1.1 Part I
1.1.1.1.1 THE ARRIVAL
1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Chapter I
1.2 AN EVIL'S REBIRTH
The gas giant, Yavin shun bright orange in the night sky of its jungle moon Yavin IV. S'yra liked to watch Yavin at night, it reminded her of home. She was of course born on Yavin IV, but it was a very different Yavin IV from the one upon which she now stood. How different her life would be were she still living on the Yavin IV of her birth.
Something caught her eye, and for once it wasn't one of the young, handsome men who served her brother. Watching, S'yra discovered that she was looking at a ship coming down from orbit.
"There aren't any visitors scheduled for today," she said quietly to herself. Turning, she headed briskly down the stone steps leading back into the Great Temple. Deep in her stomach S'yra knew something was seriously wrong.
* * * * *
S'yra now stood next to her sister, S'ymbaka, as their brother, D'an, paced back and forth at the top of the steps. The main audience chamber hadn't changed much over the years sense D'an's take over of the abandoned rebel base. Soon he stopped his pacing and sat in the chair that rested at the top of the raised dais.
A woman appeared at the chamber's entrance, and she started walking towards them. D'an watched her, and the anger rose up inside of him. She was clad in black armor, but when the light hit it in just the right way the color changed to a dark, rich green.
"Ancalime!" he gasped in amazement.
"Tar-Ancalime, Little Brother," she corrected him, "or have you forgotten?"
"I have not forgotten," he said from behind clinched teeth. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just playing messenger," she said, smiling.
"What message?!" he demanded, growling impatiently. At that his older sister's eyes grew darker, if that was possible, and she spoke in a stronger, more powerful voice than he ever remembered her using.
"Your Master orders you to leave Yavin IV, immediately, and to meet him on Coruscant."
D'an, feeling a great rage burning in him, rose to his feet. He could feel S'yra's and S'ymbaka's unease at what this news might mean. "Who sent you?!" he demanded of the older sister.
"I have delivered my message 'Little Brother.' I must go now." With that she turned and left the throne room of the ancient Massassi temple. Once outside the doors to the throne room, Ancalime disappeared from the face of Yavin IV.
Back in the throne room S'yra turned to her brother and said, "So, what do you intend to do now?"
D'an looked down at his left hand to gaze at the Dark Side Gauntlet that was melded to his arm and said, "The only thing I can do." He looked at his sisters and his eyes flared with anger. "I'm going to Coruscant to prove that no man is my master!"
* * * * *
Ancalime reappeared on the bridge of the DarkSide, her personal command-ship. Seated in the command chair Captain Hellgramite gave the order that the ship was to be taken out of orbit. He turned to her and said:
"My lady, the ship has been moved out of orbit, awaiting your orders."
She turned to look at a dark clad figure across the bridge. Harless Dran, her human lover, and her second-in-command. He returned her look.
"Have the coordinates for Coruscant been put into the navigational computer?" she asked. She didn't have to ask, but it gave Hellgramite something to do.
"Yes lady," he answered after a glance at the nav. station.
"Then execute hyper-space fold jump," she ordered. The crew went to work.
Ancalime crossed the bridge to stand next to Harless. She put her hand on his arm in an affectionate gesture. Looking into his eyes, as expressionless as her own, she saw the same question that he seemed to ask her constantly. Did she love him?
Years ago she had saved Harless from her father's anger. At the time it had been a great sacrifice on her part. It wasn't until years later that her father had gained trust in her again. She and Harless had been lovers ever sense. But did she love him? Who knew? She would never give him a strait forward answer to the question.
He smiled at her, then turned his eyes back to the forward view screen. His thoughts on someone else for the time being. Another woman. The only other woman in existence that he loved. Ryan, his daughter.
Harless lived to serve only two people, Ancalime and Ryan. His whole life was for them, and the possibility that Ryan was not his daughter never entered his mind.
At the time Ryan was conceived, Ancalime was involved with two men, Harless because she wanted to be, and Prince Voyvoden of the planet Skelos because she had to be. Even after Ryan's birth it was impossible to tell, she was decidedly elven. The splitting image of her mother and, it was said, her grandmother. But no sign of Harless or Voyvoden.
As for Ryan's personality, she was nothing like her family. It was her teachers that she emulated, and it was one in particular that she strived to please. Her "Aunt" Kitiara. From the moment of her birth the Dragon Highlord from the world of Krynn had been a constant in her life. Kit taught Ryan how to fight both with a sword and unarmed, and she taught her how to handle a dragon in flight and in battle.
Even Skie, Kit's blue dragon, put his two cents worth into her education. It was he who taught her to understand her opponents. Some said she could even call upon the power of the "Dragon Fear," but no one ever had the courage to ask her. Perhaps that was all the confirmation anyone needed.
Even with Ryan's superior abilities Harless still found himself worrying about her. He watched as Yavin faded away in the distortion of space fold.
* * * * *
Coruscant, once the center of galactic government, now the thrown world of the Empire. The Empire, founded and once ruled by the former Republic Senator Palpatine, now ruled by the late Emperor's other- dimensional granddaughter, Alhanna Ambrodel, or more commonly known as Alhanna – Queen of the Night. But in less reputable company she was known as the Carbonite Queen for in her reign to date some of the Rebellion's most prominent members have fallen before her. The first having been Mon Mothma, who now decorates the Queen's main audience chamber along with her grandfather, Palpatine, and the Princess Leia Organa-Solo, as Carbonite statues. Alhanna was truly on her way to taking control of the galaxy. Or was she?
Redclaw, the Queen's personal bodyguard stood rigidly at attention before his mistress as she gave him his orders.
"Redclaw, I have a special assignment for you," Alhanna said, letting each word roll off her tong with her elegant elven accent. Everything about her was regal, royal. She was truly a Queen. "There is a planet called Koraban. It is an ancient world, some say it is the home world of the Sith. I want you to go there and investigate the planet."
"If that is your wish my Queen, though I do not think it wise to leave you unguarded."
"Your concern in noted, but this mission is of the utmost importance, and you are my most trusted aid. Besides, I have the twins to guard me while you are away." With that The'odred slipped out of the shadows at the back of the room. "You see? I am well protected."
Redclaw bowed. "As you command my Queen." He did not trust the twin's abilities though he was assured of their loyalty. They were too inexperienced to be given so great a responsibility as that of guarding the Queen, but he dared not question her judgment any further. At her dismissal he left for the ship that would carry him to the ghost planet Koraban.
* * * * *
The DarkSide exited space fold along side the Doom. Ancalime and Harless saw the mountainous vessel looming ahead.
"Open communications with the Doom!" Ancalime ordered. Hellgrammite quickly repeated the order and the Comm. Officer called out that communications had been established.
A holographic image of Ancalime's father appeared before the DarkSide's bridge crew. Ancalime and Harless quickly knelt down before their master's image.
"Father," she said, "we have completed our mission. D'an should be on Coruscant soon."
"You have done well my daughter. I am going to the planet now. You will remain where you are and await further orders. Doom out." The image of the Dark Lord disappeared.
Chapter II
1.3 THE NEW REGIME
Alhanna sat in her throne speaking to the two Emperor's Hands who knelt before her. Lumiya, the Mistress of the Light-whip, and Lyrana Starling, both former students of the traitorous Sith Lord, Darth Vader. After the exile of the former Emperor's Hand Mara Jade and the execution of the traitorous Roganda Ismarin, the concubine of the late Emperor Palpatine, the two were compelled to reconsider their loyalty. Both decided it would be better to serve the Queen rather than have her hunting them.
The two women now listened as their Queen explained her planes to inhabit the ancient home world of the Sith. Once the mission to investigate the planet's condition was completed the two Hands would be sent there to ensure the success of the operation. In addition to the restoration of the surface to it's former glory, the ladies would each be responsible for the construction of a Death Star battle station. One station would be constructed for both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Alhanna was about to elaborate on her plans for the planet Koraban when she was interrupted by the sounds of screaming and fighting from outside the great hall. Suddenly a roar, like thunder, pierced threw the room and the huge double doors exploded inward in a shower of heated metal.
Flames and smoke filled the doorway, but this provided no barrier to the figure that strode slowly and silently into the chamber. It was a woman wearing form fitting blue armor. She had long black hair, which hung down from under the pirate-like headdress and reached down her back to her waist.
She looked at no one as she moved toward the throne, and the Queen. In her hand she brandished a long, curved sword, it's blade freshly bathed in the blood of the guards from outside.
"Who are you?!" Alhanna insisted as she rose from the throne. The girl ignored her. Once she reached the center of the room, she stopped.
"Well, I'll have you know," Alhanna said, as she returned to her seat, "I don't like intruders." Turning to the two dark Jedi standing before her, she added, "Lyrana, show this impertinent witch out of here!"
Igniting her Lightsaber, Lyrana responded, "Yes my Queen, as you wish."
Lyrana approached the girl quickly and slashed out with her saber. Not once did the girl look up from the floor and when she moved to parry the blow with her own blade Lyrana was taken completely by surprise. If not for her own quickness, Lyrana would have been disarmed in the first volley of moves and countermoves.
The blue clad warrioress moved with an inhuman speed, and it took all of Lyranna's skill with the lightsaber to fend off the woman. Even in the fury of her fight, Lyrana noticed the obvious craftsmanship that must have gone into the blue-warrioress' weapon. A sword of incomparable beauty and elegance.
The woman changed her methods, adding hand-to-hand tactics to the fight. Lyrana was beginning to think she might be over matched. Just then her lightsaber flew out of her hand and skidded across the floor. Lyrana found that she had respect for this woman who was so skilled in her art, but she also felt an uncontrollable anger towards her.
The anger built and took control. Lyrana was about to use the dark side to suffocate the woman who had humiliated her in front of her Queen. Revenge!
A flash of light. A beam of energy. A siring pain in her chest. Lyrana found herself lying on the steps to the throne, her chest burning with a pain beyond her endurance. With complete disregard for her surroundings, Lyrana gripped the front of her cloths and tore them open revealing the blackened, smoking, burnt spot between her breasts.
The blue armored woman stood silently, eyes once again turned down to the floor. But everyone else was looking past her to the still smoke filled doorway. Out of the smoke and flame emerged an even darker figure than the woman. Taller, broader, he strode into the room. Once inside he stopped and took in his surroundings with his marble-like, black eyes.
Furious, Alhanna shot to her feet and said, "Who in the name of the Abyss do you think you are, and what is the meaning of this?!" Then, without waiting for an answer to her first question, she added, "I will see to it that Lord Gornash punishes you severely for this."
The Dark Man's eyes met hers and she fell back into her chair as if powerful hands had pushed her down. He smiled, obviously enjoying the effect of his gaze.
"I assure you Lady Alhanna," the Dark Man said. "I am looking forward to the arrival of 'Lord' Gornash."
He now walked across the room until he stood at the foot of the steps to the throne; there he stopped to look down at Lyranna, who was still recovering from the energy blast.
"You will soon learn how fool hearty attacking me was." He then turned his all-consuming gaze upon Alhanna again.
From the center of the Royal Audience Chamber there came the blinding flash of blue lightning and a wash of blue flame. As it quickly dissipated, three figures came into being.
