Chapter 1: Memorial to the Fallen
The room I'm sitting in is nothing special, and honestly, annoys me. The walls are a dull grey with nothing on them, no windows. All that was within the room was a mattress with a cover, which barely passes as a bed if I'm honest, as well as a desk and a chair. The hostess in her infinite kindness offering me the bare minimum. Sitting in front of my on the desk sat a silver circular object, a personal communicator, or com-link. Ordinarily these devices serves as the contact point between two individuals, but they serve many purposes now. As the one in front of me currently operates as a recording device.
"Where to start?" I ask myself, my voice echoing through the cold room. I can see my breath in the air each time I exhale, and shake my head slightly. I'd been putting off these records for months now, even though I've been doing them from the years, the new ones, I hesitate to start. Ever since Katarr, last year, when everything we'd done had changed. I hate to reminisce on the past, but with so many records lost, presumable destroyed, it is down to me to recover what history I can. Because if I don't, who will?
I look up through the com-link, and turn on its recording function. A mimic of my face appears, however it shows up as a blue hologram, lacking in distinct detail. I can tell it's a human face, but that's all there is to it. I hadn't created the device for beauty, it will last, that's it purpose.
"Recording 1, assuming loss of previous recording database. My name is Jason Phillips, and the last surviving member of the Final Sith Order, Force Paradox's" I say, watching the holographic face's mouth mimic the movements, and knowing the words that were said, lip-read myself. "5 years ago, Revan, a former Sith Lord turned Jedi, killed Darth Malek aboard the Star Forge shortly before the Forge was destroyed. It was at this time I and Katarina Lubot, another Sith who helped kill Malek, began setting up the Final Sith Order. We were the true Sith, Sith who refused to bow to the Jedi's will, but would not war against them either. We were allies with the Jedi, paradoxes to all but our members"
"For 4 years we build up a following, and after 4 years of constant recruiting, we had rallied a force of over one-thousand members, at least half were force sensitives. As the Republics finical situation declined, we created a fleet. For 4 years, it was our fleets that patrolled the galaxy from dangers. And all was well, mostly. 3 years after the defeat of Malek, Revan vanished yet again. He said something about finding the threat, and to prepare in case he failed, and vanished into the deepest reaches of Space with the Ebon Hawk and his droids. There has been nothing from him since. But it was about this time when the attacks started…" I take a deep breath, still finding annoyance at being able to see my own breath every time I breathed out. I place my hand in front of my mouth and exhale once again, the residue floating around my hand. I return my gaze to the hologram face.
"At first, it seemed like the stray Jedi being attacked by Bandits, and I didn't think much of it. The Jedi approached us, and asked us, in good nature, to reveal our records and prove it wasn't us who was attacking. Needless to say, it wasn't. We even conducted a private check on all our members' locations during the time of the attacks, so whatever did this, it was an outside force. After many months of investigation without success, the Jedi went to the Miraluka on Katarr. That's when Katarina sensed it. She never explained what it was, only that Katarr was the key and took everything. She set up the fleet to blockade the planet, and set up our Sith to help with the Sight. That's the last I heard from them"
I pause, finally feeling the anger swelling through the force, and knowing that I am the reason. It's not that the knowledge of such a slaughter occurred, but the powerlessness to stop it. I knew most of my force, sure it's impossible to know all thousand people, but I met and helped train a large majority of them. And to know I'm the reason they were on Katarr, and therefore, dead, is one that always weights on me. I've had many die besides and under me, and I remember most of them. Juhanni, back on Kashyyyk, when we were pursuing Malek's Star Forge. She died in my arms, shot by a blaster of a retreating Sith. Every Sith I've ever trained, and worst of all, Katarina Lubot. An ally and friend who stood by my side for nearly 5 years, it became almost second nature to interact with her. While our relationship remained mostly professional, we were friends firstly and we ran the Sith with effectiveness. 5 years of daily interactions, to suddenly lose her forever, hurts. It'll hurt more than I'll ever be able to comprehend, but slowly over this year, I'm becoming accustomed to the ever-consuming silence that fills where it should be her discussing something trivia matter of exploration, or the argument over how many injured students before the exercise is deemed 'unsafe'. It's almost to lose part of yourself, the part you never realize you rely on until you can't use it anymore.
