Chapter 2: The Empire's Arrival
Exactly one month after Jak and Keira began their training with Samos, the Empire arrived within orbit of the planet Eco. Soon, a fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers and TIE Fighters approached the planet from deep space, with the largest of Star Destroyers arriving last on the scene. Little did everyone on Eco know that their armies alone would be of no match for the massive fleet of the Imperial Empire. Their only hope would be if Jak can save them one more time.
Inside the main Star Destroyer, through the main chamber, a door opened. Out came a robotic man adorned with a grey suit, black armor, colored buttons on his chest, and a black cape surrounding it all. His face was hidden by a black, two-piece mask that produced a sinister mechanical breathing. This was the man that Samos spoke of. This was the notorious Sith Lord that came into power. This was the infamous Jedi-killer that swept all across the galaxy. This man, was Darth Vader.
As Lord Vader walked through the hallways into the main command center, an array of Imperial Storm Troopers, admirals, generals, and commanders alike, stopped dead in their tracks and saluted the dark lord, with fear in their eyes. He approached a shrivlled old man, covered in black robes, and stood beside him. The two looked out of the window of their Star Destroyer, looking directly at the planet Eco.
What Samos did not realize is, the Empire was actually ruled by the shriveled old man covered in black robes. The Emperor's title was Darth Sidious. It was clear that he was the master, and Vader was his new apprenctice.
"What is thy bidding, my master?" Lord Vader asked in his deep, sinister, mechanical voice.
"Lord Vader," the Emperor's shrill, dark voice started as he looked to his apprentice with a wrinkled face with red and yellow eyes, "see the planet that we are approaching upon? I sense a great disturbance of the Force coming from here."
"I can feel it as well," Vader replied.
Sidious continued, "Yes, this planet is strong with the Force, through two beings, I sense. A boy, and a girl. These two are the only two beings that are strong with it, yet they just begun studying the Jedi Arts, and they improve rapidly…"
"The children of the Force," Vader realized.
"Prescisely, my apprentice," The Emperor replied, "which is why we are out here in the unknown Outer-Rim terretories to seek them out. They must NOT become Jedi. This will be the first of many systems that will fall under complete control of our new Empire. This one will be swift and effortless to conquer. Their defense mechanisms will be inferior to us!"
The apprentice affirmed, "Yes, my master."
The master continued, "Hunt down the Force-sensitive boy and girl. I sense that they are in the same place. Destroy their master, and their allies, and order them to serve under our control. If they refuse, execute them. When you have done that, search for any resources that would be beneficial to our project."
Vader asked, "How will I know who they are? Their Names? What they look like?"
"Search you feelings, Lord Vader," Sidious calmly replied, "You will find the answers to all of your questions once you see them. You will find a way to destroy them."
"Yes, My master," Vader bowed.
"You have been well-trained for this moment, my young apprenctice," the Emperor encouraged, "This is your first true test as an official Sith Lord. They will be of no match for you. Now, go forth and do what must be done. Find the children, destroy their allies, and rob their resources. Do not hesitate, show no mercy. Unleash all of your strength, your anger, your hatred, and you will become more powerful that what you are now. This will bring us one step closer to complete dominance of the galaxy, like you have always dreamed of."
"And so it shall be done, my master." Vader rose, looked at his master for the last time, and left the command center. He departed from his Star Destroyer onto an Imperial shuttle that flew deep into the planet's atmosphere in the deep of the night. For hours, Vader searched this planet near and far in search of Jak and Keira.
Meanwhile, back at Spargus, Jak and Keira were headed back to Sig's palace to face their final test. The two have done so well in their accelerated training, already mastering the ways of the force through meditation, lightsaber combat, and mind techniques that allowed them to control and move objects and people. Within lest than a month the two heroes have all but mastered every single aspect of becoming a Jedi. However, one final test from Samos awaited them…
"I've gotta say, we've done pretty good so far," Jak started, "none of this is half-bad!"
"I know," Keira continued, "I actually have a really positive attitude about this!"
"This mission is gonna be cake," Jak replied. "I can feel it!"
"No doubt!" Keira confirmed.