"Lord Gornash," Alhanna exclaimed. "These two intruders are causing trouble. Dispatch them."
"Yes, Lord Gornash," the Dark Man said. He turned to face the three newcomers. "Dispatch us."
D'an Gornash's eyes widened with disbelief. How was this possible, he thought. Why is this happening? He composed himself quickly.
"Father, we were not expecting you," D'an said.
"No, I suppose you were not."
D'an took a step forward. "What are you doing here?"
"It's quite simple really. I'm here to claim this dimension as my own."
D'an took another step closer to his father and said, "I can not allow that."
"And how do you intend to stop me, my servant?"
D'an's eyes came alive with anger. His left hand, which bore the Dark Side Gauntlet of Loccus Kallendbor, began to glow with the power of hatred.
"I am more powerful than you now." To show his father that he was not afraid to use this power against his own father, D'an launched a concentrated blast of cool Dark Side energy at him.
"Is that so?" his father said as the energy seemed to wash over him harmlessly. "I think you are mistaken." In a gesture so fast it was even hard for D'an to follow, the dark-man raised his own Dark Side Gauntlet and let loose a blast that sent D'an flying across the thrown room.
Placing his hand on the wall to brace himself while he stood, D'an realized the impact of his body hitting the wall had put a crack in the stone. His dark eyes turned their gaze back to his father. D'an's eyes were never as human as when astonishment struck his features. His father had pushed the hood back from his face, his face. Younger, D'an thought. No, different. Then it struck him fully. Standing before him was not the man who raised him, the man called Melkor, but the man who'd conceived him, Aldarion.
Aldarion smiled, then turned to look at his daughters. "S'yra, S'ymbaka, my beautiful daughters. Do you too wish to rival me?" he asked. They could not speak as he approached them. Almost as if they were being held frozen in place. He put his left hand around S'yra's throat, and squeezed until she was gasping for breath. Looking deep into her large, almond shaped eyes, he saw the tears of fear and pain well up and fall down her perfect face, then he held up his right hand for her inspection. S'yra's eyes were as big as saucers and he knew she understood. He released his grip and she collapsed to the floor at his feet.
S'yra clutched at her father's boots. "Please father," she gasped, she was still trying to recover from the vice grip he'd had on her throat. "Please, we only came because we knew you didn't need us anymore."
Aldarion knelt down to his daughter. Taking a hand-full of her hair, he pulled, forcing her to crane her neck and look up at him.
"I can tolerate being betrayed by mere students, but not you." He caressed her wet cheek with his other hand. "Not you, my beautiful daughter. You belong to me, and to me alone. Is that understood?" With that he let her head fall back to the floor. In a lightning move he was back on his feet, setting upon his other daughter.
The blow from the back of his hand across her face was so surprising to S'ymbaka that it knocked her completely off her feet. Stars burst in her vision as she found herself face down on the floor, blood falling from her nose and mouth. Looking back over her shoulder she saw her father standing over her.
"And you," he said. "Of all my children there were two that I could always count on, Ancalime and you." He stood, silently looking down at her for a moment, then bellowed, "I expect this kind of thing from her," making a quick gesture in S'yra's direction. "She's an opportunistic whore, but you. You were suppose to be the loyal one, the stalwart one, and then you do this!"
Surprisingly, Aldarion turned his attention to Alhanna, who still sat in the thrown. Holding up his ringed hand he said, "Do you, Queen Alhanna, have any doubts as to what this means?"
Alhanna quietly looked at Aldarion's proffered hand. Adorning the ring finger of that hand were two rings, identical to each other. She looked to D'an and saw that he to was looking at the two rings. She looked back to Aldarion, and as she spoke she once again felt like the little girl who'd been kidnapped by Prince Voyvoden all those years ago. "No, I have no doubts."
"There," he said, smiling. "I always did say you were the smartest of the bunch." Aldarion turned to look at his daughters again, both of who were back on their feet trying to regain their composure, and not doing a very good job of it. Then he turned to his son. "Well?"
"Yes father, what is your wish," D'an said as he dropped to one knee.
Aldarion smiled. Turning, he said to his granddaughter, "Ryan, return to the 'DarkSide' and deliver my orders to Ancalime."
Ryan stood and awaited her Master's instructions.
"Ancalime is to make an immediate Space Fold jump to Koraban. Once there, she is to await the arrival of the Imperial flagship, Eclipse. She is to order the Eclipse's commander to surrender, or be destroyed."
"No!" Alhanna screamed as she leapt from her place on the thrown. "You can't…"
"Yes!" Aldarion cut her off. "I can."
"Please Lord Aldarion," she said. "Redclaw would rather die than surrender, or be taken prisoner. Also, the Eclipse is to valuable a commodity to simply destroy it because everyone is to vane to think of a better solution."
The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed as he listened to her speak. "Very well," he said, thinking she sounded too much like her mother. "What do you suggest?"
"Allow me to accompany Tar-Ancalime. If I am there when to order to stand down is given, then he will listen, and no one will get killed."
He thought about it for a moment, and decided that it would be a good thing to have Alhanna out of the way for a while. "Very well Lady." Turning back to Ryan he added, "Ryan, you will escort Lady Alhanna to your mother."
"As you wish my Lord," the young woman said with a short bow.
The two women left, and Aldarion took his place in the thrown at the top of the steps. "Now, about the rest of my galaxy," he began.
Chapter III
1.4 A GREAT DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE
The Sara II Jedi Academy on Mars had come a long way in the sixteen years sense it's beginning and Jessa had been there to see most of it. Jessa Kaye Dengaali, daughter of the Jedi Master Behemoth Dengaali and the Fenishian Princess Cynthia Kaye, was already universally renowned for her skill with the Force, and with the intricacies of Robotechnology. She walked through the halls of the Academy accompanied by the ever present, ever faithful, companion, G. She stopped herself from laughing as she listened to G speak through the burnt out speech actuator that a four-year- old Jessa had rebuilt from other burnt out parts.
G looked like a walking trash compactor that had seen better days. His framework design, which left much of his superstructure and internal components exposed, gave a somewhat incomplete look to him. Even after all these years G could still turn the heads of the other students. Then again, G wasn't the only one turning heads. At a height just under six feet, with long legs and a body that would allow her to write her own ticket at any movie studio on Earth, Jessa was the most sought after female on Mars. The groundskeepers continually complained about how they had to clean up the piles of dead flowers they found under Jessa's dorm room window everyday.
The exotic looking Jessa, with her long, stark white hair and piercing black eyes, constantly received flowers, candy, and a variety of other gifts from other students at the Academy, but much to their chagrin, she simply throws these out the window. Romantic relationships didn't interest her in the least, though she did have a number of good friends.
She reached her destination, the personal meditation chamber of the Jedi Lord Todd Neblett. For a moment, Jessa reflected that this man was not only a Jedi Lord, but the master Protoculturist in all the Universe, as well as being the Chief Instructor and Founder of the Sarra II Jedi Academy, and her Jedi Master.
As always, she didn't miss a step when the door opened at her approach with out any beckoning from her. Jessa was well aware that the Master always knew when one of the students was coming to see him. Once inside, the door closed behind her and G, and she stood in awe of what she saw, as always.
The room was only dimly lit by two glowing globes, which sat atop two short pillars. Between the pillars Jessa watched her master hover effortlessly off the floor. His legs were curled up in a seated position under him and his hands rested on the globes, one hand for each globe. Not once did he open his eyes.
"Jessa, how may I help you?" he asked, his voice showing a calmness she'd never experienced.
"Master, I was hoping you could see your way clear to transferring me to the Jedi Academy on Degalth," she said.
He didn't waver even a little. "You wish to visit your parents." It wasn't a question.
"Yes," she answered anyway. "I especially wish to speak to my mother."
"Does this have something to do with the trip you and your sister took to your mother's home world?"
"Yes."
"So this is something you wish to speak to her about in person rather than a over a com-link."
"Yes, Master." Jessa was doing everything she could to keep from throwing herself to the floor and groveling at this man's feet, such was her need for this trip.
"There is a transport preparing to launch for Degalth to pick up a student there who wished to study Robotech. If you pack quickly enough you might make it."
Her eyes opened wide in amazement and her heart leapt for joy. As she ran out of the room with G on her heels she managed to shout back to him, "Thank you Master!"
* * * * *
Lord Neblett heard her call of thanks as the door to his meditation chamber closed, and he smiled. He had never had children, beyond Janice, the android he'd built as a mate for his friend Talon Fashon, and he felt a fatherly responsibility toward Jessa because of his friendship with her father, Behemoth Dengaali. It was moments like this that made him wish he had children, real children, of his own.
Pain suddenly arched through his mind. So powerful was it that he found himself lying on the floor.
"By the Force," he cried. "What's happening?!" The pain increased and spread throughout his body. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain stopped and was replaced with a heart numbing cold.
"Be careful what you wish for," came a voice out of the darkness, "you may get it." Then laughter.
"Who are you?" the Jedi Lord called out.
The darkness reseated to reveal the tall, dark figure of a man. He wore dark green, almost black, armor that covered him from the collar of his neck to the tips of his toes. Hanging from the man's belt was an ebony black lightsaber, a design of which Lord Neblett did not recognize. The man's face was young, yet the expression conveyed experience and intelligence. His hair was black and was slicked back away from his face to hang down, almost to his shoulder blades, behind his head. In the end the man's most captivating features were his eyes, which were also black, and appeared fathomless, giving the man an almost omnipotent appearance.
As the man knelt down before him, Lord Neblett could see more clearly the man's ears, pointed at the tips, marking him with some kind of elven heritage. "I," the man whispered, "am your son."
"That's ridiculous," Lord Neblett said indignantly.
"Are you sure?" the man asked.
He didn't reply, for he couldn't think of anything to say. Through the Force he could hear the most disturbing ring of truth in this dark- elf's words.
"I did not, however, come here for a family reunion," the dark-elf said. Rising to his feet he gestured for Lord Neblett to do the same, then he continued. "My name is Aldarion, and I am now in control of the Empire, and the Sith."
Now back on his feet, Lord Neblett felt more comfortable. "Why do you tell me this?"
"I know your thoughts before you speak them human," Aldarion said. "What you really want to ask is, 'Why do I risk telling you?'" He smiled at his command of the situation. "I assure you, I am risking nothing by coming here.
"As to why, it is quite simple: I want the whole galaxy to know who it is that defeated them. I want them all to know the fate that awaits them. And I want them to know that I'm not going to waist my time the way my son has wasted his."
"Your son, D'an?" Lord Neblett guessed.
"Yes," Aldarion admitted, somewhat discontentedly. "He and his slut, the Queen, Alhanna, have wasted precious time in their foolish pursuits. Today they are no closer to defeating the galaxy then they were the day they arrived here."
"I will have to stop you Lord Aldarion," the Jedi said.
"I know you must try Lord Neblett, but I also know that success is beyond even your exceptional powers."
The hand is quicker than the eye they say, and just that quickly the Jedi's lightsaber was gripped in his hand. Unfortunately Lord Aldarion had anticipated this, and was ready.
