*Image from DarkHorse.com

Issue 9

Years before the current events in the early years of the Mandalorian Wars, Lady Krynda is arriving home on Coruscant and meets with 9BD, a droid who is a caretaker of the house and of a baby Lucien Draay. When 9BD informs Lady Krynda that Lucien had no idea his mother was returning, Krynda shows disappointment.

Back in the present day on Coruscant, Master Lucien approaches the Draay Estate to be greeted at the door by 9BD. When Lucien asks about his mother, 9BD tells him that he must check with the household first. With the door closed on his face, Lucien walks away.

As Lucien approaches the speeder, he is informed that the Republic doesn’t have the resources to spare on finding Zayne Carrick. Lucien immediately calls the Administrator to get the resources.

At this time, 9BD returns telling Lucien that he will be contacted when the household is ready to speak with him. Q’anilia says she is disappointed that Lady Krynda wouldn’t want to see her, and then quickly corrects herself to say us.

Now 30 years before the current period, a young Lucien Draay stands in the shadows as another Jedi tries to get Lady Krynda to see about training new seers due to all the seers killed in the Sith War. Feeling that this one is special, Lady Krynda is introduced to Q’anilia and agrees to train her, with a stone staring Lucien in the shadows still.

Back on present day Coruscant, at the Jedi High Council, the Council is in session scolding a cloaked figure about taking other young Jedi to Suurja to be captured and getting involved with the Mandalorians.

As the cloaked figure exits the Council chamber, Lucien is outside with the other masters of Taris. Lucien exchanges words with the cloaked figure. The cloaked figure alludes to a darkness stirring and tells the others that he has learners to save.

Once more to 25 years before the current period, a young teenaged Lucien confronts his mother about being trained as a Jedi by a real Jedi, saying that Haazen is all right but just a fallen Jedi. Lady Krynda tells her son that he can’t see the way Miraluka and herself can see. She also tells Lucien that he’s too much like his father, who was a great Jedi warrior killed in the Sith War. Before Lucien’s mother dismisses him, she talks about how no one was able to foresee the evil in Exar Kun, which would have saved Lucien’s father, Lady Krynda’s sister, and Master Vodo. Lucien immediately runs into his Jedi instructor, Haazen, as he walks away from his mother. Haazen tells Lucien that his mother is a great Jedi, and Lucien will never understand her until he understands her mission.

Back in the Jedi High Council chambers in the present day, Lucien and the others from Taris are told about their failure to protect their padawans. Lucien admits to killing the padawans by not seeing the dark side touching his apprentice, Zayne Carrick. Lucien tells that Council not to worry about the Mandalorians but the Sith alone, which means putting all resources into finding Zayne and his allies, the Masters of Taris leading the search.

The Jedi High Council, upon stating that they are disappointed with the work with the Masters of Taris, decides to split them up, sending them on their own missions. Although Raana, a Togruta, expresses his disagreement, the Council will hear none of it.

Outside, Lucien and the other four masters discuss the failures of the Council and decide to stick with their own covenant and not give up on finding Zayne. After Raana hands Lucien something about a project and dancing with the dark side, Lucien receives a message from the Draay Estate.

Now 20 years before the current period, Lucien shows his combat skills as he duels the seers trained by his mother. When Lady Krynda appears to stop the fight and scolds Haazen in allowing this to happen. Haazen quickly says that he just wanted to demonstrate Lucien’s skills and seeking to be allowed into the Jedi Order. Lady Krynda then states that this group of seers is the one she’s foreseen and Haazen says he’ll start making the preparations. But before Haazen leaves, he adds that the Jedi seers could use some added protection, alluding to Lucien being perfect for the job.

At the Draay Estate on present day Coruscant, Lucien arrives to a darken area where he meets with Haazen. Haazen tells Lucien of his disappointment, telling him to have brought the padawans directly to Coruscant but Lucien defends himself by saying he had to do with the conditions he was in. Haazen tells Lucien to bring Zayne to him alive, but Lucien wants Zayne dead as quickly as possible. Haazen tells Lucien that he knows of the risk involved with the covenant and their goal, and that forces are all ready in motion for Lucien to bring Zayne before him. Lucien knows he isn’t being told everything, but he also knows that he hasn’t told Haazen everything either.

(coming soon!)