Are we sure we're doing the right thing here? He's saved billions of lives. He's fought off the Sith and the Empire and helped the Galaxy where others couldn't."

"It's not up to us anymore. They want him this way because he continues to break out of every cell he's in. He's too powerful to be kept that way. Look, he was convicted in a court, and really, who will miss him? Have you see HoloNet News? People want him gone. The Jedi Council doesn't want him, and if the Empire or the Sith had their hands on him, he would die."

"But freezing him forever... It just seems cruel and unusual."

"Well, nothing we can do. We have to follow orders..."

As they waited, they finally saw the cell being brought in. It was a large cage that had several Ysalamiri stationed around it. Sitting in the cage, though, was Mak Manto, who merely looked up at his captors. As the cryostasis chamber began to open up, the head security officer nodded.

Clicking a button, the room became pressurized, as if a hundred pounds was being thrown on everyone's backs. It was used to keep Mak immobile, and the troopers had on special armor that allowed them to move freely. As they opened the cage and brought him out, Mak shook his head.

"So, they're finally freezing me forever, huh? After all the good I did, this is what it comes to..."

"I'm sorry, Master Manto, but you chose this. You continued to break out of your cells, forcing us to do this. You won't be conscious, if that's what you're worried about."

"What I'm worried about is the Galaxy..."

Silence again, but this time, they placed him in the chamber. Locking him in, the door was slammed shut. As he looked out, the two officers nodded before clicking several buttons on the panel. As cold air started to rush in the chamber, Mak merely closed his eyes before he was frozen...

As all of them saw it, they finally walked away except the two officers. They just watched Mak, before, they too, left the room. As the lights went off, they went to forget this event. Soon, they knew, they whole Galaxy would forget about him...

Present Time

Dozens of ships, high above the planet in space they had just found, were fighting off forces from the Imperial Remnant. They had been chased for the last hour, trying to keep the cargo they stole from them, but it was becoming a losing battle. The ships were being hunted down by two star destroyers, and after one of the pirates ships blew up, the captain of the main ship was angered, trying to figure out a way out of the mess.

"Damn them! We should've been more careful! They're tearing us apart! How many ships do we have left?"

"A dozen, sir! Though, we won't lost long out here! They're too powerful for us to stop!"

As the captain was quiet for a second, he immediately opened up the comm channel for all of his ships.

"Get below now! Head down to the planet surface! We'll have a better fighting advantage than out in the open here! Move now!"

As every ship moved to the planet below, Imperial fighters were sent out to hunt down the ships. As they screamed across the atmosphere, the battle raged as they fought against each other. The captain's main ship moved fast, trying to out maneuver his enemies. Though, when the last Imperial fighter was destroyed, he sighed.

"Well, that was fun... Where the hell are we, anyway? I don't know this planet..."

"It's Sernpidal. It's a small world in the Unknown Regions. It was held by the former Galactic Alliance, but the planet was destroyed before by the Alliance during the Yuuzhan Vong War, but it was terraformed after the war."

"Though, when the Gulag Virus hit it, all the life on the planet died out. Nobody's here now, except us."

"Well, that makes things more easier. We need to get back up in space so we can get the hyperspace coordinates to-"

Feeling laser bolts hit the ship, the captain saw that it wasn't more fighters, but the star destroyers themselves coming after them. As they tried to leave, one blast came from the head ship,blowing up the captain's ship. As the rest of the pirates were destroyed, debris began to rain down on the city, striking buildings.

One building, in particular, was hit hard. As old alarms wailed throughout the building, emergency lights came before an explosion ripped apart half the complex. The one area of the center was smashed with debris, hitting a small console that sent chambers flying open.

All of the chambers were empty except one, where a being was sent flying out. As he landed on the ground, he began to couch, feeling smoke enter his lungs. He felt weak, and he had no idea what was going on. Crawling away from the flames, he saw an opening in a wall, where he could see light. As he slithered out of the building, more explosions rocked it.

Collapsing on the ground once he was far away and safe, he looked into the sky, breathing hard. He saw two star destroyers leaving. As his mind began to work, he remembered who he was...

Mak Manto...

He was on Sernpidal, he remembered. He was placed in the cryostasis chamber. Though, as he looked around, the city was barren, empty. There was no life anywhere. Getting up, he was weak, but he moved forward, trying to make sense of what happened.

He was free from that chamber, but he had to get off the planet. He needed to return to Naboo. He would need to speak to the Jedi Council. Looking around for a ship, he began to scour the city.

