Empress
A tale from the heart of an Empire
Present Day- Rebellion Civil War
It was an ugly sight for the citizens of the city planet of Coruscant that mid-afternoon. The recent Rebel attacks that were drawn to every Imperial location had now struck innocent lives. The attack, which was meant for one of the many army-training academies, hit a housing apartment instead. The Galactic Empire now had most of its supporter's back, which was especially pleasing for the Empress.
Staring out the window of her Imperial Palace, she waited patiently for the many Generals and other leaders of the Imperial Army, various governors and most importantly her Sith Apprentice to come to her emergency meeting. Using the Force, she reached out to find her Apprentice and to find out where he was. Seeing something move down below, she squinted her dark eyes and found that General Toan had arrived.Empress Jaiha Kayeena, as the public called her these days, had been head of her Empire for 10 years- with her loyal Apprentice, Darth Morte by her side.
As a Sith Lord, the Empress was known as Darth Maran, the name bestowed by her late master Darth Gare, who died in his quest to bring the Sith power of the galaxy. His intentions were good for both Sith and Jedi- as they were all brutally assassinated over 50 years ago in the Great Force War. It was a war caused by fear of those who could use the mysterious powers of the Force, no mercy was given even to the guardians of the galaxy, the Jedi knights. As for the Sith, they were first in line because of the truly 'unnatural' abilities the Dark side could perform. But a decade later, Darth Gare discovered his powers and vowed vengeance for his Sith ancestors. And eventually achieved this, by his apprentice taking control of the galaxy.
Today, the Empress still wishes for her master, who took care of her just like a father, to see her in power- as he died long before she reached the position. Although, she always knew she was fine without him, after the Rebellion started she wasn't as sure anymore.
Kayeena called for her handmaiden, Kyra, she had to freshen up for her guests' arrival. Kyra, as always chose the best dress for the occasion and the most suitable hairstyle to match.
"You look beautiful as always, your highness!" Kyra exclaimed happily. Though she was right, the Empress had lost most of her beauty in her years as a Sith Lord. Her skin, once a healthy tanned brown, were only a very light brown due to months spent in space ships and stations- out of the sun. Her eyes, once vivid and sweet were now duller- a thing Kyra insisted was just her aging. Somehow she had escaped a lot of the rapid aging Sith Lords encounter, due to the dark side. She recalled how grey and pale her masters complexion became, how his eyes were usually red and truth-be-told quite scary. But with determination she made sure she'd never look like that- her looks were very important to her.
"Alert my guests, that I'm arriving soon," the Empress said to one of the guards.
"Yes of course your highness! But now approaching is Lord Morte, he wishes to speak to you before the meeting."
Kayeena nodded and waited in her quarters for her apprentice. Though he was only a few years younger than her, Darth Morte was still a valuable student and he looked up to her always for support.
"Good afternoon my master," Lord Morte entered, with a bow. Then looking sincerely at her with his 'calm eyes'- the green ones that only shone when he wasn't accessing the Dark side in anger.
"Oh but not it's not good at all!" Darth Maran said sadly, "Do you know anything about these… freedom fighters?" She sneered; her anger was finally starting to wane.
"Hmm its not the Jedi- as we feared, we believe they are remnants of the Old anti-users of the Force organization- or whatever it was called…" Her apprentice thought carefully for a second, "Ahh I know the 'Mortals" Ha! They all thought they were the normal ones!"
"Yes I do remember as well- but they were before our time my apprentice… I don't know the way they work…" she sensed more guests arriving in her home.
"That is why we have called many elder Generals, they'll know all about them!"
The Empress nodded in agreement and they started walking to the main meeting room of the Imperial Palace. As she and her apprentice entered, her guests rose and bowed loyally.
"Your highness! How dashing you look this afternoon, but our business here is not very good at all…" General Toan said, gently kissing her hand. Toan was one of her best colleagues and her most trusted defence-advisor.
"Thankyou General, please everyone have a seat!" Kayeena said, while taking a seat herself- at the head of the table. Her apprentice sitting right beside her as usual.
"Now, who or what is exactly attacking the Empire?" the Empress said sternly, looking seriously at her guests. Many of them looked down at he table confusingly, but it was Admiral Lakam, a Neimoidian and one of the elders her apprentices mentioned, who spoke first.
"We're not exactly who personally but we know they are from the old "Mortals" organization" he said, looking around at the guests seriously, "We believe they have been planning rebellion for a number of years. Your highness, this is a very serious threat to the Empire!"
There was a sudden hush among the Empress and her guests. But when Lord Maran thought about it more, she smiled gleefully.
"They have no chance against us!" she said with a snigger, "Our army is most definitely ten time larger than theirs! And is it be necessary, we also have the Death Star."
She exchanged happy glances with her apprentice; they both knew this was true.
"Hear, hear! I agree! General Lakam, what news do you have of their defences?" asked the Governess of Coruscant: Hanelle Vronsty.
"They do have a rather large army, a few hundred warships but absolutely insignificant compared to ours!" they laughed lightly, everyone else finally joining in. The Rebellion, compared to the Imperial Army was pathetic and pointless. But there still was the threat of the public siding with them- something the Empress was worried more about. Her citizens losing faith in her leadership was the worst thing that could happen to her and the Empire.
"So what action will we undertake?" Lord Morte asked. They all knew a civil war would start soon, if more of the public took their side.
"I will call a meeting in the Senate for tomorrow morning, to see what the public is actually thinking," the Empress said, as she stood up, "Now I must retire- thankyou for coming at such short notice." She was getting tired; a war was defiantly something she could do without.
As her apprentice stood up with her, her guests got up, bowed and got ready to leave as well.
"I hope we talk soon your highness," Admiral Lakam said, "Though hopefully not of more attacks on your Empire."
"Thankyou for your concern and your information Admiral," the Empress said appreciatively, allowing him to kiss her hand. Then she turned to her apprentice: "Lord Morte, we must talk some more- join me for dinner tonight!"
He thought for a moment and brushed back his golden brown hair; "Yes, I have nothing else to do- I'll come back down in an hour my master. " He bowed and left, leaving Empress Kayeena alone. She was alone a lot these days, her only true 'family' being her apprentice. Her family had passed away long ago…
"Oh I wish I wouldn't remember these things!" she thought desperately, as her past once again hoped back into her mind. Her days as a rising Sith lord had been her most powerful times, Lord Gare made sure of that. Her whole appearance was much more
'wild' in those days, her skin more tanned, hair shorter and she was definitely physically stronger.
Though she knew it was caused by the casualties and trauma of her teenage years, a past, which even her apprentice didn't know everything about. Her anger in those days kept her alive, gave her energy and the will to do her masters biddings.
The Empress walked towards the grand window of the meeting room and with one of her fingers-stunned a small insect with Force lightning (something she learned how to do long ago), looking back to her past life, before she joined the Imperial Senate, before she joined high society. A life where nothing made her pity; life as a true Sith Lord.