Faster that the lightsaber would ignite, a darkness that seemed to seep out of the walls themselves had surrounded Lord Neblett in a clouded, swirling mass of dark power.
"I am disappointed," Aldarion said sadly. "I was hoping that you would prove to be a greater challenge to me.
"Oh well, we don't always get what we want."
Confident that the light of his power was strong enough to cleave any darkness, Lord Neblett ignited his lightsaber and swung at the swirling cage of smoky dark-side energy. As the blade of the ancient Jedi weapon made contact with the Dark-side barrier, it seemed to absorb the darkness rather than slashing through it.
The darkness raced up the blade and wrapped around the Jedi in a grip stronger and colder than death. Pain such as Lord Neblett had never even imagined possible racked his body, and invaded his very soul. His connection to the Force seemed to have been severed all together, leaving him alone and defenseless. The last thing he saw before his consciousness fled was Aldarion, fading back into the shadows.
* * * * *
He didn't know how much time had gone by sense he'd lost consciousness. Looking around he saw that the field of dark-side energy still surrounded him, even though Aldarion was gone.
The Force had returned to him, though he could tell it was greatly diminished. He needed to escape from the dark-side trap, but how? Sitting on the floor, at the center of the field's circle, he began to consider his options.
After several moments of deep contemplation the only logical answer to his dilemma came to him. His connection to the Force was too weak at the moment to make it a sufficient tool outside of his current confines, so he had to rely on his other talents. Turning his attention to the computer terminal mounted in the wall of the far side of the room, he used his Protoculturist's powers to activate it. It worked.
This terminal, a simple library computer, now became a nexus point for the entire computer network for the planet Mars. Through its connections he learned that the transport heading for Degalth had indeed launched on time and, according to its records, Jessa had been aboard.
He made the proper connection with the Mars communications satellite and began making the necessary adjustments to contact Earth. Once he'd connected with Earth he used the mainframe computer located in Washington J.C. to give him the extra power he needed to boost the signal, then he made his connection with Janice Em, his android daughter. He hoped Talon wasn't far away.
1.4.1
1.4.2 Chapter IV
1.5 CONVENE THE COUNCIL
Janice Em, so named by her 'father', sat quietly at a computer console working on a number of calculations that would allow her to construct an android, or in a sense, give birth to a child of her own. This had been a plan of hers for some time, but up until now she felt she lacked the necessary knowledge to accomplish her goal.
Talon Fashon, her mate, still worked in Washington J.C. though he'd given up his position as Security Chief years before. Even though they were legally married in a traditional Ryllian wedding ceremony, most people outside of Washington considered their union to be a false one sense Janice was not considered to be a sentient being. The prejudice was something that Talon was more that capable of dealing with and something Janice had been 'programmed' not to acknowledge.
Suddenly Janice stopped her calculations and took on a somewhat glazed over look, as she seemed to gaze off into open space. "Yes Father," she said in her occasional monotone voice. "Yes Father," she repeated. "As you wish Father," she said after a longer pause. Rising from her seat she made her way through the house to Talon's study. Upon entering she found Talon sitting calmly on the floor, meditating.
"Talon!" she said, a little to loudly. His eyes flashed open and for a moment his face bore the distinct trademarks of surprise. "I have a message for you from Father."
Talon's surprise vanished without a trace and he got to his feet. "What does my friend have to say?" he asked.
Janice began to speak, but the voice that emerged was not her own. "Talon, we are all in great danger. You and Janice must come to Mars immediately." She stopped and stared at Talon with an almost confused look about her.
"Janice," he said after a moment's contemplation. "Would you please arrange for a shuttle to be waiting to take us to Mars while I make a few other arrangements."
"Of course Talon, anything you ask," that said, she turned and left. Talon allowed himself a moment to count his blessings as she left. Janice was, in fact, an android. A sophisticated android, but an android non-the- less. He knew that she could be cold and aloof with others, but with him she almost seemed human. He banished the thoughts from his mind and went to his desk. Pressing a single button he immediately heard the response.
"Jedi Council Communications, Officer Eldon speaking."
"Officer Eldon, this is Lord Fashon."
"Lord Fashon," came the younger man's voice, fueled with a new respect. "What can I do for you sir?"
"I must speak with Judge Pentaras."
* * * * *
A mere twenty minutes later Talon and Janice where boarding a shuttle. Judge Pentaras, Jedi Lord from the planet Anderon and the second Judge of the Jedi Council on Earth, had accompanied the two to the spaceport on the outskirts of the city. As Janice entered the shuttle's confines, Talon turned to face the taller Rahu-Man.
"Lord Fashon, I don't see the reason for this urgency. I've not felt any disturbance that would surly accompany a danger as great as the one you have described. However, I have a great respect for your insight, as well as that of Lord Neblett. The two of you have seen and done much together, and I do understand the importance of friends."
"I appreciate your understanding in this delicate and uncertain matter. As soon as I've had a chance to resolve the situation on Mars it is my hope to return to Earth for an emergency meeting of the council."
"I will begin making preparations as soon as you are under way," Pentaras promised. "May the Force be with you."
"And you Judge Pentaras." Proper respect having been paid to both parties, the Lords parted ways. Only moments later the shuttle launched itself into deep space, towards the Jedi Academy on Mars.
Talon Fashon was an accomplished pilot, but he was content this trip sitting in the co-pilot's seat. Though he could have flown the shuttle from the Earth to Mars quite effortlessly, he found that letting Janice, who seemed to have a link to computers and machines that he would never be able to achieve, pilot the shuttle allowed him the added concentration he required for his own task.
During the entire voyage from the blue-white Earth to the red planet Mars, Talon remained lost in a Force induced trance. Through the mists of the Force that could penetrate the smallest crevice and reach the farthest distances. He searched, and what he found was an endless span of life, but there was no sign of his friend. Not a single trace of Jedi Lord Todd Neblett's mind or presence. Narrowing his pattern of search to the red planet itself, Talon found only the slightest residue of the man who had almost single handedly reclaimed Mars for the purpose of life. As Janice announced that they would soon be landing at the Academy's docking facility, Talon narrowed his field of search once again. This time the Academy complex fell under the all-seeing eye of the Force as wielded by the Jedi Lord. This time the sense was a bit stronger, but still remained nothing more than a residue. It was at this moment that the Force took over the Rylian's senses. A room, devoid of any life, sprung into Talon's mind. The sense sharpened and he realized that not the entire room was devoid of life, but only a portion of the room's center.
"Todd's office," Talon murmured to himself as he felt the shuttle touchdown. Now he knew where to go, and as he and Janice descended the ramp, he did not hesitate.
At the entrance to Lord Neblett's office they encountered a minor snag, the door was locked with a system that only a Protoculturist could bypass. This proved to be minor however when Janice stepped forward to demonstrate a mechanical solution. The door jerked, and then hissed open. Talon stepped into the room, and Janice followed.
The office appeared unchanged from any of the other times Talon had seen it. But this was the first time he had ever witnessed anything like the dark, smoky globe in which his friend seemed to be trapped.
"Good work Janice," the dark-eyed Jedi Lord said. "Talon, my friend, I'm going to need your help."
As Talon approached he saw that Todd seemed to be completely unharmed, but also equally trapped within the swirling globe of dark-side energies. "I am curious as to what kind of dark-sider could have entered this institution of Jedi training in order to perpetuate such a crime against one of your considerable powers and talents."
"I'll explain everything, once we've undone this evil," Todd promised.
Some time later, Talon felt that he'd discovered why his friend hadn't just dispersed the barrier himself, anyone, or anything, inside the barrier was cut off from the Light-side of the Force. With Talon's presence on the outside of the barrier, Todd was able to once again connect himself to the light. Once the connection was reestablished it was only a matter of moments before the two were able to locate the weak spot in the barrier. With a simple twist of thought the barrier shattered and collapsed in upon itself. Todd was free once again, and he wasted no time in beginning his explanation.
It was obvious that Aldarion and his apprentice's were a force to be reckoned with. If Lord Neblett's assessment of the situation was correct, they didn't have much time before…
* * * * *
"…the entire galaxy will come under Sith control."
"That is a very optimistic appraisal of the Sith's abilities at this time Lord Neblett."
"When I was a young man, and just beginning my training, my master taught me a very important lesson, "Never underestimate the power of the Dark Side." That lesson has seen me through many great ordeals," he replied. The three had returned to Earth aboard a proto-type deep space fighter Lord Neblett's Robotech teams had been working on. Although it's maneuverability in combat had not yet been perfected, the craft was capable of reaching speeds far exceeding those of the shuttlecraft the Jedi Council had at their disposal. They were now inside the massive council chamber in Washington J.C. standing before this emergency assembly.
"I don't profess to understand all that Lord Neblett has presented to us, but believe I must concur with his assessment. The Sith obviously have a new, more powerful leader in this Aldarion. We must be more cautious of what we do," Lord Grey of England chimed in. He usually kept quiet at council meetings, but this time he felt more compelled to speak. Almost immediately he wished he'd kept his mouth shut. The council was still divided after the expulsion of the former Judge, Behemoth Dengaali. An argument broke out among the two factions, and Thomas found himself thinking of Behemoth now.
1.5.1.1 INTERLUDE I
2 A FAMILY REUNION
The shuttle landed genitally on the landing pad at the spaceport near the Jedi Academy of Degalth. Jedi Master Behemoth Dengaali watched it's slow decent anxiously awaiting the arrival of his daughter. It had only been a few months sense the last time she'd been for a visit, but at that time she'd only stayed for a few hours. This time she'd have more time. The message had come through the day before from his friend, Jedi Lord Todd Neblett of the Jedi Academy on Mars, stating that Jessa was being transferred to Degalth for an undetermined amount of time. The only thing that bothered him was that Todd had neglected to mention the reason for the transfer, 'All in good time,' he thought as the shuttle made touch down and the ground crew started the lock-down procedure.
Suddenly everyone jumped away from the shuttle as if it were about to explode. The cables snaked around in the air as though they had a life of their own. Access ports for the various tubes and wires opened and control panels for the servicing systems lit up by themselves. The shuttle literally locked itself down, and in half the time it would have taken the ground crew.
Behemoth stepped out onto the landing platform as the hatch opened and the ramp lowered itself into position. As he watched, a beautiful young woman appeared at the top of the ramp. She wore a green jump suit, similar to that of a pilot, and had long flowing white hair. Although he had secretly worried that Jessa's inheritance of his white locks would hurt her looks when she got older, he saw now, as she ran up to meet him, that she had truly grown up to be her mother's daughter. "Could anything truly damage the beauty of my wife and daughters," he asked himself, but he already knew the answer.
They hugged for a long time and Behemoth sensed that she missed him as much as he missed her. "How have you been Sweetheart?"
"I'm fine Daddy. I've just missed you, that's all."
"Well, your mom is waiting back at the house for us."
"Okay," she said. Then she turned back towards the shuttle. "G, let's go!"