 

[000]

As the turn of the tide seem just the fate would have it that during one his many expeditions. That just as he was about to leave the barren wasteland that once was far he could tell. Was a thriving and industrialized location......now lost weather by time. Appear be long past the height of glory it once held for whatever civilization once held it. Devoid of much about all life and traffic druggery that other planets had. Which in his mind made it the ideal place to practice and hone his command of the ancient arts Kashi Mer .....being perhaps one the last of their kind.There was a dying breed and heritage all but lost to memory and time that he so desperately fought hard to keep alive.

But then after spending quite considerable amount of time on one the sites he'd chosen. With the aid of the Breath to revive.......which once was nothing less than a small barren patch of land and debris Now barely alive with some bits of greenery he was able to conjure up. Which would seem considerably insignificant to some but was anything but good start for him . But then just as he'd seem hope to actually gain some progress in his sojourn That the outside world encroached on his location cause him to decide flee back to his ship.....when seem though faint as it were. He had hope this would be the one place ....as he glance back to the small patch of progress he had achieve. All but be there in one instance and disappear in cloud of dust and thunderous explosion. When one the orbital bombardment ordinance fell upon it. Cause him at the last second to crouch down low and create a dense granite wall protect him from the flying debris.Stop him in his tracks for now.....unaware of the being that was freed and head his way.

 

[Mak Manto]

He had canvassed the city, finding no one. He couldn't make sense of what happened. Perhaps the city or even the planet had been affected by something while he was in cryostasis that caused the inhabitants to either leave or die. Either way, they left Mak here, not caring if he survived. though, he didn't hold any ill will to the soldiers who had placed him there.

All he cared about was getting back to Naboo...

He wasn't sure of how much time had passed, but there weren't any changes around him. It seemed to look like the planet he had remembered. Though, there were no ships anywhere. It was possible of finding a communication center and trying to contact someone, but it was dangerous. If he was unlucky, he could bring the wrong people, like the Sith Council.

He knew several Sith, like Darth Sidian or Mason England who would give for the chance to kill him. Not to mention that the Jedi Council had pretty much out him here. Though, he would need to get back to them, no matter what. They were the one's he would have to see on what happened while he was in stasis.

The Force, luckily, was again returned, and with it, he was able to clear out much of the debris without using his own hands. Yet, he wasn't making headway. It wasn't until he came to the edge of the city did he feel it.

Another being...

So, he wasn't alone. Though, he couldn't sense anyone else. Perhaps this person was trapped here too, or maybe they were exploring the planet. Either way, it was his best shot to find this being. Slithering out into the plains to find out who this person was.

 

[Delila Castillon]

Ever since their transport had touched down at the edge of the plains, Delila had been covered in a thin film of sweat and dust. The Army Captain was leading a small detachment - three other soldiers on Sernpidal. Ever since the virus blew through the galaxy many planets had never been the same. This could be said for Sernpidal. No real people lived on the planet. It was abandoned, to be forgotten until it was a desirable territory.

So why did the Galactic Republic send out four soldiers to a dead planet? Delila and her soldiers were marching through the plains, to the city in order to find rare data on pieces of technology. A weapon the government needed. This was like looking for a needle in a haystack, which is exactly why the Captain started her men so far back from the city center.

It was quite deserted and Delila could only hear the constant wind and the sound of their group moving. Blasters were kept at the ready a sharp-eyed young soldier remained as a lookout while everyone else searched. The young lad moved nervously in a constant slow circle. It was his first assignment with the 73rd, he had wanted to do well. The Private had a large responsibility placed on his shoulders to begin with. Suddenly, movement on the horizon.

"C-Captain Castillon! Ma'am...movement at our 3 o'clock"

Delila snapped up from searching, grabbing the macrobinoculars hanging from her neck. She immediately scanned the device to where the Private indicated. There was something there...too far away for her to make out clearly, even with the device.

"Listen up boys...something is out there. Probably some evolved local fauna. However, take nothing to chance. Move out and investigate. We are on no timeline regarding our current assignment"

Leaving their searching for later, the group of four Republic soldiers started in the direction of the creature.

 

[Mak Manto]

Slithering slowly, he felt it again, but this time, there were other beings on the planet. This was becoming dangerous. It felt as if they had just come. Were they here for him? As he went to reach for his lightsaber, he felt nothing. He had forgotten they had taken everything from him when he had been put in stasis. So, it was only the Force he could rely on.

Well, he was more deadly with the Force than with a blade.

As he came out farther into the fields, he stopped. Feeling the beings moving around, he couldn't sense any malice, but that didn't mean anything. Calling out, he knew it was the best choice.

"Whoever is hiding out here, step out and confront me. I don't like surprises..."

