Location: Tython Training Fields & Kamino Research Complex
Date: 24 BBY – Four Months Before 23 BBY
The first rays of dawn had not yet warmed the black stone of the Paladin training arena, but the initiates were already drenched in sweat. No words were needed. No gentle encouragement was offered.
Maul paced in front of the lined-up recruits, his posture rigid and his gaze like a predator sizing up prey.
"Pain is a tool," he said coldly. "Discipline is the grip. Control is the blade."
He raised his hand.
"Begin."
In synchronized motion, the recruits launched into complex lightsaber drills—single-blade, staff, dual-wielded, blunted weapons only. They trained without Force enhancement, relying purely on physical instinct, speed, and repetition.
Serra Keto watched with arms crossed and a sharp eye. She barked orders when a stance dropped or a wrist twisted off-angle.
"Too wide! You're leaving your center open!"
"Tighter footwork! You're not fencing a droid!"
Maul walked behind one recruit, a stocky Devaronian struggling with the staff form.
The Devaronian misstepped.
Maul's training saber cracked hard against the back of the recruit's knees. "Balance or fall now do it again."
The recruit grunted and kept moving. No one complained. No one cried.
Later, in the second hour, Maul and Serra stepped back, giving the group a moment to breathe.
Serra walked down the line. "This is only day one. We're stripping you down to rebuild you. Some of you are fast. Some of you are strong. None of you are ready."
A few eyes glanced at Maul.
Serra added, "But you will be."
Tython Medical Wing
The recovery chambers were full.
Sha Koon moved between the tables, guiding initiates through healing meditation. Barriss Offee ran a scanner over a human woman with cracked ribs, her green eyes full of quiet concern.
" It hurts I know, but you're not broken," Barriss said. "Just stressed. This pain? It'll fade. What you learn from it won't."
The woman nodded and exhaled slowly.
On another table, Syla'Thanis, the Chiss tactician, sat in complete silence, eyes closed in focus. Her vitals were steady. Barriss paused as she passed, noting how composed she was.
"Are you not feeling it?" Barriss asked.
"I feel everything," Syla answered calmly. "I'm just not wasting energy reacting to it."
Barriss nodded approvingly and continued her rounds.
Hangar 6
On the far side of the compound, Firball and Tophen Vain stood in front of a line of nervous recruits, each seated in a T-65 X-Wing simulator or waiting their turn.
"You're gonna crash," Firball shouted cheerfully. "Accept it now."
The screens flared to life as the first group launched their simulations.
"Remember—full throttle in an asteroid field is only impressive if you come out the other side alive!" Toph barked.
A Mandalorian initiate grunted as her ship clipped a debris fragment and spun out.
"Dead," Firball called. "That was thirty credits of salvaged parts and a full vaporized skull now Reset."
Later That Day – Kamino Research Complex
Rain drummed against the curved durasteel windows as Cain stood on a raised platform inside the Kaminoan High Research Wing. The lights were dim, and the silence was heavy. But the people assembled were among the sharpest scientific minds in the galaxy.
At Cain's side was Barriss, wearing medical robes, datapad in hand.
In front of them stood:
Nala Se, calm and unreadable as always, hands folded in front of her.
Dr. Hemlock, calculating eyes locked onto Cain's every move, arms crossed.
Jo's Vondar, Corellian biologist, fidgeting with a stylus nervously.
Man Yant, a Duros cybernetics specialist with dark ocular implants.
Nuvo Vindi, the eccentric scientist with an unsettling grin, visibly trembling with anticipation.
Behind them, rows of Kaminoan researchers, technicians, and AI recorders were watching in total silence.
Cain stepped forward and activated the central projector.
A single word appeared, red against black.
BLACK FILES
Cain didn't raise his voice.
"These are threat-level alpha biological profiles. Viruses, bacteria, engineered diseases, bio-plagues. Some were erased from public record. Some were created in Republic labs. Others were discovered in vaults predating the Old Republic."
Cain stood at the central console, surrounded by a wide array of Kaminoan and Republic-affiliated scientists. He wore a dark uniform lined with silver along the collar, his hair damp from the rain, flanked by Barriss Offee in a pristine white medical robe. The large holoprojector hummed to life above them, and the words BLACK FILES – BIOLOGICAL THREAT INDEX glowed across the room.
One by one, holopanels opened, displaying rotating 3D molecular models, alongside holographic symptoms, spread vectors, and mortality rates.
Cain pointed at the first as he spoke.
---
1. Rakghoul Plague
> Origin: Ancient Sith bioweapon from Taris
Effect: Converts living beings into mindless, flesh-craving Rakghouls
Vector: Bodily fluids, scratches, and airborne in late stages
Response Time: Under 48 hours
Known Cure: Limited Jedi-derived Force healing and prototype serums
Cain spoke calmly. "A viral curse that turns civilians into monsters. The Sith called it purification. We call it what it is: a pandemic weapon."
