Sith Empire
Chapter 3
Author's Note: Star Wars © Lukasarts, Original Character © Me
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While I am traveling through hyperspace I sense a disturbance in the force. Something isn't to my liking when I am to arrive. "8k-o7, prepare for a stealth exit!" I order 8k. I double check the coordinates for my hyper jump. It is very close, almost skin close to the coordinates Ilene promised to be. Should I change my coordinates? No, Ilene promised me this position and I shall arrive exactly where I predict them to be.
"Ten minutes until exiting hyperspace, Master," 8k announces. I leave the meditation chamber and come to the cockpit. The stream of stars flow pass us like a line of light. It is bright and rarely do I spot any shadow or darkness within the hyperspace. Still for some reason even without any darkness it gives me a sense of comfort.
It is as if even though it is as bright as the light side, it is still a stranger to just about everyone else. It is something they can use, however there are still secrets unexplored to them and this unknown scares them. My gaze is still directed still towards the hyperspace as I see the countdown hitting the last minute. I strap myself in and gather my wandering thoughts and focus them again.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, ..." 8k counts down the last few seconds. And then the light disappears and in front of is the giant silver-wolfram colored Bismark. An explosion right in front of us, pieces of armor explode outwards towards my Ilithid. I pilot my ship and evade the flying chunk of armor just in the nick of time. The radar finally picked up three squadron of bombers and a squadron of fighter escort.
"Master, the Bismark's hyperdrive's been hit. It is not functional. The deflector shield is down to thirty percent and hull structure is at sixty percent. It own escort fighter were all eliminated," 8k-o7 reports.
"Bring us into its hangar," I order 8k. "Ilene!" I say over the com. "My lady, thank god you are here," the communication officer Sophie says. "Put me through with the admiral," I order. "Yes, ma'am!"
"Ilene!" "Yes, my lady?" Ilene replies over the com. "Set all your turrets to nil resistant and have them all reloaded! Also is Ophelia next to you?" "Yes, my lady, I shall prepare all the canons. And Ophelia is next to me, my lady." "Ophelia, I sense you followed my instructions. Good come down to the hangar to me."
As I finish giving orders 8k finished piloting the Ilithid into the hangar and Ophelia comes rushing out the elevator. She jumps and hugs me as she sees me with open arms. Her snake like body allows her for fast, very fast sprints, far more efficient than human legs would allow.
I brace myself for the impact with my force. After I catch her I give her a kiss on her forehead then say, "there will be time for this later, but first we need to rescue the Bismark." Her happy face turns into one that is ready to focus on the task ahead. I lead her back into the Ilithid's meditation chamber. "Focus on all the capital canons, Ophelia. I shall handle the flack canons," I say while already in a trance like state.
Using the force to see my targets as well as using the telekinesis I control all the guns manually. I spot a squadron coming in for a bomb drop run, probably trying to finish the Bismark off. It's too late for me to stop them from their run as all eight bombs are on their way to hit the hull. However there are enough flak canons and I let lose eight precises salvos of fire. Instantly eight explosions as I shoot down all eight bombs. Now with the immediate thread of the bombs gone I direct my attention at the next bomber squad readying to toss their bombs and torpedoes at the injured Bismark. Sixteen salvos of focused fire and I rip a whole squad apart.
Then suddenly the Bismark fires its capital canons. Ophelia finally grasped the concept and follows my lead. Normally using capital canons for downing evasive ships like a bomber or fighter is useless, however with a force user able to predict and read a pilots movement we are able to move the canon's position ahead of the pilots path and without needing a targeting system we are able to place our shot into our enemies intended path. The first squad is no more either.
In an instant only two squads remain. One fighter escort and one bomber squad. They start to fly in formation following the leading fighter captains lead. I sense the force in him. I see now, no wonder Ilene's fighter escort were decimated. If a Jedi is leading them it is no wonder they are able to slice through Ilene's defenses.