 

[Delila Castillon]

@[member="Mak Manto"]

The small group of soldiers advanced quickly, silently. They were roughly on the same trajectory as the creature, meaning an intercept would be close at hand. Using hand signals, Delila broke the group of soldiers into a small semi-circle as they got close to the creature. This would provide them cover from all but the back. The Army Captain took the lead, letting the semi-circle fall behind her by a few steps.

Thinking they were dealing with local fauna, it was a quite a surprise to hear the creature speak. Motioning for her soldiers to stay put, Delila stood from her crouch in the grass and raised her A280 blaster rifle. It was not an aggressive gesture, merely one of defense. If something had been following them...trying to gain the same information. She could not let such a thing happen.

"Neither do I. Whats your business in this area?" Delila said with a hint of authority in her voice, keeping the being in front of her at all times.

 

[Mak Manto]

Well, this was good. Whoever this voice belonged to, they didn't want to fight outright. Though, when she asked what he was doing out here, he wondered for a second about telling the truth before deciding against it. He still didn't know who these people were.

"I've been trapped on this planet for a few days now. My ship, after I ejected out, exploded. I've been trying to find a way off. If you can, I need transport to Naboo. I have urgent business there. I don't have any credits on me, but I can pay you once we get to Naboo."

 

[Delila Castillon]

Delila gave a short whistle, letting the three other soldiers stand to reveal themselves. She narrowed her eyes at the being, completely unsure. They didn't see any signs of an exploded ship, not that they were looking. It was possible but not so possible that Delila chose to believe it as the truth. She was not born last night. The Captain was not a transport service either.

"I have important business on this planet and I am not leaving until my detachment is done. You are more than welcome to go back with us to Coruscant but we will not take you to Naboo."

 

[000]

And so it was no sooner had he taken but few steps out that from ahead. He sense movement.....faint as it was. It no less sent him to a defensive stance at first as he slowly began cloak his presence as best he could. Using the surrounding for cover as he pressed on to investigate for as far the rest of the universe . Along with his Master Jedi who took him in he was a Jedi.That for the longest time since he was able read up of them in the archives. He had been intrigued and secretly been learn their ways.....thus the reason he was here.

 

[Mak Manto]

"Coruscant, huh...?"

When he had been put in cryostasis, the Galactic Empire had control of Coruscant after usurping it. It was possible the planet had been taken back, but as he looked at the soldiers and at the woman, they didn't wear any armor that the Empire had.

"Fine. I'll get a transport to Naboo than from there. But if you're not leaving the planet until you get what you want, what is it you're after?"

 

[Delila Castillon]

Delila made a motion for two of her soldiers to slowly move behind the being. If they were going to be traveling together now she was going to have to keep a better on this being. The Captain would assign a soldier to watch this creature later. For now, everyone had to keep their eyes open. This could still be some elaborate ruse to overtake them. Good luck with that buddy Delila thought, a small smirk coming to her face.

"I'm afraid that is on a need to know basis by order of the Galactic Republic. Don't worry, my men and I know what we are looking for. If you excuse me, we need to get back to work. Feel free to come along, just stay out of the way"

With that, Delila nodded in the direction of their last location as the group slowly drifted away.

 

[000]

It was then despite the fact that after some time observing the stranger he somehow came upon in the distance. That Ronin seem to have deduced his presence was if anything not been pickup by them. That on all accounts he could easily sneak out of sight to go on his way but he did not do this. For upon curiously eavesdropping on their conversation with the aid of the force. He could not help overhear mention of Naboo...Corusant and some urgent work both individuals were engage into.

Of which had all but peaked his interest and before he knew it. Ronin had somehow stray close enough to where they were standing that from behind. He soon hear a voice speak and the barrel of blaster dig deep into the side his neck. " Put your hands up....." He then heard another approach and conversation soon commence between them. " Guess we caught this once.....better call it in."

 

[Mak Manto]

Galactic Republic...?

As he kept hearing and seeing more and more within the span of the few minutes he was talking to this woman, nothing was making sense. The Republic had died out. The Rebellion and the Jedi Council had joined together to form the Alliance, to stop the Sith and the Empire, but was it possible that they had achieved to bring the Republic back?

But if Coruscant was back, than what did that mean?

It seemed so much had changed while he was in stasis, that he wasn't sure of what the galactic situation was anymore. As he was about to ask a question, he heard two of the men speak. Turning around, he saw blasters aimed at a unknown man's back.

Stopping the captain, Mak narrowed his eyes.

"Are you sure your men know what they're doing? It seems you were followed..."