"An entire colony died that day, something sucked the Force out of that planet. I can't say for certain what happened, although I have heard rumours that it is capable for someone to drain others of the Force. But those rumours apply to the most powerful of Dark Sith Lords, and it was never on the scale of an entire planet before, only individuals. After that, the Jedi council scattered. Master Vrook contacted me, he said that since whomever was hunting them down had the power to kill an entire planet, the Jedi have spread out to try and locate this threat" As I speak, I hear a knocking at my door and I move my hand forward, pausing my com-link, and standing up. Given where I am, there is only a single person who would give me the curtesy of knowing on the door and not opening it on their own. Walking over, I open said door to see the person I was expecting.
It was a female, with very delicate, almost pale, skin. What stands out about her, to me at least, is her hair. Despite being a young women, her hair is as white as the snow itself, carefully and expertly groomed straight on her head. Another feature that always caught my eyes were her eyes, as blue as water. This girl always seem to be the one, as contrasted to her Echini sisters. While their complexion, hair and eyes are the same, it's their face that lets me identify them. While her sisters chins seem sharp, their cheekbones high and a small rolling noise, this sister differed. Her noise was similar, small and rounded, her face lacked the sharpness on the chin and her cheekbones sit lower. Despite these differences, the girl refuses to tell me her real name and only uses the same name as her sisters "Handmaiden" I say to the girl, who nods her head.
"Jason" she says back as if identifying me like I had to her. I have to remember she hasn't been out in the galaxy for too long, and doesn't understand what I do.
"I presume her majesty has sent you for me?" I ask, and a frown develops on her face. Oh, right, sarcasm probably not her strongest suit either. This is something I should have marked to mind, but I've been here only a week and recently figured out how to identify this girl from her sisters.
"If by 'her majesty', you mean Master Atris, then yes. She requests your presence in the council room" she informs me "She has also demanded I escort you"
I feel my cheekbones rising into a smirk. Of course she has. Ever since I found her, Atris has offered me the bare minimum of hospitality and we both knew it. Atris had been the one on the council that disapproved of my Final Sith the most, so it was almost ironic, or a joke of fate, when I discovered Atris in her hideout. She had to accept that I was here to help, she didn't however, have to approve of it.
"Lead the way then" I say, the girl nodding her head before turning around and beginning to walk. Exiting my room, I raise my hand and the door closes behind me. The room I was staying in was in the Handmaiden living and sparing quarters, obvious Atris never intended to have a visitor. We walk past the training mat where the Echini sisters practised to keep up their fighting style. We walk through the old Irrigation system of Telos, towards what Atris called her council room. The room itself mimics the council room on Coruscant, Atris' refusal to admit change I guess, with chairs sitting in a circle around a pillar. The room reeks of weakness, a Jedi who refuses to realize what has happened in the galaxy, one of the Last Jedi alive, and one who I honestly think, will destroy everything she believes in.
Walking in silence, we arrive in the council room. The room, much like the base, is a bland grey, a colour I'm sick of seeing for I've seen far too much of it this past week. I walk towards the centre as the Handmaiden stayed back at the door. Ahead of me is the domain of Atris. Across a long open bridge sat a large cylinder. That is where Atris spent all her time. Whenever I call upon the force, I feel an odd darkness. It's not the darkness one would expect from a Dark Jedi, but whatever is in that room, it has a faint taint floating around it. It's an odd feeling, even more so given it's the home of a Jedi Master. I wouldn't go so far as to accuse Atris of falling to the darkness, it's not nearly strong enough. Perhaps she's started collecting Sith artefacts, which would explain quite a bit if I'm honest.
A loud hissing noise occurs in front of me, and I focus on the door over the bridge. Dressed in her white robes, Jedi Master Atris begins her walk over towards me. Often I've wondered if it was mere coincidence that Atris and her Handmaidens share similar physical attributes, namely the sky blue eyes and ice-white hair. Their faces were different, Atris had the marks of time, unhide able even with make-up. Additionally, her chin was soft, but it was her noise that was large, sharp almost, with cheekbones that pull tightly against her face. She takes her time to walk over to me, something she's done again and again, made me wait for her. It's an old method, trying to show that her time was more important than my own. When she finally does arrive and graces me with her presence, I smile at her, trying to warm the blizzard she's shooting me through her eyes already.