The two new Jedi walked into the throne room inside the palace, only to see their Ottsel companions tied up and hanging above the ceiling. Despite their mouths being taped shut they cried for help relentlessly.
"DAX!" Jak yelled upward.
"TESS!" Keira followed.
"Don't worry! We'll get you both down-" as soon as Jak said this, an army of black-cloaked men bursted through the windows. They turn around and they see more of them burst through the double-doors. They all looked the same, each with grey armor and a white mask with red stripes, with small rectangular slits for their eyes. They surrounded Jak and Keira, lightsabers drawn. They were all red. Jak went on to finish,"-As soon as we deal with these guys!"
"They're here." Keira trembled with fear. She believed that this was the Empire that they have been waiting for.
"Relax honey," Jak said to her, calming her nerves, "we'll take 'em all together."
With this, they both crouched and spread their hands wide open, unleashing a massive wave of force energy that flew all of the Sith Acolytes backward. Then Jak and Keira drew their lightsabers and immediately went to work. They used all of their knowledge and they put it to the test. They sliced and diced each warrior, severing heads, limbs, and even gutting them. They even used the force to push, pull, and knock out their opponents. It wasn't until halfway through the ambush that they realized that these warriors were only prototype robots constructed for their final test. They made short work of these drones, and noticed that Daxter and Tess were still tied together.
One of the Sith robots struggled to get up, and then leaped into the air with its lightsaber drawn, its tip aiming at the two Ottsels.
"Uhh…Jak?" Daxter gulped in fear. In response, Jak threw his lightsaber like a boomerang towards the rope, and severd it along with the Sith robot's head, just before it struck Daxter and Tess. The two Ottsels fell, screaming as gravity dragged them down. Then, Keira held out her left hand, and used the force grip to stop gravity before they hit the ground. They levitated, and stared at Keira, amazed that she could use the force to save them. Then she gently set them down, and removed the tape covering their mouths.
"You all right?" Daxter turned to Tess, noticing that she was traumatized by the events that had just occurred.
"Yes!" Tess exclaimed, relieved. "Oh, thank heavens for you two! I thought we were gonna die!"
"Yes, good show you two!" Samos barged in with bravado and praise. "That was most impressive."
"Say, what gives, grandpa!?" Daxter intruded, "You nearly had all four of us killed!"
"I was about to say," Jak added, "If that was the Empire, it looked like a pretty lame one if you ask me."
"No it wasn't, my boy," Samos replied, "that was a lesson for you two: To never become complacent with your powers. The moment you think you are invincible is the very same moment when you are the most fragile. It's a habit that often leads to the Dark Side. Be mindful of that."
"How did you know we were being complacent?" Jak asked.
"I heard you two talking about how easy training for a Jedi was when you walked in," Samos answered. He then continued the conversation to both him and Keira, "You forget, it takes even some of the greatest Jedi Knights many years to master the ways of the Force. With the aid of eco, it took you both nearly a month, and I knew that it was quite possible for you two to become two of the most powerful Jedi in history. That's why it was the perfect time to unleash the mock-warriors that Torn and Ashelin built."
"That tattoo-faced mother-" Daxter was about to curse out Torn until Jak covered his mouth before it got out of hand. Jak calmed down his Ottsel sidekick, and Samos continued:
"I had to surprise you for your final test, to see if you can use all the techniques that I have taught you to good use, without my aid. You two have proved that, and it also proves that the bond that you've tied for your marriage, gets stronger and stronger as the days go on, and I'm proud of that. You are now ready to face your biggest challenge yet. You both are now ready to face the Empire!"
"Thank you for everything, daddy!" Keira exclaimed, running up to her father and embracing him. This was perfect timing, as Sig, Torn, Ashelin, and Jinx all rushed into the throne room. They all had looks of panic written on each of their faces, and just when they were about to utter words, Jak raised his right hand towards them, and forced them not to speak. He knew that the Empire in its realist form arrived on Eco, even before he heard the TIE fighters blasting towards the ground and also before he heard the citizens screeching for help as the Storm Troopers pulled them out of their cottages.
"NOW, they're here." Jak spoke, coldly.