However I sense inexperience in the wielder. A Padawan maybe? Then where is his master? Probably on the carrier or capital ship. He's ordered his squadron to follow his flight path, clever idea indeed. However I see a weakness in this. Though they follow him, he doesn't inspire them. They are only following orders, they don't trust him. There is fear and doubt, as little as there is, it is still there. My mind and Ophelia's are melding fused a single being as I notice her same intention as mine. I fire my flak canons. The Padawan goes into a dive avoiding them just as his fighter and bomber squad only to be in Ophelia's direct fire. She shoots, the Jedi avoids it, however his squad does not. They do not have that fast a reaction and the bombers break formation. As they break formation I pick off all eight of them one each with a salvo.
Now only he remains. Shocked, I can sense him trembling, his emotions are going wild. It must be his first true loss and the weight of their death must weight heavy on him. Still it seems he realizes he cannot do anything on his own now and he retreats.
We on the other hand don't even bother trying to shoot him down, a waste of ammo. Still the problem is just about to start. He's to return to his master and probably a carrier fleet and our single dreadnought, the Bismark, even if powerful will not withstand a full out fight against these hunters. And without a hyper drive we are just sitting ducks.
We need a quick solution …...
"Theresa?" Ophelia asks me as I am still pondering how to solve this predicament. "Yes?" I look at her, "we could try and hide in that asteroid field over there," Ophelia points on the star map.
An asteroid field, eh? It could work for us, indeed those pilots were not the best, probably just out of the academy and the Padawan is shocked. He won't be able to lead anyone safely out of the field for sure. That leaves only his master and he won't be chasing us with his capital ship. He won't risk that, that only leaves us with our own predicament of how to escape after we exit the asteroid field.
The Jedi is probably going to wait until we exit before trying to catch us. Until then we are safe from pursuers. Now the question is, are our engineers able to repair the hyper drive without any extra materials.
I exit the meditation chamber with Ophelia and exit the Ilithid. Ilene and her staff awaits me at the bottom of Ilithid's ramp. "Good job killing those bombers and fighters, my ladies," Ilene compliments me and Ophelia. "It is only the beginning, make course to fly into the nearby asteroid field, Ilene." "You heard the master, make preparation for entering the asteroid field!" Ilene orders.
"Now there is just this one problem. Is the hyper drive fixable?" I ask Ilene. "Well, my lady," the chief engineer Watson answers. "It is, but using our own resources it would take too long."
"Give me a better time frame, Watson," I say. "How much time? A year? Six months? A Month?"
"One month, my lady," Watson answers hesitating. "How much ammo and food do we have, Ilene?" "Food we got enough to last at least for three month, however with our ammunition we only have about three weeks worth of it. The last fights against the republic drained many of our fighting capabilities."
"You heard your admiral, Master Engineer. Three week is our limit, now get to it. I care not if you have to strip out every fighter's engine to make it work. Make it work."
"Yes, mam!" Watson answers and hurries back down into the engine room to make preparations.
"Master," Ophelia says, "couldn't we save a lot of ammo if we use the force to hold back asteroids?" "Yes …." I answer, "and it shall be good practice for you to refine your powers."
With a plan set out we set the Bismark into the asteroid field of the Semloh system. As we are about to enter the field we pick up the signatures of capital ship exiting hyperspace. The Jedi arrives with his Padawan. I sense his presence on the leading carrier.
"Catch me if you can," I say through an open channel towards him and laugh as he sends out his fighters and bombers to chase us into the asteroid field.
Once more I take control of our flak canons however Ophelia has a different idea. She stretches out her power towards the asteroids themselves and moves them, blocking flight path, changing trajectories of them and letting many fighters and bombers crash into them. Only a handful make it pass Ophelia's asteroid traps only to find my flak waiting for them. The first wave is entirely annihilated and now even the Jedi General hesitate sending more after us. A loss of life as he would say or an unnecessary sacrifice. The military wrong answer. You should push us, it is the only way to overwhelm us. Chase us, hunt us, do not let us rest and lick our wounds. A pity you value the lives of your soldier more than this victory.
