Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek", "Star Wars" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: To "Wonderbee31", you have NO idea how right you are! Usagi/Empress Serenity IS playing a dangerous game. However, she wouldn't be a SITH LORD if she didn't anticipate treachery and intrigue in her court. However, as the story continues, there is a beating heart under that cold exterior…and it is still influencing Usagi/Empress Serenity. How that plays over the course of the "Star Wars" saga, is anybody's guess…
To "Lady-Drea", I'm glad that you like it! Let me know what you think at any time.
Part 11: "Scattered, Act 1"
Last time: With the Rebel Alliance in hiding, Empress Serenity has sent her apprentice, Darth Vader, to search them out, while she is using her once-tormentors Supreme Moff Hoshi Sato and Admiral John Archer to further her strangle-hold on the galaxy. Meanwhile, Mari ("Sailor Io") Furuhata gets injured while on patrol in the arctic wasteland by a wild beast, and is recovering from that experience. Thankfully, her best friend Luke Skywalker is there to comfort her.
Our story…continues.
Hoth.
"Han, you shouldn't go!" Mari said, as she tried to chase after the dashing freighter captain. After contemplating much thought, Han Solo felt that is was time to move on, using the excuse of trying to gain Jabba the Hutt's favor as a reason for leaving. Mari thought that Han was really leaving because of Luke, and how he and Princess Leia seemed so right together. This was all contemplated by the fact that Mari was developing feelings for Luke herself; she was far from home, and she and Luke were training together in the ways of "The Force" (thanks to a device called a "Jedi Holicron", a cube-shaped object that imparted lessons to aspiring Jedi). That is one of the reasons why Mari wanted Han to stay, since it would mean that Luke and Leia would not get together any time soon. Besides, Mari liked Han, who was the most unconventional person she has ever met.
Besides, Han and Chewie were teaching her how to perform basic space-ship repair, and Mari wanted to take advantage of the free lessons.
Han stops, and turns.
"Look, kid, I got to go," Han replied. "Neither the farm boy nor the princess needs me."
"But…I need you…"
Han smiles assuredly.
"You'll do fine. TRUST me."
And with that, Han continues on his way.
"Han…"
"Mari, there you are," Zeus says, as the Guardian German-Shepard trots over to his charge. "You shouldn't exert yourself."
"I'm fine, Zeus," Mari says with annoyance. "The medical droid said that I can resume my normal duties."
"Alright, but still-"
The proximity alarms ring out.
"I wonder what that's all about," Mari muses.
Apparently, HQ has picked up a possible probe. In his last act, Han and Chewie were sent out to investigate, and confirmed that it was indeed an Imperial probe. Unfortunately, it had confirmed itself proximity to the Rebel stronghold.
Corellia.
Admiral John Archer, dressed as a civilian trader, waited for his contact in a non-descript bar. As far as the Imperium was concerned, John was taking the scenic route to his command near the Hutt-controlled region of the Lucas Galaxy. However, with the Empress Sith Acolytes and Intelligence network around, he had to be very careful about his every move. Finally, his contact made it.
"John," said Captain Charles "Trip" Tucker, as he and Captains Malcolm Reed and Lee Merewether sat down in their respective seats. They have been meeting each other for the past year, as they discuss their "situations".
"Glad that you could make it," Archer begins. "With…Lord Vader enforcement of the will of that brat."
"Take it easy, Admiral," Reed says. "She doesn't deserve such recrimination."
Archer looks at wirily.
"You're not buying her garbage, are you?" Archer asks.
"Of course not! I may not like her, but I do respect her accomplishments. You don't become a despot by being 'nice'."
"Not to mention that if she is able to keep Vader in line, Serenity is a potent force," Merewether says.
"Well, I don't care! I will not let some girl control my life!" Archer explodes.
"Just like you controlled hers?" Tucker interjected.
"Come again?"
"Look, we have a chance of a lifetime. YOU want power? Work hard enough, and you can retire with a planet of your own! A PLANET! Now, that's a retirement package that I don't mind having."