A reverberating, lumbering, clanking came from the shuttle as the massive patchwork form of G appeared in the hatchway. He made his way stiffly down the ramp towards where Jessa stood waiting. Once by her side G's head made a swiveling motion, then shifted forward on his 'shoulders,' only then did the telltale white gas jet out of his neck, indicating that he'd completed the task he'd been ordered to perform. G's body was a mismatched collection of mechanical and electronic components from an infinite variety of different devices. Jessa had built him out of scrap and junk parts she'd gotten from the scrap yards outside of Washington J.C. when she was only about three or four years of age. More than a decade had passed sense then, and G had never malfunctioned or broken down.
2.1.1
2.1.2 Chapter V
2.1.2.1 THE PROPHECY FULFILLED
Two days had passed sense Lord Neblett had arrived from Mars to tell of his encounter with the new Dark Lord, Aldarion. Today's meeting of the council would prove to be far more dramatic. It was said that Tackle Daggerford himself would be in attendance. But before the council convened other matters had to be dealt with. He approached the door cautiously and knocked.
Rualath had just finished getting ready to attend today's council meeting. She and her husband, Tamaner Ambrodel, had learned of the heated debate that had taken place only two days before from the wife of Lord Thomas Grey. Elizabeth had said it had something to do with the appearance of some new "Evil Lord," as she'd put it, on the planet Mars. There came a knock at the front door and her first reaction was to call far Tam to get it, but he had left early that morning to prepare Lord Flamestrike for her attendance at the council meeting. As she made her way to the door she cursed the fact that she and Tam had given Kamien permission to go on a survival outing with one of the other Jedi Masters and his students.
Opening the door, Rualath came face to face with a dream, or a nightmare. He was tall, with dark hair and a beard, streaked with gray. His overall appearance was that of a late-middle-aged human, but there was something about him that spoke of something older, ancient even. Although his appearance spoke of age and wisdom, his stance and build showed none of the physical debilitations of age. Something struck her as being elven in him. With a start she realized that she'd been starring at him for quite sometime, then she looked into the piercing, empty pools that were his eyes. Rualath had an overwhelming sense of dejavu. A feeling that she knew this man, a man that, to her memory, she'd never met. This stranger that she knew took her hand and brought it to his lips.
"Master Rualath Ambrodel?" he said genitally.
A question, she wondered. Or did he know her from somewhere? To answer his question she nodded her head.
"I'm sure you don't know me, my name is Todd Neblett."
Rualath snapped back to reality then and responded. "Yes, of course. You're the Jedi Lord who founded the Academy on Mars."
"That's right. I'm pleased to meet you. May I come in for a few moments? Recently I discovered something that may effect your life, as well as the lives of your family."
"Yes," Rualath said, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I suppose so."
She showed him inside and led him into the living room where, again, he wasted no time in giving his explanation. "So you see my point?" he asked as he finished.
"Yes, but I fail to see what this has to do with me or my family," she replied.
"This might be difficult to believe, or except, but I wanted to tell you myself before the meeting. Aldarion is your son."
Rualath fell dead silent for several minutes. How could this be, she had never been with anyone before Tam, though she had come close to it once. Then she and Tam only had the one child. He obviously recognized her confusion because he went on:
"Aldarion is from another dimension, in which you fell in love with someone else, meaning someone other than Tamaner Ambrodel."
"You," she said quietly. "That's why I felt as though I knew you."
"Yes," he confirmed, but quickly added, "but if I had met you under different circumstances neither one of us would have had that sensation of recognition."
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked.
"First of all, it will probably be mentioned today at the council meeting, and secondly because he came to me. He may come to you too."
"Do you think my family is in danger?"
"I think the whole galaxy is in danger."
"I wish you would have chosen not to tell me," she said.
"I wish I could have chosen not to tell you."
* * * * *
Two hours later the Council Chambers were packed with hundreds of people, awaiting what could be the most important meeting sense the Trial of Judge Behemoth.
"Fellow Jedi!" Pentaras's voice carried across the sea of people. "I, Judge Pentaras of the Jedi Council, hereby call this session to order." His words were made absolute with the thunderous crash of the metal ball that was the Jedi gavel.
"We are here to make final deliberations on the matter of the so- called "New" Dark Lord of the Sith, a being calling himself Aldarion." With a gesture to Lord Neblett's chair Pentaras added, "Our expert in the defense against the New Sith, and in its new Lord, Lord Neblett, will begin today's proceedings."
"Thank you Judge Pentaras," Todd said as he rose from his chair and made his way around to stand before the delegation. "I would like to say, before we get started, that I am sorry for any words of insult that may have been used towards you at the previous meeting Your Honor. I know that you are both a man of peace and honor, and that is why you sit in the seat that you do."
"I thank you for your words and accept them whole heartedly. Allow me to also extend my regrets for the words I said. May the Force guide us to the answers together."
"Your words are well taken Your Honor, and I think that they are words that we can all learn from." Todd turned to face the assemblage. "We must all continue to work together, on the same side, if we are to ever defeat Aldarion and his forces of darkness."
"He's right," came a soft, yet powerful voice. All eyes turned to behold the scarlet haired Kyburr and his wife, Dulcena. "If we do not stay together we will surly fail."
"Lord Kyburr!" Pentaras said, rather startled at the appearance of his one time student. "I was not aware that a message had been sent to Mimban."
"I apologize for this rather rude interruption Your Honor," Kyburr said as he approached the center dais, "but I believe I have some information that will prove vital in today's proceedings."
The red-haired Jedi Lord stepped up to stand next to Lord Neblett. The two shook hands in greeting and Kyburr said, "I apologize for the interruption Lord Neblett."
"That's quite alright Lord Kyburr. I find myself anxious to hear what you have to say."
By lightening their mutual grip on each other's hands, the two give a subtle sign of mutual understanding. Kyburr, the First Jedi, turned to face the assemblage.
"Thousands of years ago, my Master, Tackle Daggerford, discovered the presence of something that he alone seemed to understand. He called it the Force, for lack of a better term. After years of study he discovered that this power, this energy, this Force, existed in all living things. He learned how it worked, and how to work it.
"After the passing of several years, Tackle met a man named Locuss Kallendbor, and in time saw the potential for the Force within him. Tackle took the first of many students. Soon these two found another worthy candidate for apprenticeship, and his name was Kyburr.
"Together these three traveled to many worlds and discovered many things, about the Force, and about the galaxy. But it was Locuss's discovery that frightened them the most.
"Locuss had inadvertently tapped into an aspect of the Force that Tackle had not seen. Their friend began to change in strange ways. He became cold and unfeeling towards everything and everyone, even his closest friends. His mood was dark and he soon became very reclusive, spending days, and even weeks, in isolation.
"Then, one night, their friend was dead, and the first Dark-Sider was born. Locuss now wore three amulets that amplified the power of the Dark Side of the Force. Two were in the form of gauntlets, which he wore, one on each arm, and the third was in the form of a pendent, which hung from a chain he wore about the neck.
"Tackle and Kyburr were no match for this evil at this time, and the Light Side's first confrontation with the Dark Side was a disaster. Locuss could have destroyed them right then and there, but I think there was still a piece of the friend they had once known, held captive within the shell of darkness he had surrounded himself with.
"Kyburr then spent many years studying the writings that Locuss had left behind. Kyburr's long years of hard work were found warranted when he fashioned this." With that the Jedi produced a crystal that gleamed with an inner glow of warming light.
"This is the Kyburr Crystal, and after it was completed, Tackle and Kyburr challenged Locuss to do battle once again. It was a fight that has been described in countless legends and myths from that area of the galaxy and is something I do not wish to describe in detail. When the battle had ended, Kyburr had proven himself worthy to set out on his own, sense his crystal had successfully counter acted the effects of the Dark Side Amulets his old friend had created. Locuss's power temporarily nullified, Tackle used his exceptionally unique connection with the Force to banish Locuss to a dimension where the Force was thought not to exist.
"Centuries later it was discovered that the Force did indeed exist there, and that Locuss had flourished in knowledge and power. At the moment of Locuss's death, his words were heard by all with a connection with the Force, and his words were; 'There will be another.'
"So, you see, Locuss's Prophesy has finally come to haunt us all."
The Council Chamber was quiet for quite some time before Judge Pentaras asked, "Lord Neblett, do you have anything to add to this current situation?"
Todd cleared his throat. "Yes Your Honor," he said. "I now feel compelled to point out a previously overlooked detail. I have seen a gauntlet similar in appearance to the ones Lord Kyburr has described to us as having been created by the first Dark-Sider, Locuss Kallendbor."
"Yes?" the Judge persisted.
"The gauntlet in question was in the possession of the new Dark Lord, Aldarion."
Gasps of shock and groans of concern shook the chamber. Murmuring quickly followed and Pentaras was forced to pound the large metallic ball- gavel upon the podium repeatedly in order to reestablish order to the meeting. "That will be quite enough!" Pentaras announced to the public gallery. After another moment during which Pentaras proceeded to gaze sternly at the people in the gallery, silently daring them to make another outburst, he turned back to Lord Neblett.
"Are you quite certain of this claim, or is this purely speculation?" the Judge asked.
"No Your Honor, this is not speculation," Todd replied. "This sir is fact."
"Lord Kyburr, is it possible that you could…" Pentaras began, only to be cut off.
"No, Your Honor, it is not possible," Todd said. Turning to look back at Kyburr he added, "Lord Kyburr, with all do respect for your position and experience and knowledge, vast though it may be," He turned back to the gathered Lords of the Council, "they are not enough.
"This problem can not be solved with knowledge, experience, or position. This problem has to do with talents. Talents that Lord Kyburr and his crystal do not possess."
"I assume you're referring to your Protoculture Powers," Pentaras said.
"Yes," Todd stated flatly, purposely leaving off the 'Your Honor' that usually followed his statements to Pentaras. "Without the Gauntlet, Aldarion is no less of a threat than he is with it. The Gauntlet is negligible, because we know how to defeat it, but the Protoculture is not defeatable, it is eternal."
"So you're saying that Aldarion is unbeatable?"
"No, he is mortal. He can die. But defeating him will be harder than it has been to defeat the Dark Jedi of the past."
"So you think defeating Palpatine was easy?"
"Yes, especially sense we didn't defeat Palpatine, Aldarion's son did, and I think that proves my point."
"Why are you so certain of his powers and abilities?"
"Because he's my son, Your Honor, and I know what he's capable of." That announcement brought everything to a dead standstill. Pentaras soon broke the silence by calling for the Gallery to be cleared. The people didn't argue, but Pentaras noticed that one person sat looking at Lord Neblett just a few seconds longer than the others, and to his surprise it was his former student, Rualath.
Pentaras knew that this meeting was over. They wouldn't be able to discuss anything further then they already had. He decided to make a few broad remarks about how well the council in general had conducted itself and that they would meet tomorrow morning, but before he brought the meeting to an official close he asked to speak to Lord Neblett privately in his office.
"I would be happy to accommodate you Judge Pentaras, but I have a prior commitment to attend to first. I would, however, be capable of meeting you there later in the afternoon."
"Very well, I will see you then. Meeting adjourned." With that the gavel came crashing down.
On the way out, Lord Neblett was stopped by Lord Kyburr who said, "Your son. The prophecy truly has come to pass."
"I'm sorry about your friend Lord Kyburr," Todd said.
"I'm sorry about your son," he replied.
"Me too." With that the two separated and headed into the unknown, and uncertain, future.