"Master Atris, you sent for me?" I ask, trying my best to be respectful towards the Jedi. As much as I loathe her, she is one of the last Jedi, and because of this, I must stay in her graces.
"I have Sith" she says in her condescending tone. For many years I have acknowledged that one of the most fundamental flaw in the Jedi is this; they are arrogant. They see themselves greater than anyone else, civilians and Sith alike. They will speak down to everyone, use subtle insults like refereeing to me as Sith instead of my name. It is their greatest weakness, their largest flaw, and I suspect, part of the reason they are in the situation they are. They don't connect to the galaxy, they look down upon in, and so, they suffer of knowing, but not understanding, that which occurs around them. "There is something that has bothered me ever since you discovered us here. Why weren't you on Katarr during the meeting?"
Of course she wanted to know. It feels like that's all that has occupied my mind the past year, that damned meeting is where everything truly went to shit. "I was occupied on Korriban at the time. I was searching the planet for dangerous Sith artefacts that had been missing for some time. I had just landed when we received information about the meeting, and I let Katarina lead our entire force there"
Atris raises an eyebrow at me, maybe doubting the truth. But that was it. I lost everything, because I had agreed having Sith items like Ajunta Pauls' blade being stolen too risky. If a mercenary came across that blade, or another artefact, or forbidden knowledge locked away, the consequences could be astronomical. "You want me to believe you didn't come to the meeting, because you were busy searching for artefacts?"
I nod my head. I have a feeling she would never believe me, regardless of what I told her. As is the Jedi way, to not believe anyone who wasn't one of their order. "Correct. Not only did Katarina, who I'm sure you remember, go, we also had our entire organisation, over a thousand Sith, go as an escort to prove that we had no ill intent towards the Jedi"
Atris' Icey stare gazes into me, almost as if it was piercing through me. I suspect it is, in at least part, because of the mention of Katarina. Atris cannot stand the Sith as a general rule and it was a big exception of her to deal with my Sith during the past 5 years. Thankfully I managed to keep a diplomatic relationship between Atris and myself, namely I only asked for what I needed and left, no pretending what didn't exist. Katarina, during the times she had to interact with her, hadn't been nearly as diplomatic. The pair had only met half a dozen times before I had a message from the Jedi respectfully requesting that Katarina no longer deals with matters involving the Jedi council. She never did tell me what it was she did that, but it soured all relationships between Atris and myself.
"I could ask where you were Jedi Master" I say "If I was not mistaken, weren't you one of the Jedi who called for the meeting on Katarr? I find it odd that someone who led the idea of the meeting, you wouldn't be there for it" It seems that I touched a nerve. The force around us changes, the usual calmness that is standard of the Jedi shifts to one of passive-aggressive. Normally such a small shift would be undetectable, but during my many years as the leader of the Final Order, I had practised detecting the slightest shifts in someone's' force aura, and I suspect Atris, having been surrounded by those who cannot feel the force, hasn't had any recent practise hiding her own.
"I was asked by the council to stay behind and was intending to arrive later that week. However, the incident occurred before I arrived" An incident, that's what she called Katarr? She might as well call it what it was. A slaughter through the Force.
"There is more, isn't there?" I ask quickly "You wouldn't have called me to you to ask about just Katarr"
Atris' glare returns quickly, firing through me as a small shiver races through my spine. Despite that Atris doesn't intimidate me much, being a historian for the Jedi, but her glare doesn't fail to make me shiver. "Correct, I am wondering about Revan" I shake my head slightly, why was she bringing this up? It's been nearly 3 years since he left, and I was almost interrogated by the Jedi about his whereabouts.
"I told you all I knew two years ago Atris, he's gone into the unknown regions of space to locate something heavily influenced in the Dark Side. He never told me where he was headed" While true, it's a slight bending of the truth. Revan never told me the name, but he said he was traveling to a dead world. He never did say how it was dead, but maybe, just maybe, it was like Katarr, and if that is the case… Then the worst has occurred. This is not the first time I have considered this option, but the thought is far from a pleasant one.
