Disclaimer: I do not own any of Star Wars, the right of ownership of Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm and I guess Disney too. The only thing I own is the characters you do not notice and the plot.

Year: 7 BBY

Chapter 7: After the Battle

Darth Asteria stumbles on an Imperial-class Star Destroyer. She was so close to killing her daughter. Her daughter was at her mercy, but she have sensed Jedi Master Zane was coming near and know due to the intense fight with her daughter, there was no way she will be able to fight Master Zane.

"Milady, the Emperor wants to speak to you." say a Stormtrooper. Darth Asteria was so annoy at not being able to kill her daughter, she uses the Force to rips the Stormtrooper's arms, legs and head off. The white armored corpse drops to the ground with blood pooling around it.

She walks into a chamber and takes off her mask. She bowl down and a large Hologram of Darth Sidious appears. "I have sense that the mission is a complete failure." say Darth Sidious. "I am sorry, Master. I need more training. I was about ready to kill off my daughter when Master Zane showed up, I did not have enough energy to fight on." say Darth Asteria.

Darth Sidious looks angry. "I DO NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR STUPID AGENDA AGAINST YOUR FUCKING DAUGHTER! I WANTED ALDERAAN, BECAUSE WITH ALDERAAN, WE COULD HAVE GAIN A LOT OF THE REPUBLIC SUPPORT FOR OUR CAUSE AND WITH THE WEAPON WE WERE BUILDING WE COULD HAVE WON THE WAR!" shout Darth Sidious. Darth Asteria screams in pain as she feels pain bubbling inside of her. She drops her mask and falls down to her side.

"I'm sorry Master, I promise you that I will kill my daughter and not foil your plans next time." say Darth Asteria. "You better, as long as my plans get done, I do not give a damn who you kill to achieve it! Keep your training up, or I will personally kill you myself. You can always be replaced!" snaps Darth Sidious as he ends the transmission. Yes, she is in a foul mood not only she was not able to kill her traitorous daughter but also their plan failed. It was her idea for the weapon they were making on Alderaan. A weapon that has the ability to destroy any planets within the galaxy sounds like a very good weapon in her book. She knows it was destroyed because she had a vision of it when she was on the shuttle ride back to the Imperial-class Star Destroyer.

She wants to see the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic fall. Being a part of the Hunter family she shares a hatred of the Jedi Order. Her hatred for them grows even more when they took her daughter Rachelle from her and trained her. Then her hatred for them grows even more when her daughter betrays her once more by helping Jedi Master Zane destroy Darth Sidious in 19 BBY.

She knows one thing she will not fail her Master a second time like that. Yes, she has failed him before a few times, but nothing to this extent. She will train and she will become better and the likes of her pathetic daughter and her lover will not be able to stand a chance against her.


Back on Alderaan, Mark and Captain Kia climb out of a ditch and sees the ground in front of the palace was black as if an intense fire went on. The palace wall was damage from the explosion a bit. "I think I am becoming quite a ditch lover." say Mark as he sits on the edge of a ditch. "Yeah how many times did a ditch saves you from explosion?" ask Captain Kia. Mark sense Captain Kia was joking with him. Mark cracks with a smile as he pat him on the shoulder.

"Yes, you should always try to make friends, you never know when they can help you." say Mark. "I agree, but I prefer my friends to be able to think for themselves and not be a piece of land." say Captain Kia as he takes off his helmet off. Mark looks down in the ditch and sees Rachelle's Lightsaber in there. Then his eyes widen. He has forgotten that Rachelle was injured. That just does not feel right to the Jedi Master. How could he forgotten all about the person he loves. He uses the Force to summon the Lightsaber.

"Pardon me, Captain. I got to check on Rachelle, I will be near her room if any problem arises." say Mark. Captain Kia nods to this. "I do not think there will be any problem, I heard that the True Imperial fleet have left the planet." say Captain Kia. "Wouldn't be the first time a fleet leaves without all it units. Remember that one time on Bespin, with the Empire. Darth Solaris left a 10 groups of 100 men in Cloud City and surrounding cities and there were fighting still going on?" ask Mark. "Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about that." say Captain Kia.

"I haven't, I saved you like 8 times." say Mark with a slight smile as he walks away from the Clone Captain. "That time in that bar does not count it was your girlfriend's fault and it was 4 times." say Captain Kia. "Whatever, not important." say Mark waving as he walks away.

