Duel on Brendok

The duel on Brendok^[4] was a confrontation between Jedi Master Sol and^[3] the Sith^[5] known as the Stranger on the planet Brendok^[3] in 132 BBY.^[2] At the same time, sisters Mae-ho Aniseya and Verosha Aniseya clashed within the Brendok fortress while several Jedi, including Master Vernestra Rwoh and Padawan Mog Adana, raced to the world in pursuit of Sol.^[3]

The duel

Stranger versus Jedi

Sol searched the fortress for Mae, who had used an escape pod to flee Sol's Polan GX-8. Sol called out to Mae multiple times, but no response was heard. As Sol continued his search, the Stranger and Osha landed the Exile II near the fortress and hotwired the elevator controls, enabling them to enter. The Stranger thanked Sol for meeting him and they ignited their lightsabers. They started fighting in the corridors of the fortress, but the Stranger quickly pushed Sol to the bridge where the scouts were stationed during the Mission to Brendok. After several saber clashes, Sol leapt backwards off the bridge and into the courtyard using the Force to cushion his landing. Sol warned the Sith he would destroy him if he must. The Stranger retorted not if she got him first. He then split his saber in two, activating the second blade and reignited their duel, this time using Tràkata.^[3]

The Stranger launched a second assault on Sol, who dodged both lightsabers, but Sol knocked the shorter red shoto blade out of the Stranger's hand. The Sith attempted to retrieve his weapon with the Force, but Sol launched a counter-offensive and kicked the Stranger in the chest. While Sol reactivated his blue lightsaber, the Stranger retrieved his shoto saber with the Force, renewing his attack. He hurled his lightsabers like boomerangs at Sol. Sol blocked them with his lightsaber and then deactivated his lightsaber and used the Force to dodge the spinning blades as the Stranger recalled his lightsabers. Using the Force, Sol pushed the sabers to the side and sent the Stranger towards the edge of the courtyard. As Sol reignited his lightsaber, the Stranger once again recalled his lightsabers with the Force and launched a third assault on his opponent.^[3]

Osha's decision

Eventually, Sol was able to defeat the Stranger by cutting apart the other man's saber. The Stranger removed his cortosis helmet, while Sol pointed his saber at the Sith's neck. Mae then engaged Sol in hand-to-hand combat, acquiring his saber. The Stranger priased Mae and encouraged her to embrace her anger. However, Mae through Sol's lightsaber aside, rejecting the Stranger's order to strike Sol down, completing her training. Mae disagreed and responded she wanted Sol to confess his crimes and face the Jedi High Council, the Galactic Senate and the Galactic Republic, paying for everything he had done on Brendok. Sol insisted that he did the right thing and he wanted to protect them. He informed Mae she and Osha were not twins. Rather, they were the same person and he believed Mother Aniseya created life through the vergence on Brendok, using the Force to create Mae and Osha.^[3]

Osha snuck up behind Sol, quietly picking up his lightsaber as she listened as her former master admit to Mae that he slew the twins’ mother and explained why he had been right. Mae reiterated that Sol killed their mother, prompting a guilt-ridden Sol to confess to killing Mother Aniseya. Osha asked Sol if he was telling the truth, to which Sol once again insisted he was protecting her and he did the right thing. Sol informed Osha he wanted to tell her countless times, but he could not. He told Osha he kept this secret to ensure Osha had the life she dreamed. However, Osha feeling betrayed and enraged, crushed his neck as he offered no resistance, dropping to his knees as he struggled to breathe. One tear flowed down Sol's cheek as he released his final breath. After Sol's death, Osha briefly dropped to the ground to mourn her former master. The Stranger approached Osha as she tightly gripped Sol's lightsaber. Osha ignited the blade and the kyber crystal bled, turning it from blue to red. Mae and the Stranger watched, with concern and interest respectively.^[3]

Jedi arrival

Meanwhile, Rwoh, Adana and several other Jedi landed the Cantaros in a forest clearing near the Brendok fortress. Rwoh sensed the presence of her former apprentice as she exited her ship. The Stranger sensed his former master in return, prompting him to place his cortosis helmet back on and hide, while Mae and Osha fled the premises. Rwoh told the other Jedi she knew where the targets were and led the team inside the fortress to investigate. Bazil rendezvoused with a relieved Adana. After entering the fortress, Rwoh ordered two Jedi to search the premises, while Adana and the other Jedi searched the surrounding area outside the fortress with Bazil tracking the suspects. Simultaneously, the Sith, Mae and Osha fled the site of the duel. The sisters escaped the fortress through the core tunnel, like Mae had done sixteen years prior and fled to the Bunta tree. There, the sisters and the Sith agreed to work together, and Mae’s memories were removed so she could not expose Osha when she surrendered to the Jedi. The Stranger left Brendok with Osha on the Exile II, while the memory wiped Mae was taken into custody by Adana's team.^[3]

Aftermath

Back on Coruscant, Rwoh later spoke to a Republic tribunal headed by Supreme Chancellor^[3] Veeth Drellik.^[6] She repeated the falsified account of the Mission to Brendok sixteen years prior, telling the tribunal that the four Jedi on the mission conspired to keep their actions a secret. Rwoh also claimed Sol went rogue after the mission and killed his accomplices, in order to maintain their cover story. On behalf of the Jedi Council, Rwoh condemned Sol's actions. She reassured Senator Worus Rayencourt that the conflict was the work of one flawed man. When Chancellor Drellik asked Rwoh where Sol was presently, she claimed Sol committed suicide at the scene of his initial crimes.^[3]

Rwoh later met with Mae, who had no memories after she was 8 years old. Mae was told that Sol's secrets twisted his mind. She claimed to Mae that Sol justified his selfish actions, for the love he had for her sister. Mae asked if she had a sister, to which Rwoh questioned if she recognized the name Osha, prompting Mae's eyes to light up. Rwoh then requested Mae's assistance in helping her find her former pupil as he had turned evil.^[3]

Behind the scenes

The duel on Brendok was featured within "the Acolyte"^[3] and first identified in a post from the official Star Wars UK Twitter account.^[4]

Appearances

• Star Wars: The Acolyte — "The Acolyte" (First appearance)

Sources

• "The Acolyte" Episode Guide | The Acolyte on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars Dispatch: The Stranger and The Acolyte on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Visual Guide

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) on Twitter (post on July 19, 2024): "The duel on Brendok. Watch it unfold in #TheAcolyte on @DisneyPlusUK." (backup link) (First identified as duel on Brendok)