"I am aware, I have read the report given by Bastilia Shan and yourself. Both of you admit to knowing Revan had every intention to leave to deal with what you call a 'threat', however neither of you know what the said threat is or where it is located. Not only that, but I'm certain that you have kept in contact with the old Ebon Hawk crew and have been following Revans' orders for 5 years"
Atris isn't wrong, true to her suspicion, we have created a private organisation of communication, a way to talk to one another without anyone knowing, a private secret army. "We stay in contact yes" I say, it would be pointless to lie fully "But we're not Revan's army. We went our own way after the Star Forge…."
"And you truly have no idea where he's gone?" she asks yet again, as I return a nod to confirm what she already knew.
"If I knew, I'd of gone after him to help. That's probably why he didn't tell anyone where he was headed, we'd all of gone searching for him if we'd known" I say, in all honesty that was probably the truth. Not only would some of us come after him, but if one of us leaked his location to the Jedi or even to mercenaries, it would become a hunt.
"I see" was her simple reply, but within her reply I can hear her annoyance. Did she assume I knew where Revan was and was simply keeping its location a secret? A small part of me wishes this was true as it means I'd be able to go looking for Revan myself, alas it is not.
"If I may ask Atris, how long do you expect me to stay here? I do have better things do to then act on your whim" I say. Atris, ever since I discovered her hidden base, had made it very clear that she was in charge and I was to answer to her. Finding the base was a challenge and a mistake in of itself. I'd come to check on the Telos Restoration Project first hand, and checking the systems, I'd found a tiny power fluctuation. Ordinarily this wouldn't cause any questions, but I was informed that the system was state of the art, and couldn't help but investigate the power shift and its destination. One short shuttle trip later and here I was, regretting my curiosity.
"The fact you managed to locate my base of operations is troubling enough to me. That is enough for me to hold you here until times comes that I can know with certainty that no one else will be able to discover this location" she says, as if it would be that simple. If she wanted to hide her base through its power signature, she'd either have to redirect the power source through a secondary distributor located at the primary shield power node, or modify the base power source to reduce total energy output, meaning her blip would appear under a different category and therefore, slip by undetected. "And I want you to do it"
I let out a sigh. This is the issue, even with my training against the Force, my thoughts are difficult to hide. Before, during the wars, I threw up walls and barriers of emotion such as cowardice, lust, confusion and fear, letting these emotions float through me was effective at keeping my thoughts safe, but changed me. Opting to lower these walls comes at a price, I struggle to keep my outside thoughts protected. Thoughts just like how to hide the power, surface thoughts they're called. The first thing on your mind.
"You want me to do your job for you?" I ask, finding myself on the receiving end of yet another glare from the Jedi "Fine, but only if you help me in return"
"Help you? What could you possibly want from me Sith?" Each time she says that title, the urge to murder her grows. While indeed I do call myself a Sith, it is the tone she says it, like venom, which angers me. Are we not on the same side?
"Correct. I'm trying to locate the Jedi in hiding. I'm not planning on dragging you out of hiding, but information. The Jedi Order must survive, even if I have to drag it from the shadows myself" I say. I've long come to the acceptance that the Galaxy approves of the Jedi and denounces the Sith as a general rule, even with all my efforts, the Jedi are the symbols of peace. So if I have to drag them into the future kicking and screaming, so be it.
"There are no other Jedi, your mission is in vain"
"No other Jedi?" I echo in disbelief. I know, firstly, that it is a lie. I know for a fact Bastilia lives, not only that but the last Jedi Order went into hiding. "I don't believe you're the only Jedi left alive Atris. Master Vandar, Master Vrook, I know they both survived the battle of the Forge, and they were some of the Jedi that went into hiding…"
"I did not lie to you" she counters coldly "They are Jedi no longer, although I'm sure they hide in the shadows of this galaxy alone"
"Do you know where they are?" I ask directly. Atris is a master of the word game, and I'm well versed in it, but I'm losing my patience with her. I feel as if I'm just beating my head pointlessly against a wall, and my honest desire to grab my ship and fly off, is rising. Atris' Handmaidens are well trained, I will give them that, but against me, they won't be able to stop them.
"You remove the trace that lead you here, and I'll help you rally them" she replies.
Not much of an option if I'm honest and Atris knows it. I've got to play her game, she has all the information, for now at least.