Walking into the palace he was tackled by Leia Skywalker. "Uncle Mark, is Master okay?" ask Leia as she holds Mark in a tight hug. Mara was standing nearby. While this was happen he also took notice of the dead Stormtrooper bodies that lays on the hall. Mark senses that Leia is very concern about Rachelle and to the same extent that he is.

"Is the Viceroy and Queen alright." ask Mark hoping Bail Organa and Breha Organ is alright. "Yes, even through Senator Organa wanted to help us with the trouble that is going on, but Queen Organa manage to talk him staying with her and Winter." say Mara.

"Well look like that is a successful mission. We mange to destroy there weapon they were building, protect the planet and protect the Organa family." say Mark as he did not even bother try to pry of Leia. He knows she is extremely worry for her mentor and needs comfort.

"What about Master?" ask Leia. "Yes, let go see her." say Mark as he walks down to a lift. He punches the number for the floor in. Leia and Mara standing next to him as he leans on the railing. Mara keeps looking at Mark, just like her friends Luke Skywalker, Leia Skywalker and Galen Marek, she looks up to her mentor. Though she feels like she is the honored one because she is personally getting trained by Jedi Master Mark Alan Zane. She has heard Yoda praise Mark quite often as being a teacher and a Jedi. Yoda praises on that level are hard to come by.

She also has heard stories when Mark was a Padawan, he could have dueled some of the best Jedi within the Jedi Order. She have heard stories how before Mark became a Padawan, he was able to dueled Dooku in a full fledge duel that only have Lightsaber. When he did became a Padawan and has some years of training he could have duel Dooku to a standstill.

Another thing she has heard is that her mentor has been Knight after only 7 years of training underneath Jedi Master Rahm Kota. Even through Mark have trained under him during his time as a Padawan, he took time to study how the other Jedi Master works. There have been times when he sits at the Jedi Temple and Rahm Kota will train him and then another Jedi would.

Due to all this hard training during his time as a Padawan and a Knight made the Jedi Master who he is today. He knows all the forms of Lightsaber combat. He knows a lot about the Force, more than most his age and even some older than him. Even when she was learning in classes, through the Force she knows that he was a powerful person through the Force and she thinks a lot of people respect him because of what he does and what he can do.

The lift stop and the group steps out of the lift and went to the room where Rachelle is at. There were two Clones station at the door for protection. Just in case if there are still trouble. The 3rd Legion have been train to think in the ways of protections what might happen.

"General." say a Clone. "Thank you for guarding General Rachelle Hunter. I figure it will be safe now. The True Imperial fleet have move away from the planet. Through I want guards position around the palace and surrounding areas just in case if they left some members around. If there any True Imperials, I wanted to arrest them, but if it comes to you have to be killed or do the killing, fight fire with fire. We need to find out more information about the True Empire." say Mark. Personally, Mark wants to find out who exactly is the so called Emperor of the True Empire. He wants to make sure who it really is. He thinks it is Darth Sidious, but he does not know for a fact. As of right now all he heard of was rumors.

"Captain Kia has already directed us on that sir." say the Clone. The Clones left and Mark walks into the room and sees a 2-1B Surgical Droid. Despite it name, it not only use for surgery.

It is one of the best and most common medical droid out there. "Good evening, sir. I have introduce a remedy to the General Hunter on the account to loosen the pain of the electrical shock she have receive." say 2-1B as it looks at Mark. "How her heart rate?" ask Mark. "According to my scans, her heart rate went back to normal. Through I highly advise for the next 48 to 96 hours she should try to not overwork herself. Due to the electric shock might have done some minor damages to her heart and if she overworks herself, than it might have some serious effects on her health. Also it is advised that she also take it easy so her muscles, which got tight during the electrical shock she have receive could relax." say 2-1B.

Mark walks over to Rachelle who was sleeping in the middle of the bed. Through the Force he have notice that Rachelle is feeling less pain and by looking at her, he have notice that her body have stop trembling as bad as it had before hand.

Leia look relieve to sense that her mentor was not in as much pain as she was earlier and hoping that she will have a speedy recovery. Mark have notice this as he was standing there. Leia and Rachelle have grown close to each other since Leia became a Padawan of Rachelle Hunter. It looks like Rachelle have become a bigger sister that Leia have never had.

Mara was standing by the doorway. She could sense that her mentor is concern for Rachelle. Usually it is hard for her to get what he is feeling let alone why he is feeling that way. She has learned over the few years that she has been a Padawan to Mark, that he has some great mental shields. If he wants to keep something personal only to himself, good luck on trying to pry it from him through the Force.