---
2. Blue Shadow Virus
> Origin: Pre-Republic synthetic virus
Effect: Rapid respiratory failure, cellular breakdown
Vector: Airborne
Response Time: Less than 24 hours
Known Cure: Experimental antidote created by Naboo physicians and Jedi researchers
"Dr. Nuvo Vindi tried to revive this one. If released in a city, you won't have time to react. That's why our containment protocols begin at rumor level, not after detection."
---
3. Booze Disease
> Origin: Bacta waste contamination on trade lanes
Effect: Alcohol mimic—corrupts the liver, brain, and motor systems
Vector: Liquid-based, often disguised in consumables
Response Time: Gradual, but permanent if untreated
Known Cure: Detoxification and neural regrowth therapy
Cain continued. "It was used for quiet sabotage. Military outposts poisoned from the inside. We will have detectors on all supply chains going forward."
---
4. Hive Virus
> Origin: Engineered for psychological warfare
Effect: Induces synchronized hallucinations, emotional collapse, group panic
Vector: Audio frequency + synthetic spores
Response Time: One hour
Known Cure: None fully reliable—best results with psionic shields or ysalamiri
"This one doesn't kill the body. It breaks the mind. Makes soldiers hallucinate betrayals, see friends as enemies. If this resurfaces, we must have defenses pre-built."
---
5. Blackwing Virus
> Origin: Imperial bio-research gone rogue
Effect: Reanimates dead flesh into sentient, infectious undead
Vector: Fluids, atmosphere, consumption
Response Time: Variable
Known Cure: Extreme temperature cleansing, Force-purging
Barriss glanced sideways at Cain. "I've read whispers of this… it's barely even known."
"Which is why it terrifies me," he answered. "And why we plan ahead."
---
6. Vallux Strain
> Origin: Unconfirmed – possibly Rakatan in design
Effect: Suppresses Force-sensitivity, damages midichlorian expression
Vector: Unknown – believed to bond with Force-sensitive biochemistry
Response Time: Gradual decay of connection
Known Cure: Unknown. Theorized that long-term exposure is irreversible
"This is the only weapon in the galaxy that can erase who we are at the molecular level," Cain said grimly. "I've made it priority one. Every Force-wielder alive is at risk if it resurfaces."
---
The projector dimmed. The room was silent.
Cain turned to the scientists: Nala Se, Hemlock, Jo's Vondar, Man Yant, Nuvo Vindi—each brilliant, dangerous in their own way.
"These are our enemy's worst ideas. We beat them before they return. Kamino will be our first line—a research hub, bio-defense lab, and med evacuation zone. In peacetime, a place of progress. In war, a place of healing and shelter."
Jo's Vondar raised a hand. "What if someone tries to recreate these?"
"We'll make sure no one has to," Cain said.
Barriss stepped forward. "I'll remain in contact with your researchers and cross-reference anything suspicious we find in medical stations across the Alliance."
Hemlock eyed Cain. "What about weaponization?"
Cain's voice hardened. "If I find anyone using our science to recreate these viruses or develop new ones, I'll shut them down. Permanently."
The meeting ended with silent nods. The black files were encrypted, duplicated across hidden sites, and locked behind Force and genetic verification.
Cain turned to Barriss. "Now let me show you the next phase."
---
Cloning Observation Deck – Sector 3
The platform overlooked a training hall suspended above the stormy sea. Hybrid clone units stood in small squads across the floor, each genetically different, born from multiple donors from across the Alliance.
Two stood at the front, currently in hand-to-hand drills with elite trainers.
One was a dark brown-skinned teenage boy, lean and powerful. His short white fade shimmered under the lights, gold eyes focused and unblinking. Every movement was precise.
The girl beside him moved with confidence, her red hair tied back tightly. Blue eyes locked forward. Her kicks were explosive, her counterbalance flawless.
Cain and Barriss stepped closer to the observation glass.
"Spartan Program," Cain said. "Handpicked hybrids created for specialized operations—elite battlefield units trained alongside our Paladins and ARC troopers. Highest IQ, adaptability, aggression control, tactical learning, and emotional regulation."
Barriss nodded. "They're incredible. Who are those two?"
Cain pointed.
"The boy is John. Genetically spliced from my DNA and Seris's. Adaptability, tactical reflex, sensory processing. He's the best candidate we've had."
Barriss blinked. "And the girl?"
Cain looked proud. "Sarah. Hybrid of Anakin and Bo-Katan. Command aptitude, combat performance, and natural force affinity. She's second only to John in every metric. Together… they're something else."
Barriss stepped closer. "They look so much like you all. The mannerisms. The precision."
Cain nodded. "It's eerie, I know. But this wasn't just about perfection. It was about building future protectors who carry the strengths of those who shaped this Alliance."
Barriss looked at him. "Do they know?"
Cain exhaled. "Not yet. When they're ready, they will. Until then… we prepare them."
Below, John disarmed his opponent, dropping him to the mat in one clean sweep. Sarah was already turning toward the next one.
Cain smiled faintly. "They're going to be the standard."
Barriss watched in silence, heart steady but mind racing.
And the storm above Kamino rolled on.