"Then let me put it this way. I need your help, and if I don't get THAT help, then I will frame you as traitors to the Imperium."
"You wouldn't dare," Reed counters.
"I would, and I wouldn't mind taking you three down with me."
There was a moment of silence.
"Alright, we're in," Tucker says.
"What do we do first?" Merewether asks.
"Before we do anything, we have to see if Phlox, Hoshi and T'Pol are with us."
"I can contact Phlox, since I have to perform a scheduled cargo run on Camino," Reed says.
"I don't think Hoshi and T'Pol will be with us on this one," Tucker begins. "Hoshi was promised a rulership back on Earth, and T'Pol doesn't like you."
"And that is what is key. T'Pol knows that if Hoshi becomes the Queen of Earth, then it could complicate matters for her people. We might use THAT aspect to our advantage. As for Hoshi…I think I'll complicate the relationship between her and the brat."
The three others nod in agreement.
Coruscant.
"…I think I'll complicate the relationship between her and the brat."
Empress Serenity sat in her inner sanctum, observing the exchange between Admiral Archer and the three starship captains, through her "Eye of the Sith" (an artifact that extends the senses of those dark wielders of the Force). She was dressed in her black gown, and not her typical black robes and fancy black sailor fuku.
"Idiot," Serenity says to herself. She wanted Archer to redeem himself, but he has proven how arrogant he was. What Archer was not aware of, was that Serenity had an implant inserted into the base of T'Pol and Archer's skulls upon being released from carbonite. It was all part of her modus operandi in developing a comprehensive intelligence network. Now, Serenity could simply eliminate the unloyal opposition, but it was all part of her long term plans.
Serenity gets up from her seat, and waves the Sith artifact to be deactivated. She then goes over to her latest prize: Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was frozen in, you guess it, carbonite.
"Ah, old friend," Serenity began. "To think that you are in the spot that you are in. You should have taken my offer to join my cause, back on Geonosis. And now, you are nothing more than a tool…"
FLASHBACK!Hoth.
"Mari!" Commander Luke Skywalker said, as he saw the Wampa knock her friend Mari off her taun-taun. Even though the weather was getting fiercer, he had to make sure that Mari doesn't become an impromptu meal. Luke dismounted his stead, and held his lightsaber in his hand at ready.
"HEY!" Luke said, as he got the beast's attention.
The beast turns away from the unconscious Mari, and growled.
"COME ON!"
The Wampa charges forward…
SNAP! Hzzzzz-
SLICE!
As the beast fell dead, Luke deactivates his 'saber. He ran to Mari's side.
"Mari? MARI!"
She will be fine, Luke…
Luke turns around, to see the spectral form of-
"Ben?" Luke asked.
Luke, your friend will be fine. But hurry! The storm approaches…
"Okay…"
Luke picked up Mari, and places her on his taun-taun. He then loads Mari's equipment after her. Luke then returns his gaze upon his old friend.
"Ben…?"
Go to the Dagobah system, and seek the one named Yoda. He will guide you and Mari in your studies…
"Ben? BEN!"
And thus, the spectral form of Obi-Wan Kenobi disappears.
Sighing, Luke trudges back to the Rebel Alliance's HQ, with his friend and ride.
Coruscant.
Empress Serenity smiles, as she removes her left hand from the still form of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and her right hand from her temples. She used Obi-Wan to find as many Jedi Masters as possible since his capture. Some, she has turned, while others she has had Vader killed. However, she had left Master Yoda alone, since she needed him to evolve Anakin's son and daughter to the next level of their development.
After all, the best time to reap is when the fruit has been sufficiently ripened.
Mari Furuhata…Sailor Io…was a wild card in Serenity's design. Serenity knew that Sailor Pluto purposely placed Mari in HER galaxy. She will have to take a wait and see approach.
END FLASHBACK!
Coruscant.
'Ma'am?"
Serenity turns her attention to her personal attendant.
"Yes, Emma?"
"I bring word that Lord Vader has begun his assault on the Rebel stronghold on Hoth."
"Excellent."
Everything was going according to plan.
Tbc.
Next time: "Scattered, Act 2"