“Our school really will be the safest place for Force users in the galaxy,” Dan reassured Ahsoka’s mother as they watched her and Anakin play in the field. “Ulike the Jedi, we don’t force our members to break all ties with their families.” He pointed to the sky, at the light that represented the Gladius. “Our vessels are fast, shuttle services will exist to fill the needs of both the students and parents.”
“Not only that, but Merlyn isn’t our only teacher,” May chimed in, an easy smile on her face. “I’ll be joining the staff, once I’ve graduated, and we even have a retired Jedi Master as well!”
Dan suppressed a grin at the idea of Vergere as a retired master. The wily Sith was obsessed with Merlyn’s magic. If they offered to include her in all of the Wizard’s knowledge, she would probably agree to teach for life.
“I also have another experienced force user lined up to join as well,” Dan thought of Darth Maul. The man had done well in helping Utron, and soon that task would be finished. “We hope to be a better version of the Jedi, less tied to the Republic, free to act and divorced from politics.”
Dan’s thoughts drifted as May continued to pitch their school to Ahsoka’s mother. With Merlyn and two ex-Sith at the head, his order was bit too far to the dark side of grey. He needed a point of balance. A trustworthy master who stood firm on the side of light. Qui-Gon Jinn came to mind. He would meet the Jedi Master soon enough, when the man led the princess of Naboo to Tatooine.
“I can agree to let her go…” the Togruta woman sighed, a half smile on her face as Ahsoka climbed up Anakin’s back and demanded a ride. “But I’ll be taking you up on your offer to visit often.”
“Great!” Dan tapped at his system screens with his mind and forcibly summoned Merlyn. The Wizard flopped to the ground, body bent as if he’d been seated in a chair. “Merlyn here will take care of the travel,” Dan pulled the aggrieved magic user from the dirt and dusted him off. “Won’t you, Merlyn?”
“Your wish is my command,” Merlyn rolled his eyes and stomped over to Anakin and Ahsoka. One each, hefted by the back of the neck, followed by a sharp pop, and they were gone.
“It was great to meet you,” Dan smiled as he shook the startled Togruta woman’s hand and passed her a Kryptonian comlink. “Use this when you’d like to visit, a ship will pick you up within an hour.”
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“I…”
Dan grabbed May’s hand and flew into the sky, away from the woman’s questions. He pulled them into orbit, headed for the Gladius.
“What was that about…” May raised an eyebrow at Dan’s rapid retreat. “Won’t running away make her suspicious?”
“Maybe, but we’d already gotten the yes, and a Jedi vessel just landed at the spaceport,” Dan laughed as they entered Gladius’ landing bay. “No need to be there when he can’t find his new apprentice!”
This time, Dan had simply heard the locals talking. The Jedi Master had arrived to a small crowd, loud enough for his overpowered ears to detect. Betrayed by gossip, the Jedi would need to hunt long and hard if he wanted answers.
“Yet another power of yours that’s ahead of mine…” May grumbled as she wrapped an arm around Dan’s waist. “You need to focus Jor-EL and Ultron on those solar suits, or you’ll leave me too far behind!”
“Fine-fine, “ Dan hugged her tight against his side as they walked to the bridge. “It will benefit the new Kryptonians when they’re born, and you can stay dosed with sun, even in Merlyn’s cave.”
“Good,” May nodded with a smile. They reached the main control room and May settled into the pilot’s seat. “Where to now? Home?”
“Not yet,” Dan manipulated the display and marked out a set of coordinates. The location of a world that he’d forbidden Ultron from exploring. “First, we have to check out a few potential dangers…”
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The Gladius sprang into real space, locked into orbit around a red sun. Dan wanted to keep a good distance between their ship and the world they’d come to visit. May opened her eyes and shifted the display to a map of the system.
“What are we here for exactly…” She squinted at the lifeless worlds. “There’s nothing…” May stopped, eyebrows raised as she scanned the second world from the sun. “That’s weird… this whole planet reads as one big life sign!”
The planet in question had an artificial ring. Formed from thousands of vessels, it clogged up its orbit with a dense layer of debris. Ships from all eras, ancient and new, clustered into a lifeless display. The surface below was grey desserts and lifeless trees, surrounded by silver oceans.
“Mugg Fallow,” Dan cracked his back as he sized up the world. Even without the display, it drew his senses like a black hole. Murky Ki, blackened by mindless hunger and the taint of rage. “The home of Mnggal-Mnggal, a consumer of worlds.”
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The ashen land streaked below, ignored as Dan made his way to the coast. Mnggal already knew he was here, but he’d rather face it on the shore, instead of surrounded by its depths. A glint of silver, the still mercury waters that covered eighty percent of this planet.
Dan hovered, twenty feet from the ground, as he surveyed the ocean of death. Seconds slipped to minutes, but nothing happened. Dan snorted, eyes lit by his empowered heat vision. If Mnggal-Mnggal wanted to ignore him, he would have to make some noise.
Twin lines of sapphire flame lanced into the tranquil water. The liquid ignited and the ocean squirmed, a rumble that shook the atmosphere of the world. Lines of silver raised to the skies, mercury tentacles that cut the air as they reached for Dan and his impatient assault.
The blue fire widened, needles that became a diffused lamp of terrible heat. Dan rose higher as his vision melted the space in front of him. The overall power was less, when he spread out the effect, but it was perfect to keep the invasive waters at bay.
“Come on, Mnggal,” Dan reached a spot above the creature's grasp and halted his attack. “I’m here to talk, not fight.”