With that said Ophelia's power and control grow exponentially as she continues to change trajectories so they don't hit the Bismark. I too continue to evolve as I practice my own telekinesis sending smaller asteroids into larger ones, splitting them apart and also changing trajectories.
Into the second week I teach Ophelia how to wield force lightning. She a strange one, she wishes to practice it against the asteroids. So I put her into a space suit and let her wander outside the ship. There she focuses and wields her lightning bolts evaporating asteroids as they fly by. An interesting way to practice her powers. Slowly as day pass she's able to evaporate larger and larger asteroids in a few seconds. I notice it and see just how much she grows in power. There is a feeling inside me, a tireless feeling. Jealousy and fear? Yes, she's growing faster than I had anticipated. But I, too, am able to feel my own power growing as I continue to block asteroids from hitting the Bismark. And by the middle of the third week I am actually to completely stop the surrounding nine asteroids movement completely while at the same time change the directions of faster and smaller moving trajectories. Ophelia on the other hand having giving into the path of force lightning completely is able to use the entire Bismark as a conduit and electrocute and evaporate any asteroid in a fifty click radius.
With us actually using our force power the gunners barely used any ammunition to shoot down the asteroids and by the end of the third week Watson comes into the command center reporting the hyper drive is operational at ten percent of its normal capacity. Still he says the Bismark shall be able to jump into hyperspace, even if not at optimal speed.
Still a goal achieved. "Congratulation, Master Chief, you did well in giving us an escape route." By now the Jedi Master, he probably sensed our display of force power, he may even witnessed them through his meditation, finished flying around the asteroid field waiting at our exit for us to come out. Though the funny part is, since me and Ophelia are now capable of creating a large space in such a large asteroid field we are able to allow the Bismark to make a U-Turn.
That is exactly what we do. We turn around the still damaged Bismark exit the same side we entered with no one waiting for us and take a long speed up process.
"Maybe next time, the hunter become the hunted," I say through the open com as the Jedi finally realizes we are not coming out the side he anticipated and jump into hyperspace towards the next imperial military factory.
A projected two month of travel in hyperspace just to reach our destination. Indeed Watson did not exaggerate when he said the hyper drive is only operating at ten percent of its usual power. Still it is better than being chased by the Jedi.
Now I have some time and take care of Ophelia, however first I need to establish something. I call Ophelia to my chamber. She's holding something in her hand, however she's hiding it from me. I feel unpleasant, threatened maybe even. "Come with me," as I lead her down into the prison section of the ship. Her hands starts shaking as we walk through the corridors towards where Ilene and 8k are waiting for us. "Is everything prepared, 8k, Ilene?" I ask. "Yes, master."
"Theresa, I am scared," Ophelia says in a whimpering tone as I lead her into one of the empty prison cells. She grabs tighter around my hand, but I coldly lead her towards shackles and put them on her. They are cold and strip a Jedi or Sith of his connection to the force. Ophelia drops what's in her hand on a reflex I catch it, however I am still focused on chaining her up that I don't really take a good look at the object that fell.
"Theresa ..." she looks at me scared, I give her a forced smile, then separate myself from her, leaving her to 8k. He's got a needle with some pain causing liquid in them. "Theresa ..." she screams as 8k stands now tall over her and I am at the door.
"Theresa, I don't want to …." she screams at me, I don't look back. She must go through this ritual. Ilene is waiting for me on the other side of the door. I step back out and the door closes behind me with a silent sliding sound.
"Theresa, ahhhh ….. ahhhh …. it hurts …... ahhhhhh …. ahhhhhh" Ophelia screams out of torture chamber. I close my eyes, my fox ears twitch and flinch each time she screams. It is only then that I look at what she held in her hand. Its a little fox head with a snake crown on its head. She must have made it through force lightning and her telekinesis power while she was protecting the Bismark.