Then Bail came into the room. "There you are Mark; one of the Clones told me you were here. I have just gotten a message from the High Council they are requesting a meeting with you via Hologram." say Bail. "How did they know that the battle was over?" ask Mara looking between her mentor and Bail.

"Either someone told them or they sensed it through the Force. You got a lot to learn." say Mark as he looks at his Padawan. "You do have to admit, I have already learned a lot." say Mara pointing at him. That statement is very true, since he have taken Mara Jade under his wing, she have improved a lot. Like Rachelle, Janna and Kento before her, their minds seems to be sponge soaking up water, but in this case water is knowledge.

"Okay, Bail lead the way." say Mark looking at Bail. Mara and Leia decide to stay in the room with the fallen Jedi Knight. Leia went straight to meditating after telling Mara ways to do it. Like Leia could guess her 1 of two female best friends have a hard time doing it.

In another room of the palace Mark was sitting down in a chair looking at the other 11 members of the Jedi High Council. He was staring at the Hologram as he listen to them talk. Now Mace looks over to him. "Let me guess you want to know the mission. The mission was a success. We have managed to drive the True Imperials from the planet. Apparently they have built a weapon that could launch missiles into Hyperspace and target planets. I glad to say that I have given orders to destroy it. Sadly I could not gather anymore information about the True Empire. Through if there are any True Imperials still on the planet, they will be arrested and question." say Mark as he looks over at the Hologram of Obi-wan Kenobi. It has been awhile since he has been face to face with him since 10 BBY. The only time he sees Obi-wan is during meetings with the High Council and that is either Mark is there via Hologram or Obi-wan is there via hologram.

"We really ought to find out if Darth Sidious is truly back. If he is back then that can be consider very bad. He is more of a threat then Darth Vader. He likes to do things in the background a lot and obviously this mission of yours proves it. We had no word that he was building a weapon of that power on the planet. Through that would explain all those strange shipments you have told us during the last meeting." say Plo.

Mark looks over the Jedi Master Plo Koon. "True, that was the reason why I was inspecting any transport ships coming. Here I thought they were transporting Walkers and tanks on the planet. I was surprise when we discover the reason for all the supplies. Through we could have had more help by having more Jedi here." say Mark.

"Sending some there, we were, but much quicker than we thought the battle happen." say Yoda as he looks at Mark. True the battle did happen much quicker than expected. Now thinking about it, he is for sure when he and Mara got attack by Dark Jedi on that transport that was the start of the battle. It seems like Darth Asteria had planned that perfectly.

"True it did seem to happen fast. I haven't had time to speak with the Admirals of the fleet, but from what I could gather in the short time, the attack was upon them quickly. So on the naval side of the conflict; I do not have much intelligence. I could tell on the ground forces, we have not lost a lot of people, through Rachelle got hurt greatly from some Force Lightning that Darth Asteria inflicted on her." say Mark.

The members of the High Council eyes widen when they heard this. Everyone knows how ruthless Darth Asteria could be. It is hard to compare who is more ruthless, Darth Vader or Darth Asteria. Personally, Mark watch as she killed 3 Jedi Knights easily. He has sensed her hatred for the Jedi Order greatly. He also knows from the Force she have great amount of hatred for Rachelle. So much that it somehow seems to be personal. Through Rachelle is a very nice person, who, that is Force Sensitive, could she upset so much to encourage so much hatred.

Mark sits back in his chair thinking of this. He tries to remember everyone that Rachelle ever had contact with that could pose such hatred. The only one that could stand out to him is A'Sharad Hett and he is not a female and he is in another galaxy. Yet, even A'Sharad Hett loved Rachelle, through that type of personality he had for it is, if he cannot have her, than no one can.

"High Council to Mark." say Obi-wan. Mark shakes his head as he looks up at Obi-wan. "Yes?" ask Mark trying not to show his confusion. "We were just saying, after capturing any True Imperials and questioning them. The council wants you and Rachelle back on Coruscant. This should give Rachelle enough time to recover. If needed more take some time." say Obi-wan who looks over to Mace.

"I agree. Recovery and finding out information is a good thing. You got until then Mark, before you have to come back. Oh by the way, I really appreciate if you talk to your mother. She has been driving me insane with her questioning if you are okay." say Mace. "Well, I will see what I can do when I arrive there. Give me about two to three weeks here." say Mark.