1.1.1.1.1 THE ARRIVAL
1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Chapter I
1.2 AN EVIL'S REBIRTH
The gas giant, Yavin shun bright orange in the night sky of its jungle moon Yavin IV. S'yra liked to watch Yavin at night, it reminded her of home. She was of course born on Yavin IV, but it was a very different Yavin IV from the one upon which she now stood. How different her life would be were she still living on the Yavin IV of her birth.
Something caught her eye, and for once it wasn't one of the young, handsome men who served her brother. Watching, S'yra discovered that she was looking at a ship coming down from orbit.
"There aren't any visitors scheduled for today," she said quietly to herself. Turning, she headed briskly down the stone steps leading back into the Great Temple. Deep in her stomach S'yra knew something was seriously wrong.
* * * * *
S'yra now stood next to her sister, S'ymbaka, as their brother, D'an, paced back and forth at the top of the steps. The main audience chamber hadn't changed much over the years sense D'an's take over of the abandoned rebel base. Soon he stopped his pacing and sat in the chair that rested at the top of the raised dais.
A woman appeared at the chamber's entrance, and she started walking towards them. D'an watched her, and the anger rose up inside of him. She was clad in black armor, but when the light hit it in just the right way the color changed to a dark, rich green.
"Ancalime!" he gasped in amazement.
"Tar-Ancalime, Little Brother," she corrected him, "or have you forgotten?"
"I have not forgotten," he said from behind clinched teeth. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just playing messenger," she said, smiling.
"What message?!" he demanded, growling impatiently. At that his older sister's eyes grew darker, if that was possible, and she spoke in a stronger, more powerful voice than he ever remembered her using.
"Your Master orders you to leave Yavin IV, immediately, and to meet him on Coruscant."
D'an, feeling a great rage burning in him, rose to his feet. He could feel S'yra's and S'ymbaka's unease at what this news might mean. "Who sent you?!" he demanded of the older sister.
"I have delivered my message 'Little Brother.' I must go now." With that she turned and left the throne room of the ancient Massassi temple. Once outside the doors to the throne room, Ancalime disappeared from the face of Yavin IV.
Back in the throne room S'yra turned to her brother and said, "So, what do you intend to do now?"
D'an looked down at his left hand to gaze at the Dark Side Gauntlet that was melded to his arm and said, "The only thing I can do." He looked at his sisters and his eyes flared with anger. "I'm going to Coruscant to prove that no man is my master!"
* * * * *
Ancalime reappeared on the bridge of the DarkSide, her personal command-ship. Seated in the command chair Captain Hellgramite gave the order that the ship was to be taken out of orbit. He turned to her and said:
"My lady, the ship has been moved out of orbit, awaiting your orders."
She turned to look at a dark clad figure across the bridge. Harless Dran, her human lover, and her second-in-command. He returned her look.
"Have the coordinates for Coruscant been put into the navigational computer?" she asked. She didn't have to ask, but it gave Hellgramite something to do.
"Yes lady," he answered after a glance at the nav. station.
"Then execute hyper-space fold jump," she ordered. The crew went to work.
Ancalime crossed the bridge to stand next to Harless. She put her hand on his arm in an affectionate gesture. Looking into his eyes, as expressionless as her own, she saw the same question that he seemed to ask her constantly. Did she love him?
Years ago she had saved Harless from her father's anger. At the time it had been a great sacrifice on her part. It wasn't until years later that her father had gained trust in her again. She and Harless had been lovers ever sense. But did she love him? Who knew? She would never give him a strait forward answer to the question.
He smiled at her, then turned his eyes back to the forward view screen. His thoughts on someone else for the time being. Another woman. The only other woman in existence that he loved. Ryan, his daughter.
Harless lived to serve only two people, Ancalime and Ryan. His whole life was for them, and the possibility that Ryan was not his daughter never entered his mind.
At the time Ryan was conceived, Ancalime was involved with two men, Harless because she wanted to be, and Prince Voyvoden of the planet Skelos because she had to be. Even after Ryan's birth it was impossible to tell, she was decidedly elven. The splitting image of her mother and, it was said, her grandmother. But no sign of Harless or Voyvoden.
As for Ryan's personality, she was nothing like her family. It was her teachers that she emulated, and it was one in particular that she strived to please. Her "Aunt" Kitiara. From the moment of her birth the Dragon Highlord from the world of Krynn had been a constant in her life. Kit taught Ryan how to fight both with a sword and unarmed, and she taught her how to handle a dragon in flight and in battle.
Even Skie, Kit's blue dragon, put his two cents worth into her education. It was he who taught her to understand her opponents. Some said she could even call upon the power of the "Dragon Fear," but no one ever had the courage to ask her. Perhaps that was all the confirmation anyone needed.
Even with Ryan's superior abilities Harless still found himself worrying about her. He watched as Yavin faded away in the distortion of space fold.
* * * * *
Coruscant, once the center of galactic government, now the thrown world of the Empire. The Empire, founded and once ruled by the former Republic Senator Palpatine, now ruled by the late Emperor's other- dimensional granddaughter, Alhanna Ambrodel, or more commonly known as Alhanna – Queen of the Night. But in less reputable company she was known as the Carbonite Queen for in her reign to date some of the Rebellion's most prominent members have fallen before her. The first having been Mon Mothma, who now decorates the Queen's main audience chamber along with her grandfather, Palpatine, and the Princess Leia Organa-Solo, as Carbonite statues. Alhanna was truly on her way to taking control of the galaxy. Or was she?
Redclaw, the Queen's personal bodyguard stood rigidly at attention before his mistress as she gave him his orders.
"Redclaw, I have a special assignment for you," Alhanna said, letting each word roll off her tong with her elegant elven accent. Everything about her was regal, royal. She was truly a Queen. "There is a planet called Koraban. It is an ancient world, some say it is the home world of the Sith. I want you to go there and investigate the planet."
"If that is your wish my Queen, though I do not think it wise to leave you unguarded."
"Your concern in noted, but this mission is of the utmost importance, and you are my most trusted aid. Besides, I have the twins to guard me while you are away." With that The'odred slipped out of the shadows at the back of the room. "You see? I am well protected."
Redclaw bowed. "As you command my Queen." He did not trust the twin's abilities though he was assured of their loyalty. They were too inexperienced to be given so great a responsibility as that of guarding the Queen, but he dared not question her judgment any further. At her dismissal he left for the ship that would carry him to the ghost planet Koraban.
* * * * *
The DarkSide exited space fold along side the Doom. Ancalime and Harless saw the mountainous vessel looming ahead.
"Open communications with the Doom!" Ancalime ordered. Hellgrammite quickly repeated the order and the Comm. Officer called out that communications had been established.
A holographic image of Ancalime's father appeared before the DarkSide's bridge crew. Ancalime and Harless quickly knelt down before their master's image.
"Father," she said, "we have completed our mission. D'an should be on Coruscant soon."
"You have done well my daughter. I am going to the planet now. You will remain where you are and await further orders. Doom out." The image of the Dark Lord disappeared.
Chapter II
1.3 THE NEW REGIME
Alhanna sat in her throne speaking to the two Emperor's Hands who knelt before her. Lumiya, the Mistress of the Light-whip, and Lyrana Starling, both former students of the traitorous Sith Lord, Darth Vader. After the exile of the former Emperor's Hand Mara Jade and the execution of the traitorous Roganda Ismarin, the concubine of the late Emperor Palpatine, the two were compelled to reconsider their loyalty. Both decided it would be better to serve the Queen rather than have her hunting them.
The two women now listened as their Queen explained her planes to inhabit the ancient home world of the Sith. Once the mission to investigate the planet's condition was completed the two Hands would be sent there to ensure the success of the operation. In addition to the restoration of the surface to it's former glory, the ladies would each be responsible for the construction of a Death Star battle station. One station would be constructed for both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Alhanna was about to elaborate on her plans for the planet Koraban when she was interrupted by the sounds of screaming and fighting from outside the great hall. Suddenly a roar, like thunder, pierced threw the room and the huge double doors exploded inward in a shower of heated metal.
Flames and smoke filled the doorway, but this provided no barrier to the figure that strode slowly and silently into the chamber. It was a woman wearing form fitting blue armor. She had long black hair, which hung down from under the pirate-like headdress and reached down her back to her waist.
She looked at no one as she moved toward the throne, and the Queen. In her hand she brandished a long, curved sword, it's blade freshly bathed in the blood of the guards from outside.
"Who are you?!" Alhanna insisted as she rose from the throne. The girl ignored her. Once she reached the center of the room, she stopped.
"Well, I'll have you know," Alhanna said, as she returned to her seat, "I don't like intruders." Turning to the two dark Jedi standing before her, she added, "Lyrana, show this impertinent witch out of here!"
Igniting her Lightsaber, Lyrana responded, "Yes my Queen, as you wish."
Lyrana approached the girl quickly and slashed out with her saber. Not once did the girl look up from the floor and when she moved to parry the blow with her own blade Lyrana was taken completely by surprise. If not for her own quickness, Lyrana would have been disarmed in the first volley of moves and countermoves.
The blue clad warrioress moved with an inhuman speed, and it took all of Lyranna's skill with the lightsaber to fend off the woman. Even in the fury of her fight, Lyrana noticed the obvious craftsmanship that must have gone into the blue-warrioress' weapon. A sword of incomparable beauty and elegance.
The woman changed her methods, adding hand-to-hand tactics to the fight. Lyrana was beginning to think she might be over matched. Just then her lightsaber flew out of her hand and skidded across the floor. Lyrana found that she had respect for this woman who was so skilled in her art, but she also felt an uncontrollable anger towards her.
The anger built and took control. Lyrana was about to use the dark side to suffocate the woman who had humiliated her in front of her Queen. Revenge!
A flash of light. A beam of energy. A siring pain in her chest. Lyrana found herself lying on the steps to the throne, her chest burning with a pain beyond her endurance. With complete disregard for her surroundings, Lyrana gripped the front of her cloths and tore them open revealing the blackened, smoking, burnt spot between her breasts.
The blue armored woman stood silently, eyes once again turned down to the floor. But everyone else was looking past her to the still smoke filled doorway. Out of the smoke and flame emerged an even darker figure than the woman. Taller, broader, he strode into the room. Once inside he stopped and took in his surroundings with his marble-like, black eyes.
Furious, Alhanna shot to her feet and said, "Who in the name of the Abyss do you think you are, and what is the meaning of this?!" Then, without waiting for an answer to her first question, she added, "I will see to it that Lord Gornash punishes you severely for this."
The Dark Man's eyes met hers and she fell back into her chair as if powerful hands had pushed her down. He smiled, obviously enjoying the effect of his gaze.
"I assure you Lady Alhanna," the Dark Man said. "I am looking forward to the arrival of 'Lord' Gornash."
He now walked across the room until he stood at the foot of the steps to the throne; there he stopped to look down at Lyranna, who was still recovering from the energy blast.
"You will soon learn how fool hearty attacking me was." He then turned his all-consuming gaze upon Alhanna again.
From the center of the Royal Audience Chamber there came the blinding flash of blue lightning and a wash of blue flame. As it quickly dissipated, three figures came into being.