"Fine, but the minute I'm done, I expect detailed files on who and where given to me. I'm not your slave Atris, and I refuse to be treated as such" I stare at her, and I wonder what she's thinking about.
"Very well, those terms seem fair. Additionally, I'll even share with you some information that might be useful for your investigation as a sign of…good faith" those words I wasn't expecting. Given our entire relationship, I find this sudden change in attitude rather odd, but perhaps Atris needs me. Although for what I find slightly odd. "What do you know of the Peragus Mining Facility?"
"Peragus? It's a large fuel station. From what I remember, it's the main fuel source for Citadel Station. What's a mining facility got to do with the missing Jedi?" I ask her. I don't understand what she was going on. It's an important mining facility true…
"It's been destroyed" she states coldly "Yesterday the Telos authorities arrived for their fuel shipment, only to report the entire facility was gone, rubble"
"The entire facility? Shit" my voice is a lot softer now, not only for the mass deaths that occurred, but for what this means. There are only a few factions that would destroy a mining facility, capable of destroying it at least.
"Correct. Additionally, the ship responsible has appeared on Citadel Station, and we've managed to identify one of the occupants"
Behind me, I can hear footsteps walking towards us. Throwing a look over my shoulder, it was her, the Handmaiden, the one who actually bothered to speak to me. In her hand, a datapad, which she offered to me. Raising my hand, I took the pad and activated it, the screen lighting up and an all-too familiar face appears before me. I feel the look of surprise plaster itself onto my face, my eyebrows raised, my eyes widened. This was a face I haven't seen in years, and if I was honest, I thought she was dead.
"Meetra…" I hear my voice say quietly "I thought she died"
"She didn't" was the harsh reply "She returned to the Jedi Order and was exiled. What she did after that, we're uncertain. But the fact she's back right after the destruction of the most important mining facility, I find it…suspicious"
As much as I want to disagree with Atris on a fundamental level, I nod my head. She is right to some degree. Meetra Surik was one of the Jedi that served in the Mandalorian War, a fearless general who was always the first into the fight. A great warrior, but during the war, there were only a few who had more blood on their hands. The war on Dxun, where so many Republic troops lost their lives on that damn moon. That alone was a complete disaster, but Dxun was the start of the bloodbaths.
"I remember her, and as much as I want to disagree with you about Meetra, you could be right. During the war, she had a tendency to destroy whatever obstacles in her path, but she tried to preserve what she could"
"I want to acquire the Hawk to discover the truth" Atris states "And I'm sure you have questions for her, so I suggest this. Take your shuttle with Handmaiden here to Citadel Station. She will bring the Hawk to me while you can talk to Meetra about the mining facility plus whatever you want"
This compromise offered by Atris feels almost like a trap, given her attitude before. But that being said, I feel like she is doing this to placate me. Maybe, as much as she does despise me, even Jedi Master Atris realises she needs me.
"Fine" I agree, knowing the alternative is they steal the Hawk and I get left behind. I turn my head over at Handmaiden, who is standing behind me silently "You've got 10 minutes, you're aboard or you get left behind" I say coldly as I return the datapad and begin to walk towards the hanger, where my ship awaits. While being that cold towards Handmaiden, the one person who was slightly kind to be, wasn't necessary, I'm on a mission now. As I walk, I raise my left arm and pull my black sleeve back, revealing my communications device. It was a bulky device, but given it connected to my ship, which in turn allowed me to communicate to anyone I wanted, I'll take the bulky. I press the largest green button on it, and several letters appear. I quickly press the letter 'M' and 'C' before closing the device, pulling my sleeve down and entering the main hanger.
Much like the rest of the facility, grey coloured the walls endlessly. But sitting in front of me was my pride and joy, the one surviving part of my Final Order. It was a smuggler ship in design, slightly smaller than the ebon Hawk and shaped in an almost triangular shape. Painted black as night itself and armed with several cannons, she was more than capable of doing whatever I needed her too. 'Phantom' was her name, Katarina suggested it when I first purchased the ship, given its colour and appearance. I walk under its hull, running my gloved hand its hull before stepping up the ramp and into my ship. I quickly make my way to the bridge, which was set up very much like the Ebon Hawks. I'll admit when I was having this ship designed, it was meant to mimic the hawk in many regards. Sitting down in the pilot seat, I quickly open the Phantoms main communication device, and see the letters 'M' highlighted while many others remain docile. I raise my finger and press the button on the screen, and quickly spin my seat around as the holograms activate. There, standing in full colour, hands on her hips, was someone I haven't seen in far too long.