"See you then. May the Force be with you." say Mace before the Hologram faded away. Mark looks down to the ground a bit. It has been a while since he has seen his mother, so there is no surprise she is worry about her. Then again, she always worries about him when he goes out on missions. Mark tries to remember the last time he saw his mother, it has been awhile. Most likely a year, because he has been so busy with missions. At times he only was able to be on Coruscant for a few days, not enough to go visit his mother, because he had things to do at the Jedi Temple. That is so unlike him, he always tries to take time out to visit his mother if she is on Coruscant.

He stands up from the seat and walks out of the door. He sighs he needs to go to talk to with Admirals. Really the only one he needs to talk to is Mara Jade since she will have all the information. He did to her to take the lead of the fleet during this conflict.

He figures she will be busy gathering information about the fight on the naval side, so he decided it will be good to await till tomorrow. He will take Mara along, because after this conflict, he thinks she more than deserves to have some time with her mother.

Thinking about Maria Jade and her daughter, Mara Jade, Mark went back thinking about his mother and how jealous she might be because Maria get to see her daughter everyday almost, while his mother only get to see him either when he is on Bakura or on Coruscant. If his mother was in Maria's position, he thinks she will die of all the stress knowing that he will be battling. Through his mother might be good with a Blaster, she is not a solider, she will not be able to stand up to the stress that Maria have to deal with. Her battlefield is the Senate Rotunda and not space such it is with Maria.

Mark walks back to the room that Rachelle is in. He sits on the bed next to her and just looks at her. Even through he knows she is safe because of his connection with the Force, he cannot help himself for being worry about her. It has been a long time since he has seen Rachelle hurt. She has grown to become a very great Jedi Knight. With some of the battles they have been through, she has not gotten as injured as she usually does.

Mark bends down and places a kiss on her forehead. He got up and walks out of the room. "Please do not leave." whispers Rachelle. Mark stops and places his hand on the doorway frame. He was not aware she was awake. "Are you sure?" ask Mark lightly as he looks over his shoulder. "Yes, just because I am injured, does not mean I do not want the person I love more than life itself not be with me." say Rachelle lightly as she struggle to sit up.

Mark rushes over to her so he can help her sit up on the bed. "Your muscles seem to refuse to work a bit." say Mark. "Asteria's Force Lightning could be very shocking." say Rachelle try to be funny. The lack of a smile on Mark's face stops her from thinking that was funny. "I sensed the pain you were in. That Force Lightning is stronger than you ever had to deal with." say Mark. Rachelle nods a bit. This has not been the first time she was shocked with Force Lightning and at the rate the wars and conflict with Dark Jedi and Sith is going it will most likely would not be her last.

Mark pulls up a chair that a doctor who must have came in after he left earlier forgot. Oh well, Mark is claiming the chair as his for the moment. "Silly, I want you lay next to me." say Rachelle as she looks at Mark. "Are you sure about that, you have told me that sometimes sleeping with me could be a pain." say Mark. "Well you do tend to steal the covers sometimes and even rarer you something hog up most of the bed space. Only once you punch or kick me in your sleep." say Rachelle.

"Hey I have you know, I cannot control what my body does when I am asleep. I just do not want to cause you anymore pain or it might hurt the healing process." say Mark. "Even through you can be a pain with sharing a bed, I sleep better with you." say Rachelle with a soft smile on her face as she watches as Mark took off his battle worn robe and throw it on the back of the chair. He got in bed and notice how hard it felt on his back. He felt Rachelle's side and it was extremely soft. Mark finds the controls for his side of the bed and adjusted to what he likes it to.

When he lay down Rachelle kisses him on the lips. Something she had wanted to do for a long time now. It has been awhile since she last saw her lover and it seem like everyday that he is not around the days just keep on going slower.

Rachelle then put her head on his chest. Words cannot begin to explain how much she really wanted to be with him. Even through it has just been a few months since she have seen her lover. "I love you." say Rachelle as she snuggles up to Mark. There was a slight pain in her voice. Her muscles are still tight from the amount of electricity that went through her. "Love you too." say Mark realizing through the Force even a simple movement like rolling her body around have caused Rachelle discomfort. He uses the Force to relieve the pain from her.


Okay here we go, really could not come up with a good name for this chapter, so the name is nothing fancy. Basically this chapter is just an aftermath chapter of the last chapter.

Well I got nothing else to say here besides the usual:

Until next time, Enjoy!