God, why did I do this? Only cause my own master made me go through such a painful experience, "ahhhhhh it huuuuuuuuuuuurts …... ahhhh …... Theresa save me …... ahhhhhhh." Hearing her scream for me, makes my leg tremble. I can't hold myself and collapse on the ground, tears come out. Ilene sees me collapsing and lowers herself, kisses me on my lips before hugging me, pressing her body on mine. Her body warmth fills me, strengthening me, giving me strength, power. I realize I don't need to be like master, don't need to put Ophelia through the same dark punishment to make her my loyal apprentice. She is already loyal to me.
I punch the door button. It slices open and I fall clumsily back before standing up again. "8k, stop torturing her!" I order my droid, "as you wish, master."
I open her chains and then hold her weak body in my hand. Her eyes are open but gaze is unfocused. I kiss her on her forehead, but she doesn't react. "The anti dote, 8k!" He put a different needle into her body emptying its liquid. "It is administered and her body is stable, however her mental state is unconscious," Ilene comments looking at her medical monitor.
"Ophelia, I am sorry," I say out loud then through the force before I try to reach her. It is dark, and cold. I dive deeper searching for Ophelia I hear crying and follow it. The cold is creepy even though it is the force it is so powerful it slowly is draining my force presence. Like an ice sculpture its cold is chipping away at my presence as I close in on Ophelia. It is painful, but still I continue. By the time I reach her, she is all curled up crying. I am but a face now, so much the cold and darkness chipped away from me.
"Ophelia," I say. She looks up but doesn't see me. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have done this. My Ophelia, my little honey, my child I am sorry I did such a horrible thing to you." "Theresa …. mother …." she says as she looks at me. Though I have no hands more I still motions my not existing hands to grab hold of her face before I press my lips on her forehead and cheek. As we are connected the cold vanishes from me and I can also see how Ophelia stops trembling. "Let's leave this place," I say to her. "I'll follow you were ever you lead, mother," Ophelia replies. Such a sweet child. How could I do such a thing, never again shall I follow my master's instructions. We travel together holding onto each other until the darkness and cold are but a memory.
I return from the force and stare at Ophelia. She blinks twice and her eyes focus onto my face as I let out a smile of happiness. She grins at me. I give her another kiss. Ilene joins our family reunion. We each steal a kiss from Ilene to her surprise as she feels welcome.
"Ophelia, you mastered your control over the force well, now it is time for you to learn how to wield a light saber," I begin. "Theresa, why do we not wield spears?" Spears? An interesting concept, "Mostly probably because a light saber usually is able to cut through the rod," I answer. "But mother, you found creatures who are difficult to cut through on your last adventure, did you not? Could we not use those materials as base?" Ophelia you are a very resourceful and clever child indeed, not bound by the teachings as I was. "Very well for you, let's see if you are able to successfully create a spear light blade," I answer her. Indeed I did bring back some of the more interesting trophies from the planet where I created my first holocron.
In the end Ophelia chooses the mantis skin to be the best material and uses force lightning and telekinesis to bend it to her will until it is reforged into a spear like shape. I instruct her how to build a regular light saber and she experiments with the tip of her spear until she succeeds in building a trident. Indeed its reach and attack pattern are totally different from a normal light saber, however for someone like Ophelia it is a perfect match. Her snake body allows her to move different and a spear's thrust is a great weapon with her body.
However I still train her in both spear use and sword play. She learns quickly and in the two month we travel through hyperspace the most basic foot work and attack she mastered. She will have little to no trouble to at least face a Padawan of a Jedi order. She, too, tends to wield more than one weapon, since she learned from me to wield light sabers using her telekinesis powers.
And finally we reach the space port and awaiting us at the port is my master. Now how to deal with this bastard who's haunting my dreams ever since my childhood.