"It's been too long" I say to the hologram in front of me, a large smile on my face "I'm sorry for this, but this call is purely for business…"
"That's fine J" she replies, her childish manner still blooming in her light-hearted voice "What can I do for you?"
Finally the hologram finishes the image, and standing in front of me, is Mission Vao. She looks almost real, the only way I know she isn't is because she is currently on the smugglers moon with her new life. She's wearing a bland white shirt, a black overcoat and black leggings, resting on her hip is a blaster pistol. Despite her new life, her face hasn't changed in the slightest. The perfect white smile, the eyes of a girl who wants to see the galaxy and all the good within it. At this moment, I'd rather not know what she sees me as, probably a brooding warrior who sees the worst in everyone.
"I need to know if you've heard any rumours about the Peragus Mining Facility" I say simply to her. While I normally wouldn't contact her on such a trivial matter since we know some facts, I know Missions organisation is one of the best sources for information in the criminal underworld there is and if anyone was bragging about destroying the facility, she'd know.
"Outside that someone blew it to hell, nothing. Everyone's curious who and even work been put up to whoever did it, but no one capable is claiming. A few low lever smugglers claim that they destroyed it, but they're known for spice trading. But I'll let you know about it" she reports back. That's my Vao, always on top of everything. "But I've been meaning to contact you the past week, something came up that I figured you'd of liked to know…"
Right as she says this, another hologram starts to form in the cockpit. Slowly forming to make the other person I'd added into this meeting. Standing to my left, dressed in full Republic gear, was Carth Onasi. The Admiral to what is left of the Republic fleet.
"Carth!" Mission's voice full of excitement "I didn't know you were part of this meeting"
"I didn't know it was a multi-meeting. It's good to see you again Mission, I assume my gift arrived safely?" Carth replies. Despite only five years having passed, his hair had started to grey over, presumably from the stress of being the Admiral to a Republic that is crumbling in his hands. It's a secret to many, but not to us. Carth had told us that the credits weren't coming in, and that in maybe a years' time, the Republic could collapse on itself.
"Yes it did" she replies "Thank you kindly for it" I can only assume these two swapped information and supplies given the size of their forces, although I can't say for certain.
"Now Jason, I presume there's an important reason you risked a three-way transmission" Carth had always been the most cautious about our 'Shadownet', as he called it. A secret communication system embedded within the Republic systems that allowed us, the followers of Revan, to communicate.
"There is. Not only does the destruction of the Peragus Mining Facility worry me, but I've recently discovered that a Jedi Exile is alive and related to the incident" I report to both of them. Mission looks confused, but Carth's face is what intrigued me most. He looks almost sheepish, as if he knows… "Carth, wish to share?" I ask, getting a clearing of his throat.
"I do want to first apologise for keeping this secret, but we were uncertain until the other day. Republic Cruiser 'Harbinger' has received a transmission from a Frigate that claimed it was under fire from Sith forces. Ordinarily I wouldn't have investigated, but the ships ID match that Ebon Hawk….So I sent the ship to investigate"
"You didn't tell us!" Exclaims Mission "You found the Hawk and you didn't tell anyone?!"
"Mission…" I say tensely, getting a guilty look from the Twi'lek. While I do understand her outburst, Carth wouldn't have not informed us unless he knew it was the Hawk "I feel like there is more to this story…"
"Yes. The Ship arrived and reported an abandoned Sith ship and the Hawk….One day later, all communication with the Harbinger was lost. Three days later, the ships IFF vanished from our system, assumed high jacked or destroyed. We never had confirmation that the frigate they found was the Hawk, only the ships code"
"So there is a chance the Hawk is back with Revan?" Asks Mission, hope teeming in her voice. Part of me wish she hadn't, because now I've got to crush that hope.