 

[Delila Castillon]

Delila chuckled slightly at the being they had came across. She nodded to the soldiers escorting a human male, apparently the intruder they had updated her about over the earpiece just shortly before hand.

"Of course my men know what they are doing. Considering they just tracked and captured this man. The 73rd is comprised of nothing but the best men and women the Republic has to offer."

The Captain was tough on her battalion. Everyone who entered should be the best, even if they weren't when they were assigned to her unit. She took her job extremely seriously since lives were at stake constantly. Nodding to her soldiers, she would have to reward them once the battalion was safely back on Coruscant. After all, all work and no play made for insane soldiers.

"Excellent work."Delila turned her attention to their newly captive friend.She wondered if the being they had came across and this one were working together. Perhaps after the same things her battalion was after?"

"So why were you spying on us? Did you not think we would find out? This is a dead planet, not exactly many people crawling around on its surface."

 

[000]

It was then that with the barrel of the blaster dig deep into his back as he was being lead away.Where in as push came to shove he soon found himself come face to face with. Whom he assumed be the mission leader of this outfit that soon commended those that captured him. Before eventually come face him to speak. "So why were you spying on us? Did you not think we would find out? This is a dead planet, not exactly many people crawling around on its surface." To which he then in turn came to reply. " Well i guess spy is not the operative word...... was more like scouting you guys out.Want see if you were part of any the crew or outfit i know of that i could deal or barter with as i guess.....in a way as your right. This is a dead planet not quite the place for anyone be caught dead crawling round or spying. But then again figure they thought it be good place if any to maroon someone in. Got myself bit deep mess..... So they dumped me here couple days back i reckon....."

 

[Delila Castillon]

@[member="Mak Manto"] | @[member="Ronin Wendigo"]

Delila wanted to rub her temples, a headache was coming on for sure. So she had a being who wanted a free trip to Naboo and one who was 'scouting' her unit out. This was just great. Now she was going to have to report back to her superiors that the assignment was going to be scrubbed for now. This was just great...great. She had to take matters into her own hands now. The Captain motioned to the soldier closet to the newest member of their jolly crew to be handcuffed.

"Due to those statements I'm going to handcuff you and take us with you. Official Galactic Republic business is nothing to mess around with. Once we arrive on Coruscant you'll be questioned briefly then released.

Delila looked to the other being. "Looks like you got your wish and we'll be headed back to Coruscant sooner than expected"

 

[000]

It was then that judging from her reaction things were not looking too good for him. As her gaze turn to one the soldiers behind him who no sooner slipped behind him and places pair of binders round his wrist.At which time she then whom he assume be their leader spoke, her tone no less stern as it was commanding. "Due to those statements I'm going to handcuff you and take us with you. Official Galactic Republic business is nothing to mess around with. Once we arrive on Coruscant you'll be questioned briefly then released." But then again on the other hand in redirecting their attention from his true intention on this planet. Which was reason only known to him and the Republic leaders. And despite some setbacks he thought it best to continue play the part to keep his cover intact.That he then keeping his cool and sly smirk on his face replied. " Well fine then figured that one way outta here.....least i guess can get off this dang rock."

 

[Mak Manto]

As she handcuffed the man, Mak ran a hand through his beard. He wasn't sure why, but the man didn't seem to be a threat. Though, he was finally heading off of the planet, and he would get more answers. As he felt a gun being pushed against his back, he rolled his eyes and slithered slowly alongside the man they had arrested.

"The name's Mak Manto. What's yours?"

 

[000]

It was then just as he was being handcuffed and lead away that the stranger with the woman turn speak to him.
"The name's Mak Manto. What's yours?"
To which with slight shrug he in turn replied.
"Mak Manto eh? Hmm well ...."
He paused as if about to reach over shake his hand but stop just midway. Given that his hands were cuffed behind him and one the guards seem have caught him. Didn't take his action too well and with quick jab to the side. Acted to get him back in line at which time pull back and lean slight on Mak side he whispered turn his head slightly.

" Name Ronin.....so what you in with these fine folks these days Manto ?"

 

[Delila Castillon]

@[member="Mak Manto"] | @[member="Ronin Wendigo"]

Delila nodded to the two guards, escorted by another pair of soldiers. There was a reason she was having the others go first, she wanted to observe the pair. The Captain lagged behind everyone, watching the actions of their new 'companions' as it were. They seem to be gaining a steadfast bond, which unsettled her a little. If those two started to conspire...

Their group reached the transport and Delila motioned to the pilot staring out of the transparisteel, wanting to get their hunk off the ground and into the air.

"Next stop : Coruscant. You two look quite cozy..."