"Lord Gornash," Alhanna exclaimed. "These two intruders are causing trouble. Dispatch them."
"Yes, Lord Gornash," the Dark Man said. He turned to face the three newcomers. "Dispatch us."
D'an Gornash's eyes widened with disbelief. How was this possible, he thought. Why is this happening? He composed himself quickly.
"Father, we were not expecting you," D'an said.
"No, I suppose you were not."
D'an took a step forward. "What are you doing here?"
"It's quite simple really. I'm here to claim this dimension as my own."
D'an took another step closer to his father and said, "I can not allow that."
"And how do you intend to stop me, my servant?"
D'an's eyes came alive with anger. His left hand, which bore the Dark Side Gauntlet of Loccus Kallendbor, began to glow with the power of hatred.
"I am more powerful than you now." To show his father that he was not afraid to use this power against his own father, D'an launched a concentrated blast of cool Dark Side energy at him.
"Is that so?" his father said as the energy seemed to wash over him harmlessly. "I think you are mistaken." In a gesture so fast it was even hard for D'an to follow, the dark-man raised his own Dark Side Gauntlet and let loose a blast that sent D'an flying across the thrown room.
Placing his hand on the wall to brace himself while he stood, D'an realized the impact of his body hitting the wall had put a crack in the stone. His dark eyes turned their gaze back to his father. D'an's eyes were never as human as when astonishment struck his features. His father had pushed the hood back from his face, his face. Younger, D'an thought. No, different. Then it struck him fully. Standing before him was not the man who raised him, the man called Melkor, but the man who'd conceived him, Aldarion.
Aldarion smiled, then turned to look at his daughters. "S'yra, S'ymbaka, my beautiful daughters. Do you too wish to rival me?" he asked. They could not speak as he approached them. Almost as if they were being held frozen in place. He put his left hand around S'yra's throat, and squeezed until she was gasping for breath. Looking deep into her large, almond shaped eyes, he saw the tears of fear and pain well up and fall down her perfect face, then he held up his right hand for her inspection. S'yra's eyes were as big as saucers and he knew she understood. He released his grip and she collapsed to the floor at his feet.
S'yra clutched at her father's boots. "Please father," she gasped, she was still trying to recover from the vice grip he'd had on her throat. "Please, we only came because we knew you didn't need us anymore."
Aldarion knelt down to his daughter. Taking a hand-full of her hair, he pulled, forcing her to crane her neck and look up at him.
"I can tolerate being betrayed by mere students, but not you." He caressed her wet cheek with his other hand. "Not you, my beautiful daughter. You belong to me, and to me alone. Is that understood?" With that he let her head fall back to the floor. In a lightning move he was back on his feet, setting upon his other daughter.
The blow from the back of his hand across her face was so surprising to S'ymbaka that it knocked her completely off her feet. Stars burst in her vision as she found herself face down on the floor, blood falling from her nose and mouth. Looking back over her shoulder she saw her father standing over her.
"And you," he said. "Of all my children there were two that I could always count on, Ancalime and you." He stood, silently looking down at her for a moment, then bellowed, "I expect this kind of thing from her," making a quick gesture in S'yra's direction. "She's an opportunistic whore, but you. You were suppose to be the loyal one, the stalwart one, and then you do this!"
Surprisingly, Aldarion turned his attention to Alhanna, who still sat in the thrown. Holding up his ringed hand he said, "Do you, Queen Alhanna, have any doubts as to what this means?"
Alhanna quietly looked at Aldarion's proffered hand. Adorning the ring finger of that hand were two rings, identical to each other. She looked to D'an and saw that he to was looking at the two rings. She looked back to Aldarion, and as she spoke she once again felt like the little girl who'd been kidnapped by Prince Voyvoden all those years ago. "No, I have no doubts."
"There," he said, smiling. "I always did say you were the smartest of the bunch." Aldarion turned to look at his daughters again, both of who were back on their feet trying to regain their composure, and not doing a very good job of it. Then he turned to his son. "Well?"
"Yes father, what is your wish," D'an said as he dropped to one knee.
Aldarion smiled. Turning, he said to his granddaughter, "Ryan, return to the 'DarkSide' and deliver my orders to Ancalime."
Ryan stood and awaited her Master's instructions.
"Ancalime is to make an immediate Space Fold jump to Koraban. Once there, she is to await the arrival of the Imperial flagship, Eclipse. She is to order the Eclipse's commander to surrender, or be destroyed."
"No!" Alhanna screamed as she leapt from her place on the thrown. "You can't…"
"Yes!" Aldarion cut her off. "I can."
"Please Lord Aldarion," she said. "Redclaw would rather die than surrender, or be taken prisoner. Also, the Eclipse is to valuable a commodity to simply destroy it because everyone is to vane to think of a better solution."
The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed as he listened to her speak. "Very well," he said, thinking she sounded too much like her mother. "What do you suggest?"
"Allow me to accompany Tar-Ancalime. If I am there when to order to stand down is given, then he will listen, and no one will get killed."
He thought about it for a moment, and decided that it would be a good thing to have Alhanna out of the way for a while. "Very well Lady." Turning back to Ryan he added, "Ryan, you will escort Lady Alhanna to your mother."
"As you wish my Lord," the young woman said with a short bow.
The two women left, and Aldarion took his place in the thrown at the top of the steps. "Now, about the rest of my galaxy," he began.
Chapter III
1.4 A GREAT DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE
The Sara II Jedi Academy on Mars had come a long way in the sixteen years sense it's beginning and Jessa had been there to see most of it. Jessa Kaye Dengaali, daughter of the Jedi Master Behemoth Dengaali and the Fenishian Princess Cynthia Kaye, was already universally renowned for her skill with the Force, and with the intricacies of Robotechnology. She walked through the halls of the Academy accompanied by the ever present, ever faithful, companion, G. She stopped herself from laughing as she listened to G speak through the burnt out speech actuator that a four-year- old Jessa had rebuilt from other burnt out parts.
G looked like a walking trash compactor that had seen better days. His framework design, which left much of his superstructure and internal components exposed, gave a somewhat incomplete look to him. Even after all these years G could still turn the heads of the other students. Then again, G wasn't the only one turning heads. At a height just under six feet, with long legs and a body that would allow her to write her own ticket at any movie studio on Earth, Jessa was the most sought after female on Mars. The groundskeepers continually complained about how they had to clean up the piles of dead flowers they found under Jessa's dorm room window everyday.
The exotic looking Jessa, with her long, stark white hair and piercing black eyes, constantly received flowers, candy, and a variety of other gifts from other students at the Academy, but much to their chagrin, she simply throws these out the window. Romantic relationships didn't interest her in the least, though she did have a number of good friends.
She reached her destination, the personal meditation chamber of the Jedi Lord Todd Neblett. For a moment, Jessa reflected that this man was not only a Jedi Lord, but the master Protoculturist in all the Universe, as well as being the Chief Instructor and Founder of the Sarra II Jedi Academy, and her Jedi Master.
As always, she didn't miss a step when the door opened at her approach with out any beckoning from her. Jessa was well aware that the Master always knew when one of the students was coming to see him. Once inside, the door closed behind her and G, and she stood in awe of what she saw, as always.
The room was only dimly lit by two glowing globes, which sat atop two short pillars. Between the pillars Jessa watched her master hover effortlessly off the floor. His legs were curled up in a seated position under him and his hands rested on the globes, one hand for each globe. Not once did he open his eyes.
"Jessa, how may I help you?" he asked, his voice showing a calmness she'd never experienced.
"Master, I was hoping you could see your way clear to transferring me to the Jedi Academy on Degalth," she said.
He didn't waver even a little. "You wish to visit your parents." It wasn't a question.
"Yes," she answered anyway. "I especially wish to speak to my mother."
"Does this have something to do with the trip you and your sister took to your mother's home world?"
"Yes."
"So this is something you wish to speak to her about in person rather than a over a com-link."
"Yes, Master." Jessa was doing everything she could to keep from throwing herself to the floor and groveling at this man's feet, such was her need for this trip.
"There is a transport preparing to launch for Degalth to pick up a student there who wished to study Robotech. If you pack quickly enough you might make it."
Her eyes opened wide in amazement and her heart leapt for joy. As she ran out of the room with G on her heels she managed to shout back to him, "Thank you Master!"
* * * * *
Lord Neblett heard her call of thanks as the door to his meditation chamber closed, and he smiled. He had never had children, beyond Janice, the android he'd built as a mate for his friend Talon Fashon, and he felt a fatherly responsibility toward Jessa because of his friendship with her father, Behemoth Dengaali. It was moments like this that made him wish he had children, real children, of his own.
Pain suddenly arched through his mind. So powerful was it that he found himself lying on the floor.
"By the Force," he cried. "What's happening?!" The pain increased and spread throughout his body. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain stopped and was replaced with a heart numbing cold.
"Be careful what you wish for," came a voice out of the darkness, "you may get it." Then laughter.
"Who are you?" the Jedi Lord called out.
The darkness reseated to reveal the tall, dark figure of a man. He wore dark green, almost black, armor that covered him from the collar of his neck to the tips of his toes. Hanging from the man's belt was an ebony black lightsaber, a design of which Lord Neblett did not recognize. The man's face was young, yet the expression conveyed experience and intelligence. His hair was black and was slicked back away from his face to hang down, almost to his shoulder blades, behind his head. In the end the man's most captivating features were his eyes, which were also black, and appeared fathomless, giving the man an almost omnipotent appearance.
As the man knelt down before him, Lord Neblett could see more clearly the man's ears, pointed at the tips, marking him with some kind of elven heritage. "I," the man whispered, "am your son."
"That's ridiculous," Lord Neblett said indignantly.
"Are you sure?" the man asked.
He didn't reply, for he couldn't think of anything to say. Through the Force he could hear the most disturbing ring of truth in this dark- elf's words.
"I did not, however, come here for a family reunion," the dark-elf said. Rising to his feet he gestured for Lord Neblett to do the same, then he continued. "My name is Aldarion, and I am now in control of the Empire, and the Sith."
Now back on his feet, Lord Neblett felt more comfortable. "Why do you tell me this?"
"I know your thoughts before you speak them human," Aldarion said. "What you really want to ask is, 'Why do I risk telling you?'" He smiled at his command of the situation. "I assure you, I am risking nothing by coming here.
"As to why, it is quite simple: I want the whole galaxy to know who it is that defeated them. I want them all to know the fate that awaits them. And I want them to know that I'm not going to waist my time the way my son has wasted his."
"Your son, D'an?" Lord Neblett guessed.
"Yes," Aldarion admitted, somewhat discontentedly. "He and his slut, the Queen, Alhanna, have wasted precious time in their foolish pursuits. Today they are no closer to defeating the galaxy then they were the day they arrived here."
"I will have to stop you Lord Aldarion," the Jedi said.
"I know you must try Lord Neblett, but I also know that success is beyond even your exceptional powers."
The hand is quicker than the eye they say, and just that quickly the Jedi's lightsaber was gripped in his hand. Unfortunately Lord Aldarion had anticipated this, and was ready.
