10 Trails and Tribulations

"Again." For what seemed like the hundredth time Revan spoke to his 20 apprentices. It had taken them most of the night to link their collective powers together bring them close enough together to see each other. Now he was having them fight each other in hand to hand combat to gauge where each person was.

So far the one he has been the most impressed by had been Jack. After being awaken it seems like natural his normally suppressed killer instinct had also emerged. The boy was deadly fast at lest in comparison to the others, but unaided by the force and to Revan that speed was nothing. Still the thing that had really set him apart was that fact he fought 19 of them one on one and had not not a single fight so far.

Now was the last one against his good friend Keith who had also done exceedingly well to this point as well. However all good things must come to and end and there can be only one. Revan refocused on the fight at hand eager to see which of the younglings would come out on top.

Jack circled Keith sizing him up, this had not been the first time they had fought. In fact fighting is what caused them to become friends in the first place. Jack was being bullied by Keith when he had first entered high school. It wasn't until Jack had stood up to Keith and they fought it out during class that the two quickly became friends after. Even after that the two still fought on occasion, and those tended to end in Keith's favor. The man was just bigger than Jack in every conceivable way.

If it was before Jack was sure Keith would win too, now it was a fifty-fifty shot. The two continued to circle like lions,each looking for a moment of weakness. Then with out waring Jack shot at Keith with lighting speed. Aiming and elbow into Keith's gut, but Keith was no slouch and quick side stepped out of the attack and trow a counter punch at Jack's body. To late to dodge Jack flexed his abs to take the hit then grab his arm and through his legs around Keith's head. Using his momentum Jack swung the two of them around forcing Keith to the ground and stretching the locked limb into and arm bar. Keith tap and just like that the fight was over.

"Good...good I am very pleased by everyones effort but never forget that in battle the slightest mistake could cost you your life." Revan spoke out while facing his younglings. " Now you are out of time for tonight but when you all return from the day training I will bring you back into the force scape so for now leave..."

After a few minutes all of the students where out of bed and assembled in neat rows in front of their beds. Zack nodded in approval Mandlorains wont let an injury stop them from completing what ever task they had been given and it gave him pleasure to know that these younglings had not asked for rest after waking from what ever experience they had but instead lined up and waited for his instruction. " I see you all are gluttons for pain...Well I can promise you I will give you your fill of it. Assembled outside in full battle armor you have 20 minutes to prepare for a 20 mile forced march we have wasted most of the morning already so I will get my time back! Move it!" Zack smiled as all of the younglings exited quickly out of the room heading to find their gear. Turing this weaklings into to true Mandlorain would be easier than he thought at this rate.

And so for the next few weeks Jack and the others lives consisted of just one thing..train. During the day it was with Zack and the Mandlorains. Improving their combat tactics and weapon training, and at night with Revan training in the use of the force and lightsaber forms and combat.

The training was hell for them and that was their world for a time, however even though they could not see the rest of the world it did not stop it from changing around them.

Much of the worlds industries had been retro fitted with the technology of the star wars universe. City skylines grew at an explosive rate. Flying transports covered the skies. Light rails connected each continent together. Ship yards had been built in every major population center around the world. A defense space station was currently being constructed and plans where underway to have an outpost built on the moon and Mars with in the next few months.

When the jedi returned to civilization they had immediately contacted the elder consul of the Mandlorains to share what they had discovered. They also had to explain to them at the moment no one had access to the star forges main system as the Outcast had told them," Only Revan's successor could comand the star forge"When the elder consul asked who the successor was and when they would come to use the forge. The jedi could only sigh and repeat again what they had been told," How should I know who Revan chose ,and they will come when they come I can't see the future."

So for the moment the star forge and all its power would remain locked away and guarded until the time was right. One other thing that the jedi had to infor the elders of was the consequences of them opening the star forge and what they could expect the natives of the planet to experience. Though it had shocked some of the consul it did not matter as much, unless some one trained them natives it not like they could fully use the force and the Mandlorains had no plans on giving the natives any military roles at lest until they had finished the indoctrination in to their society. Though they would not find out until much later that it would have been safer for them not to allow them into the military at all.

The elders simply asked the jedi not to training any of the natives and felt it was best of they cut their stay short. Though Count Dooku wanted to argue against this he knew the jedi consul need to be informed of some matters. The Count could not promise to erase the location of the Mandlorains, however he did promise to store the information with in the vaults of the jedi archives.

The Jedi were gone a month later, and six months after that Jack and the other were preparing for the trials of the Demon Forge. Once they completed them they would be full fledged Mandlorains. With all the perks that came with it but truth fully it would give the group the freedom to train with their master. They had made progress it however had been painfully slow due to the fact they could only training with him during their rest periods, and as the day training increased the time they had to sleep grew shorter and shorter. That would all change after the trials, they would be free at lest for a month.

In an open plain in the middle of the forest, a some group of humans are gathered. The Sun's rays beat down on the scarred bodies of the 20 individuals. These were the younglings that Captain Zack had been trainning these last few months. Gone were the scared young students, what remained in their placed had been hardened warriors. Each one toned and sculpted to absolute perfection. With the assistance of enhanced bacta injections each one of the students had grown in height and muscle mass. With the average height before being 5' 8'' the average now being 6' 10''.

Zack was all smiles as he walked the line of these soon to be wolves. Their muscles bulged out of combat under armor they where wearing as they stood completely still awaiting his orders. " It has been a long six months but your almost at the end of the tunnel." Pausing for effect then continuing, " I have one more week to perpare you for what is to come...you will be sent into an active battle field in republic space the planet this battle is happening is called Tatooine. What you will be doing I can not say but I will say this what ever it is will not be easy and some of you might not make it back but for those that do...glory and the Mandlorain title is yours."

At that moment two M22-T Krayt Gunship flew over head and dropped two metal crates the size of a small house next to the group and flew off. Zack walked up to the crates' command console and opened them. Inside sat two highly modified Basilisk War droids. Zack truned and faced the group, " This is a gen 10 Basilisk War Droid and for the next week you will learn how to control one of these beautifully behemoths before you get your own. Now lets get to work."