"Cousin? Duchess Satine?" The people of the Clan Omen and Wren were stunned. They knew that Kort was an exile of the Vizsla family.
But no one expected him to be related by blood to Satine Kryze, one of Mandalore's nominal supreme rulers!
Kort didn't say anything. After all, he and Satine had been very close when they were young. It was just that ever since he started hiding outside and adopting these children, he had basically not interacted with Satine, so as not to cause trouble.
But sometimes, some items and resources that the children needed would appear near his base.
But now, he had no choice but to send a communication to his cousin.
In the stronghold controlled by the New Mandalorians in Sundari, the atmosphere was oppressive. Satine Kryze looked at the holographic map, her brows tightly furrowed, as areas were constantly being encroached upon by the Death Watch. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan stood by her side, having already reported their findings from the southern battlefield.
"Transforming fighters… powerful firepower… young Mandalorian Force-sensitive…" Satine murmured to herself, "Kort Vizsla, it must be him, my unique cousin."
Just then, her personal guard quietly walked to her side and whispered a few words. "Connect him."
At this moment, Kort Vizsla's holographic projection appeared on the command console.
"Long time no see, cousin. I'm sorry about Uncle's death," Kort greeted first.
"It's nothing, that's all in the past. After all, he died for Mandalore, and besides, we haven't been in touch for a long time. Bo-Katan even misses you a little. How are you and those children?" Satine looked at the little guy she hadn't seen in a long time and sighed, remarking on how much he had grown.
"We're doing alright, but just yesterday we attacked their squad. So, cousin, I need your help to protect these children. I can't resist them alone, but I'm confident I can help you win the civil war," Kort said openly.
"It really is you," Satine exclaimed, as before it had only been her speculation.
Master Qui-Gon looked at Kort Vizsla in the holographic projection, as if his eyes could pierce through space.
Obi-Wan also looked at this Mandalorian, who was a few years younger than himself, already leading a clan at such a young age.
"Then you all prepare everything you need to take with you. I'll send a Kom'rk-class fighter transport to help you evacuate now," Satine didn't think too much, just ordered someone to help with the evacuation.
"Thank you, cousin. All of us appreciate your help," Kort expressed his gratitude and ended the call.
Qui-Gon Jinn's profound gaze looked out at the sky, red with war, outside the stronghold. "The flow of the Force, because of him, has become chaotic and full of possibilities. Your cousin is very unique, Your Grace."
Not long after, three Kom'rk-class fighter transports arrived at the outskirts of the base. The children, having gathered their essentials, boarded the ships. A total of five ships set off towards Sundari.
"Back again, Sundari. Yesterday I came to rescue people, today I'm seeking refuge with my cousin. How unpredictable life is."
The five ships landed in the temporary safe rear command room. As soon as Kort disembarked, he noticed Qui-Gon Jinn, who had not yet returned to the Force, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had no beard, standing beside Satine.
"Cousin Kort!" A little figure rushed out from behind Satine and leaped directly into Kort's arms.
"Bo-Katan! Long time no see, it's been almost a year. You've grown quite a bit," Kort ruffled Bo-Katan's orange hair.
"Cousin, and two Jedi Masters," Kort nodded slightly.
"Is this your cousin?" Obi-Wan asked Satine beside him. After all, this 1.78-meter tall teenager, according to Satine, was only eleven years old this year!
"Yes, he's been a bit unusual since he was a child," Satine nodded.
The moment Qui-Gon Jinn saw Kort, his eyes lit up. He could fully sense the young man's Force, powerful and explosive, vast but unused.
"Indeed, a hero emerges in youth. To achieve so much at such a young age, it's a pleasure to meet you, Kort Vizsla. I am Qui-Gon Jinn," Qui-Gon stepped forward and shook Kort's hand, sensing his Force more closely.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Master Qui-Gon. Let's go to the command center to talk first, as it's not safe outside right now," Kort suggested they go inside, as who knew if bounty hunters might appear.
Inside the stronghold, Kort looked at the surrounding guards and the meager weaponry and equipment, feeling quite dissatisfied with his cousin's pacifism.
"Cousin, don't you think our manpower and strength are far inferior to the Death Watch and the True Mandalorians?" Kort said in the hallway, looking at everything around him.
"Kort, we are pacifists. These are the personnel and weapons we arrange only for defense. Before this, they were just Sundari's guards," Satine said with some helplessness.
"So we need more manpower and weapons. Without these, we won't be able to save our people, and peace will just be empty words. Peace exists under the umbrella of strength."
"I will consider it. From now on, you will be by my side as my advisor and as the first commander of Sundari's army. Your companions can continue to work under you. I trust you," Satine had already planned Kort's role after his arrival.
Sundari's night was not peaceful. Although the intense skirmishes in the core area had temporarily ceased, sporadic explosions and the piercing screams of energy weapons cutting through the air echoed like the city's breath.
Duchess Satine Kryze's temporary stronghold, though reinforced with guards, was permeated by an lingering sense of tension.
Kort was assigned a room on the upper floor of the stronghold, with a view of part of the city. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan were staying next door, which was clearly no coincidence. He stood by the window, his helmet placed beside him, his brows tightly furrowed.
Just then, an extremely faint sensation, carrying a cold malice, like a stone dropped into calm water, instantly swept through Kort's perception!
This feeling… it wasn't the fanatical battle intent of the Death Watch, but a purer, ruthless killing intent driven by profit!
"Bounty hunters!" Kort's pupils contracted sharply. He spun around and lunged towards the head of the bed, grabbing his helmet and slamming it onto his head, almost simultaneously!
"Bang! Crash—!"
The wall next to his room—which was the outer wall of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan's room—suddenly exploded into a large hole!
Scorching energy beams and explosion shockwaves, carrying rubble and smoke, surged in! The target was not him at all, but the Jedi Masters next door!
"Assassins! Protect the Duchess!" Alarms blared throughout the stronghold instantly, and the roars of guards and the firing of blaster rifles intertwined into a cacophony.
Kort was thrown off balance by the blast wave, his helmet display instantly filled with dust and static interference. Without hesitation, he drew his twin blasters, performed a tactical roll, and burst out of his room into the corridor.
The corridor was in chaos, filled with smoke. Two New Mandalorian guards lay in pools of blood.
Three figures, swift as phantoms, were streaming through the hole blasted open in Qui-Gon Jinn's room! They wore armor of various styles, all exuding practicality and a lethal aura, and their movements were precise and ruthless, clearly a top-tier hunting team working in perfect coordination!