Faster that the lightsaber would ignite, a darkness that seemed to seep out of the walls themselves had surrounded Lord Neblett in a clouded, swirling mass of dark power.
"I am disappointed," Aldarion said sadly. "I was hoping that you would prove to be a greater challenge to me.
"Oh well, we don't always get what we want."
Confident that the light of his power was strong enough to cleave any darkness, Lord Neblett ignited his lightsaber and swung at the swirling cage of smoky dark-side energy. As the blade of the ancient Jedi weapon made contact with the Dark-side barrier, it seemed to absorb the darkness rather than slashing through it.
The darkness raced up the blade and wrapped around the Jedi in a grip stronger and colder than death. Pain such as Lord Neblett had never even imagined possible racked his body, and invaded his very soul. His connection to the Force seemed to have been severed all together, leaving him alone and defenseless. The last thing he saw before his consciousness fled was Aldarion, fading back into the shadows.
* * * * *
He didn't know how much time had gone by sense he'd lost consciousness. Looking around he saw that the field of dark-side energy still surrounded him, even though Aldarion was gone.
The Force had returned to him, though he could tell it was greatly diminished. He needed to escape from the dark-side trap, but how? Sitting on the floor, at the center of the field's circle, he began to consider his options.
After several moments of deep contemplation the only logical answer to his dilemma came to him. His connection to the Force was too weak at the moment to make it a sufficient tool outside of his current confines, so he had to rely on his other talents. Turning his attention to the computer terminal mounted in the wall of the far side of the room, he used his Protoculturist's powers to activate it. It worked.
This terminal, a simple library computer, now became a nexus point for the entire computer network for the planet Mars. Through its connections he learned that the transport heading for Degalth had indeed launched on time and, according to its records, Jessa had been aboard.
He made the proper connection with the Mars communications satellite and began making the necessary adjustments to contact Earth. Once he'd connected with Earth he used the mainframe computer located in Washington J.C. to give him the extra power he needed to boost the signal, then he made his connection with Janice Em, his android daughter. He hoped Talon wasn't far away.
1.4.1
1.4.2 Chapter IV
1.5 CONVENE THE COUNCIL
Janice Em, so named by her 'father', sat quietly at a computer console working on a number of calculations that would allow her to construct an android, or in a sense, give birth to a child of her own. This had been a plan of hers for some time, but up until now she felt she lacked the necessary knowledge to accomplish her goal.
Talon Fashon, her mate, still worked in Washington J.C. though he'd given up his position as Security Chief years before. Even though they were legally married in a traditional Ryllian wedding ceremony, most people outside of Washington considered their union to be a false one sense Janice was not considered to be a sentient being. The prejudice was something that Talon was more that capable of dealing with and something Janice had been 'programmed' not to acknowledge.
Suddenly Janice stopped her calculations and took on a somewhat glazed over look, as she seemed to gaze off into open space. "Yes Father," she said in her occasional monotone voice. "Yes Father," she repeated. "As you wish Father," she said after a longer pause. Rising from her seat she made her way through the house to Talon's study. Upon entering she found Talon sitting calmly on the floor, meditating.
"Talon!" she said, a little to loudly. His eyes flashed open and for a moment his face bore the distinct trademarks of surprise. "I have a message for you from Father."
Talon's surprise vanished without a trace and he got to his feet. "What does my friend have to say?" he asked.
Janice began to speak, but the voice that emerged was not her own. "Talon, we are all in great danger. You and Janice must come to Mars immediately." She stopped and stared at Talon with an almost confused look about her.
"Janice," he said after a moment's contemplation. "Would you please arrange for a shuttle to be waiting to take us to Mars while I make a few other arrangements."
"Of course Talon, anything you ask," that said, she turned and left. Talon allowed himself a moment to count his blessings as she left. Janice was, in fact, an android. A sophisticated android, but an android non-the- less. He knew that she could be cold and aloof with others, but with him she almost seemed human. He banished the thoughts from his mind and went to his desk. Pressing a single button he immediately heard the response.
"Jedi Council Communications, Officer Eldon speaking."
"Officer Eldon, this is Lord Fashon."
"Lord Fashon," came the younger man's voice, fueled with a new respect. "What can I do for you sir?"
"I must speak with Judge Pentaras."
* * * * *
A mere twenty minutes later Talon and Janice where boarding a shuttle. Judge Pentaras, Jedi Lord from the planet Anderon and the second Judge of the Jedi Council on Earth, had accompanied the two to the spaceport on the outskirts of the city. As Janice entered the shuttle's confines, Talon turned to face the taller Rahu-Man.
"Lord Fashon, I don't see the reason for this urgency. I've not felt any disturbance that would surly accompany a danger as great as the one you have described. However, I have a great respect for your insight, as well as that of Lord Neblett. The two of you have seen and done much together, and I do understand the importance of friends."
"I appreciate your understanding in this delicate and uncertain matter. As soon as I've had a chance to resolve the situation on Mars it is my hope to return to Earth for an emergency meeting of the council."
"I will begin making preparations as soon as you are under way," Pentaras promised. "May the Force be with you."
"And you Judge Pentaras." Proper respect having been paid to both parties, the Lords parted ways. Only moments later the shuttle launched itself into deep space, towards the Jedi Academy on Mars.
Talon Fashon was an accomplished pilot, but he was content this trip sitting in the co-pilot's seat. Though he could have flown the shuttle from the Earth to Mars quite effortlessly, he found that letting Janice, who seemed to have a link to computers and machines that he would never be able to achieve, pilot the shuttle allowed him the added concentration he required for his own task.
During the entire voyage from the blue-white Earth to the red planet Mars, Talon remained lost in a Force induced trance. Through the mists of the Force that could penetrate the smallest crevice and reach the farthest distances. He searched, and what he found was an endless span of life, but there was no sign of his friend. Not a single trace of Jedi Lord Todd Neblett's mind or presence. Narrowing his pattern of search to the red planet itself, Talon found only the slightest residue of the man who had almost single handedly reclaimed Mars for the purpose of life. As Janice announced that they would soon be landing at the Academy's docking facility, Talon narrowed his field of search once again. This time the Academy complex fell under the all-seeing eye of the Force as wielded by the Jedi Lord. This time the sense was a bit stronger, but still remained nothing more than a residue. It was at this moment that the Force took over the Rylian's senses. A room, devoid of any life, sprung into Talon's mind. The sense sharpened and he realized that not the entire room was devoid of life, but only a portion of the room's center.
"Todd's office," Talon murmured to himself as he felt the shuttle touchdown. Now he knew where to go, and as he and Janice descended the ramp, he did not hesitate.
At the entrance to Lord Neblett's office they encountered a minor snag, the door was locked with a system that only a Protoculturist could bypass. This proved to be minor however when Janice stepped forward to demonstrate a mechanical solution. The door jerked, and then hissed open. Talon stepped into the room, and Janice followed.
The office appeared unchanged from any of the other times Talon had seen it. But this was the first time he had ever witnessed anything like the dark, smoky globe in which his friend seemed to be trapped.
"Good work Janice," the dark-eyed Jedi Lord said. "Talon, my friend, I'm going to need your help."
As Talon approached he saw that Todd seemed to be completely unharmed, but also equally trapped within the swirling globe of dark-side energies. "I am curious as to what kind of dark-sider could have entered this institution of Jedi training in order to perpetuate such a crime against one of your considerable powers and talents."
"I'll explain everything, once we've undone this evil," Todd promised.
Some time later, Talon felt that he'd discovered why his friend hadn't just dispersed the barrier himself, anyone, or anything, inside the barrier was cut off from the Light-side of the Force. With Talon's presence on the outside of the barrier, Todd was able to once again connect himself to the light. Once the connection was reestablished it was only a matter of moments before the two were able to locate the weak spot in the barrier. With a simple twist of thought the barrier shattered and collapsed in upon itself. Todd was free once again, and he wasted no time in beginning his explanation.
It was obvious that Aldarion and his apprentice's were a force to be reckoned with. If Lord Neblett's assessment of the situation was correct, they didn't have much time before…
* * * * *
"…the entire galaxy will come under Sith control."
"That is a very optimistic appraisal of the Sith's abilities at this time Lord Neblett."
"When I was a young man, and just beginning my training, my master taught me a very important lesson, "Never underestimate the power of the Dark Side." That lesson has seen me through many great ordeals," he replied. The three had returned to Earth aboard a proto-type deep space fighter Lord Neblett's Robotech teams had been working on. Although it's maneuverability in combat had not yet been perfected, the craft was capable of reaching speeds far exceeding those of the shuttlecraft the Jedi Council had at their disposal. They were now inside the massive council chamber in Washington J.C. standing before this emergency assembly.
"I don't profess to understand all that Lord Neblett has presented to us, but believe I must concur with his assessment. The Sith obviously have a new, more powerful leader in this Aldarion. We must be more cautious of what we do," Lord Grey of England chimed in. He usually kept quiet at council meetings, but this time he felt more compelled to speak. Almost immediately he wished he'd kept his mouth shut. The council was still divided after the expulsion of the former Judge, Behemoth Dengaali. An argument broke out among the two factions, and Thomas found himself thinking of Behemoth now.
1.5.1.1 INTERLUDE I
2 A FAMILY REUNION
The shuttle landed genitally on the landing pad at the spaceport near the Jedi Academy of Degalth. Jedi Master Behemoth Dengaali watched it's slow decent anxiously awaiting the arrival of his daughter. It had only been a few months sense the last time she'd been for a visit, but at that time she'd only stayed for a few hours. This time she'd have more time. The message had come through the day before from his friend, Jedi Lord Todd Neblett of the Jedi Academy on Mars, stating that Jessa was being transferred to Degalth for an undetermined amount of time. The only thing that bothered him was that Todd had neglected to mention the reason for the transfer, 'All in good time,' he thought as the shuttle made touch down and the ground crew started the lock-down procedure.
Suddenly everyone jumped away from the shuttle as if it were about to explode. The cables snaked around in the air as though they had a life of their own. Access ports for the various tubes and wires opened and control panels for the servicing systems lit up by themselves. The shuttle literally locked itself down, and in half the time it would have taken the ground crew.
Behemoth stepped out onto the landing platform as the hatch opened and the ramp lowered itself into position. As he watched, a beautiful young woman appeared at the top of the ramp. She wore a green jump suit, similar to that of a pilot, and had long flowing white hair. Although he had secretly worried that Jessa's inheritance of his white locks would hurt her looks when she got older, he saw now, as she ran up to meet him, that she had truly grown up to be her mother's daughter. "Could anything truly damage the beauty of my wife and daughters," he asked himself, but he already knew the answer.
They hugged for a long time and Behemoth sensed that she missed him as much as he missed her. "How have you been Sweetheart?"
"I'm fine Daddy. I've just missed you, that's all."
"Well, your mom is waiting back at the house for us."
"Okay," she said. Then she turned back towards the shuttle. "G, let's go!"