"Whatever happened, Revan isn't with the Hawk anymore" I say, getting looks from both of them "The reason I called this meeting is because the Ebon Hawk recently arrived on Citadel Station about Telos, and I've managed to identify one of its occupants" There was no need to inform them about Atris. Not only would it bring up unnecessary questions, but she wasn't important at this current moment.
"This Exile you mentioned" says Mission slowly "I presume that's the person you've identified?"
"Yes" I say "Her name is Meetra Surik, a former Jedi General of the Mandalorian Wars. I served under her during the siege of Dxun. After the battle of Malachore V, she didn't stay with us but instead returned to the Jedi Council where she was banished and exiled from the Order. What she's been doing for these past five years is anyone's' guess"
"What's this got to do with Peragus?" asks Mission simply.
"The mining facility is destroyed, then the Ebon Hawk, a ship that has been gone for nearly three years appears out of the blue with a Jedi Exile as part of its crew" I state looking at Mission "You can't look me in the eyes and say this isn't worth investigating. Not only that, but I'm sure neither of you have forgotten the Shadow Threat….We can't assume her appearance won't bring them out of hiding, we can't let this opportunity slip us by"
The Shadow Threat. That's what we call it, the systematic destruction of the Jedi for the years post the Jedi Civil War. They struck from the shadows, leaving no witnesses, not survivors. All we know for certain is it's unstoppable, targets those who use the Force and leaves destruction in its wake.
"You're suggesting we mobilise?" Carth asks "Jason I think you're right its worth having a look at, but the Republic is far from ready to deal with this threat"
"Not only that, but we need time. I'd need to recall my operatives and inform them of the situation" follows up Mission "Plus we'd need to see how Candy is going, he made it clear we don't contact him unless it's completely necessary" Candy, Mission is the only person in the galaxy who can call him Candy and live to tell the tale. Candy, Canderous Ordo, or as he prefers to be called, Mandalore the Preserver.
"I'm not suggesting that we mobilise, like you said, we can't mobilise without dragging Canderous into this. I'd rather not move without knowing for certain the situation, but I'm going to begin investigating it. I'd like both of you to keep an ear out for anything involving Meetra, Carth's missing Harbinger and anyone who seems to have an expressed in Jedi. Anyone could be hunting for the Shadow and I'd rather know who is aiming at the target on my back"
"Excellent, Carth, I have one favour to ask. I need to talk to Meetra on Citadel Station, could you call ahead and let them know I'm with you?" I ask. While I could force it and use the force to make them let me talk to her, I'd rather not make enemies.
"Of course" the admiral replies "I'll let Lieutenant Grenn know of your impending arrival on the Phantom"
I get a decisive nod from both Carth and Mission, before disabling the call, the holograms vanishing instantly as I slump down into my seat. After months of nothing, it was all happening at once. Perhaps that was just it, the cogs refuse to move, and then all move at once. I spin my seat to face the controls and begin powering up my Phantom.
"You lied to Atris" states a female voice behind me, catching me off-guard as I quickly spin around in my seat, seeing Atris' Handmaiden standing by the doorway. How long had she been there? "You said you weren't organising military action, yet it's very clear you are preparing yourselves"
My hand slides onto the hilt of my blade, a reaction. While killing the Handmaiden was not an option, having the hilt in my gloved in my palm helped calm my nerves knowing I had such power at my disposal. "Correct I did. What I do in my own time is none of her business, my alliances will not threaten her, so I don't see why it would matter"
The Handmaiden walks forwards, and on her waist, the Quadra-staff that all of them seem to be armed with. She is wearing what she always wear, snow-white clothes that almost resemble robes, and sits herself down in the co-pilot seat, swinging it to face me. "We shall see, but I shall not inform Atris since, if you are telling the truth, she will not need to know"
"Thank you kindly" I say back as I finish powering up my ship, and begin to take off. Destination: Citadel Station. After months of nothing, it was finally time to begin the hunt. I really just hope this won't end up like the last mission I was on…
Author Notes:
Hello. Welcome to part 2 of my Knights of the Old Republic story. If you haven't, I suggest you read part 1 'Unlikely Ally'. If you're new to my style of writing, I do hope you enjoy it. If you've come from part 1 of my story, then I welcome you back and hope you enjoy. My style of writing has been getting better so I hope it is to your likings.