A reverberating, lumbering, clanking came from the shuttle as the massive patchwork form of G appeared in the hatchway. He made his way stiffly down the ramp towards where Jessa stood waiting. Once by her side G's head made a swiveling motion, then shifted forward on his 'shoulders,' only then did the telltale white gas jet out of his neck, indicating that he'd completed the task he'd been ordered to perform. G's body was a mismatched collection of mechanical and electronic components from an infinite variety of different devices. Jessa had built him out of scrap and junk parts she'd gotten from the scrap yards outside of Washington J.C. when she was only about three or four years of age. More than a decade had passed sense then, and G had never malfunctioned or broken down.
2.1.1
2.1.2 Chapter V
2.1.2.1 THE PROPHECY FULFILLED
Two days had passed sense Lord Neblett had arrived from Mars to tell of his encounter with the new Dark Lord, Aldarion. Today's meeting of the council would prove to be far more dramatic. It was said that Tackle Daggerford himself would be in attendance. But before the council convened other matters had to be dealt with. He approached the door cautiously and knocked.
Rualath had just finished getting ready to attend today's council meeting. She and her husband, Tamaner Ambrodel, had learned of the heated debate that had taken place only two days before from the wife of Lord Thomas Grey. Elizabeth had said it had something to do with the appearance of some new "Evil Lord," as she'd put it, on the planet Mars. There came a knock at the front door and her first reaction was to call far Tam to get it, but he had left early that morning to prepare Lord Flamestrike for her attendance at the council meeting. As she made her way to the door she cursed the fact that she and Tam had given Kamien permission to go on a survival outing with one of the other Jedi Masters and his students.
Opening the door, Rualath came face to face with a dream, or a nightmare. He was tall, with dark hair and a beard, streaked with gray. His overall appearance was that of a late-middle-aged human, but there was something about him that spoke of something older, ancient even. Although his appearance spoke of age and wisdom, his stance and build showed none of the physical debilitations of age. Something struck her as being elven in him. With a start she realized that she'd been starring at him for quite sometime, then she looked into the piercing, empty pools that were his eyes. Rualath had an overwhelming sense of dejavu. A feeling that she knew this man, a man that, to her memory, she'd never met. This stranger that she knew took her hand and brought it to his lips.
"Master Rualath Ambrodel?" he said genitally.
A question, she wondered. Or did he know her from somewhere? To answer his question she nodded her head.
"I'm sure you don't know me, my name is Todd Neblett."
Rualath snapped back to reality then and responded. "Yes, of course. You're the Jedi Lord who founded the Academy on Mars."
"That's right. I'm pleased to meet you. May I come in for a few moments? Recently I discovered something that may effect your life, as well as the lives of your family."
"Yes," Rualath said, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I suppose so."
She showed him inside and led him into the living room where, again, he wasted no time in giving his explanation. "So you see my point?" he asked as he finished.
"Yes, but I fail to see what this has to do with me or my family," she replied.
"This might be difficult to believe, or except, but I wanted to tell you myself before the meeting. Aldarion is your son."
Rualath fell dead silent for several minutes. How could this be, she had never been with anyone before Tam, though she had come close to it once. Then she and Tam only had the one child. He obviously recognized her confusion because he went on:
"Aldarion is from another dimension, in which you fell in love with someone else, meaning someone other than Tamaner Ambrodel."
"You," she said quietly. "That's why I felt as though I knew you."
"Yes," he confirmed, but quickly added, "but if I had met you under different circumstances neither one of us would have had that sensation of recognition."
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked.
"First of all, it will probably be mentioned today at the council meeting, and secondly because he came to me. He may come to you too."
"Do you think my family is in danger?"
"I think the whole galaxy is in danger."
"I wish you would have chosen not to tell me," she said.
"I wish I could have chosen not to tell you."
* * * * *
Two hours later the Council Chambers were packed with hundreds of people, awaiting what could be the most important meeting sense the Trial of Judge Behemoth.
"Fellow Jedi!" Pentaras's voice carried across the sea of people. "I, Judge Pentaras of the Jedi Council, hereby call this session to order." His words were made absolute with the thunderous crash of the metal ball that was the Jedi gavel.
"We are here to make final deliberations on the matter of the so- called "New" Dark Lord of the Sith, a being calling himself Aldarion." With a gesture to Lord Neblett's chair Pentaras added, "Our expert in the defense against the New Sith, and in its new Lord, Lord Neblett, will begin today's proceedings."
"Thank you Judge Pentaras," Todd said as he rose from his chair and made his way around to stand before the delegation. "I would like to say, before we get started, that I am sorry for any words of insult that may have been used towards you at the previous meeting Your Honor. I know that you are both a man of peace and honor, and that is why you sit in the seat that you do."
"I thank you for your words and accept them whole heartedly. Allow me to also extend my regrets for the words I said. May the Force guide us to the answers together."
"Your words are well taken Your Honor, and I think that they are words that we can all learn from." Todd turned to face the assemblage. "We must all continue to work together, on the same side, if we are to ever defeat Aldarion and his forces of darkness."
"He's right," came a soft, yet powerful voice. All eyes turned to behold the scarlet haired Kyburr and his wife, Dulcena. "If we do not stay together we will surly fail."
"Lord Kyburr!" Pentaras said, rather startled at the appearance of his one time student. "I was not aware that a message had been sent to Mimban."
"I apologize for this rather rude interruption Your Honor," Kyburr said as he approached the center dais, "but I believe I have some information that will prove vital in today's proceedings."
The red-haired Jedi Lord stepped up to stand next to Lord Neblett. The two shook hands in greeting and Kyburr said, "I apologize for the interruption Lord Neblett."
"That's quite alright Lord Kyburr. I find myself anxious to hear what you have to say."
By lightening their mutual grip on each other's hands, the two give a subtle sign of mutual understanding. Kyburr, the First Jedi, turned to face the assemblage.
"Thousands of years ago, my Master, Tackle Daggerford, discovered the presence of something that he alone seemed to understand. He called it the Force, for lack of a better term. After years of study he discovered that this power, this energy, this Force, existed in all living things. He learned how it worked, and how to work it.
"After the passing of several years, Tackle met a man named Locuss Kallendbor, and in time saw the potential for the Force within him. Tackle took the first of many students. Soon these two found another worthy candidate for apprenticeship, and his name was Kyburr.
"Together these three traveled to many worlds and discovered many things, about the Force, and about the galaxy. But it was Locuss's discovery that frightened them the most.
"Locuss had inadvertently tapped into an aspect of the Force that Tackle had not seen. Their friend began to change in strange ways. He became cold and unfeeling towards everything and everyone, even his closest friends. His mood was dark and he soon became very reclusive, spending days, and even weeks, in isolation.
"Then, one night, their friend was dead, and the first Dark-Sider was born. Locuss now wore three amulets that amplified the power of the Dark Side of the Force. Two were in the form of gauntlets, which he wore, one on each arm, and the third was in the form of a pendent, which hung from a chain he wore about the neck.
"Tackle and Kyburr were no match for this evil at this time, and the Light Side's first confrontation with the Dark Side was a disaster. Locuss could have destroyed them right then and there, but I think there was still a piece of the friend they had once known, held captive within the shell of darkness he had surrounded himself with.
"Kyburr then spent many years studying the writings that Locuss had left behind. Kyburr's long years of hard work were found warranted when he fashioned this." With that the Jedi produced a crystal that gleamed with an inner glow of warming light.
"This is the Kyburr Crystal, and after it was completed, Tackle and Kyburr challenged Locuss to do battle once again. It was a fight that has been described in countless legends and myths from that area of the galaxy and is something I do not wish to describe in detail. When the battle had ended, Kyburr had proven himself worthy to set out on his own, sense his crystal had successfully counter acted the effects of the Dark Side Amulets his old friend had created. Locuss's power temporarily nullified, Tackle used his exceptionally unique connection with the Force to banish Locuss to a dimension where the Force was thought not to exist.
"Centuries later it was discovered that the Force did indeed exist there, and that Locuss had flourished in knowledge and power. At the moment of Locuss's death, his words were heard by all with a connection with the Force, and his words were; 'There will be another.'
"So, you see, Locuss's Prophesy has finally come to haunt us all."
The Council Chamber was quiet for quite some time before Judge Pentaras asked, "Lord Neblett, do you have anything to add to this current situation?"
Todd cleared his throat. "Yes Your Honor," he said. "I now feel compelled to point out a previously overlooked detail. I have seen a gauntlet similar in appearance to the ones Lord Kyburr has described to us as having been created by the first Dark-Sider, Locuss Kallendbor."
"Yes?" the Judge persisted.
"The gauntlet in question was in the possession of the new Dark Lord, Aldarion."
Gasps of shock and groans of concern shook the chamber. Murmuring quickly followed and Pentaras was forced to pound the large metallic ball- gavel upon the podium repeatedly in order to reestablish order to the meeting. "That will be quite enough!" Pentaras announced to the public gallery. After another moment during which Pentaras proceeded to gaze sternly at the people in the gallery, silently daring them to make another outburst, he turned back to Lord Neblett.
"Are you quite certain of this claim, or is this purely speculation?" the Judge asked.
"No Your Honor, this is not speculation," Todd replied. "This sir is fact."
"Lord Kyburr, is it possible that you could…" Pentaras began, only to be cut off.
"No, Your Honor, it is not possible," Todd said. Turning to look back at Kyburr he added, "Lord Kyburr, with all do respect for your position and experience and knowledge, vast though it may be," He turned back to the gathered Lords of the Council, "they are not enough.
"This problem can not be solved with knowledge, experience, or position. This problem has to do with talents. Talents that Lord Kyburr and his crystal do not possess."
"I assume you're referring to your Protoculture Powers," Pentaras said.
"Yes," Todd stated flatly, purposely leaving off the 'Your Honor' that usually followed his statements to Pentaras. "Without the Gauntlet, Aldarion is no less of a threat than he is with it. The Gauntlet is negligible, because we know how to defeat it, but the Protoculture is not defeatable, it is eternal."
"So you're saying that Aldarion is unbeatable?"
"No, he is mortal. He can die. But defeating him will be harder than it has been to defeat the Dark Jedi of the past."
"So you think defeating Palpatine was easy?"
"Yes, especially sense we didn't defeat Palpatine, Aldarion's son did, and I think that proves my point."
"Why are you so certain of his powers and abilities?"
"Because he's my son, Your Honor, and I know what he's capable of." That announcement brought everything to a dead standstill. Pentaras soon broke the silence by calling for the Gallery to be cleared. The people didn't argue, but Pentaras noticed that one person sat looking at Lord Neblett just a few seconds longer than the others, and to his surprise it was his former student, Rualath.
Pentaras knew that this meeting was over. They wouldn't be able to discuss anything further then they already had. He decided to make a few broad remarks about how well the council in general had conducted itself and that they would meet tomorrow morning, but before he brought the meeting to an official close he asked to speak to Lord Neblett privately in his office.
"I would be happy to accommodate you Judge Pentaras, but I have a prior commitment to attend to first. I would, however, be capable of meeting you there later in the afternoon."
"Very well, I will see you then. Meeting adjourned." With that the gavel came crashing down.
On the way out, Lord Neblett was stopped by Lord Kyburr who said, "Your son. The prophecy truly has come to pass."
"I'm sorry about your friend Lord Kyburr," Todd said.
"I'm sorry about your son," he replied.
"Me too." With that the two separated and headed into the unknown, and uncertain, future.