Enough is never enough chapter 21
Barriss was drug to a doom by the blue twi'lek and rather roughly tossed onto the bed. "Rest and gather your strength, Master will call you when you are needed" the twi'lek said. Barriss sat up and rubbed her neck where Wraeththu had 'marked' her before turning her head toward the twi'lek "Wait what's your name?" she asked. The female twi'lek turned just as she made it to the door "I am Fallen just like all my brothers and sisters" she explained simply. Barriss looked at her confused "You don't have a name?" she asked. The twi'lek rolled her eyes in annoyance "My name is Fallen it has been since I pledged myself to Master" she replied then noticed Barriss rubbing her neck and smirked.
"Normally it doesn't hurt as bad, mine didn't anyway I wonder why yours was worse" the twi'lek said thoughtfully. "Wraeththu said-.." Barriss started but was abruptly cut off by the twi'lek "She is your master now and you will address her as such less you wish to discover the true meaning of pain" the Fallen warned. "Master said you all have these" Barriss corrected herself before pointing at the markings on her neck. The twi'lek nodded and lifted up her sleeve turning her wrist over showing the same marking that Barriss had on her neck.
She pulled her sleeve down and looked up at Barriss giving her one final piece of advise "Just do as Master ask and you will be rewarded for your loyalty but disobey her and suffer the consequences, she is not a very forgiving person" the twi'lek said opening the door and walked out leaving Barriss alone with her thoughts.
Once she was alone Barriss let out a long breath and looked around the room. It's simplicity and lack of anything other than the basics such as a bed and refresher reminded her of her old room in the Jedi temple. Oh how the years have flown by, she went from a respected Jedi Knight to traitor then a prisoner and now even though she was no longer behind bars in a Republic prison she was still a prisoner, a servant and a slave to her new Sith master. If it hadn't been for her new master she would have been executed by clones by now so she guessed she owed her new master her loyalty at least. She was free from the republic yes but she had paid a price for that freedom but was getting a chance to change the republic and perhaps even the entire galaxy.
She reached up once more touching the mark on her neck before lying back on the bed and letting out a sigh "Everything comes at a price" she said before closing her eyes and soon after falling asleep. Force knows she would need it for whatever Wraeththu had in store for her.
Wraeththu sat back in her command chair tapping her mechanical fingers on the arm rest of her chair pondering the next faze of her plan. Biting her lower lip slightly she reached forward pressing a button on her chair and a few moments later the blue twi'lek that had escorted Barriss from the bridge entered the bridge. "Master?" the Fallen said kneeling down and bowing her head. Wraeththu stood up and walked toward the twi'lek "How long have you been at my service?" she asked.
The twi'lek tensed up suddenly confused and a little frightened by her master question. Never before has her master asked her such a question and non of the other Fallen had ever mentioned this happening to them before. "I was brought to Korriban one standard week before you came to us…or back to us" the twi'lek replied. "And are you grateful for what I have given you?" Wraeththu asked as she began to slowly circle her. "Of course Master I would be nothing but a weak pathetic excuse of flesh and blood without you" the Fallen replied. Wraeththu nodded as she continued to circle around the twi'lek "Is this what you truly believe?" Wraeththu questioned in a voice that betrayed no emotion nor her intention.
"Yes Master" the Fallen replied immediately then dared to look up at her master "Have I done something to displease you Master?" she asked. Wraeththu paused from behind her and smiled as fear began to roll off of her servant. She stepped in front of her "Tell me Fallen have you done something that would displease me?" she asked. "If I have I accept whatever punish I deserve Master" the Fallen replied lowering her head further toward the ground. "You have served me faithfully Fallen and I am pleased with you" Wraeththu praised taking a step back and looking down at her. "Thank you Master, I live to serve you" the Fallen replied allowing her body to relax some.
"Rise my servant I have a important task for you" Wraeththu said turning her attention back toward the view port of her bridge. The blue twi'lek stood after a moment and walked up standing next to Wraeththu "Anything my master" she said. Wraeththu didn't speak for a few moments "When the war starts I want you too acquire two Jedi masters, Jedi master Plo Koon and Jedi master Obi-wan Kenobi both are master's in their saber forms so I warn you now do not underestimate them. I want them both alive. Alive am I clear on that?" Wraeththu instructed.
"Yes of course my master" the Fallen replied and followed her master off of the bridge. "How will I know which planet the Jedi are on?" the Fallen asked. "Obi-wan will be no problem his new padawan is one of us as for Plo Koon I will have to find out exactly where he will be sent to" Wraeththu replied. "Master if I may, I thought you wanted to destroy the Jedi why capture two of them?" the Fallen asked. "Their death is my goal in the end yes but one Jedi in particular will suffer far worse than the rest" she answered. "But Master I don't understand" the Fallen said shaking her head slightly, Wraeththu stopped and turned toward her servant. She reached forward and placed a hand on the twi'lek's shoulder "You do not need to understand why I am doing this, all I need from you is your obedience" Wraeththu replied. The Fallen lowered her eyes "Yes Master forgive me please, I am at your service with whatever you need" she said. Wraeththu smiled and took her hand off of her "Good but for you aquire the Jedi your will accompany me to Naboo for the first battle of the new Clone Wars. Now go until you are summoned" she said. The twi'lek bowed her head deeply before departing from her master heading back to her quarters.
Making her way to her own quarters Wraeththu's body and mind was still exhausted from creating the tendrils of darkside energy and she needed to rest before she checked on the progress of her army. 'Soon Skywalker soon your torment will begin' she thought as she walking into her room closing the door behind her. No doubt that the Republic has begun its production of another clone army and she wanted to be ready before them.
One month later…
Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and Ventress stood aboard the Resolute as the destroyer traveled through hyperspace along with four other cruisers that were making there way to Naboo. Anakin was pacing in impatiens "How much longer admiral?" he asked. "Another thirty minutes before we drop from hyperspace" Admiral Yularen said turning to the general to address him. Ventress crossed her arms "We'll reach Naboo soon enough now instead of pacing why don't we go over a battle strategy" she said. "She's right master we don't know what to expect from the Separatists" Ahsoka added.
"Well we cant exactly have a plan if we don't know what the enemy has" Anakin retorted as he continued to pace. He was to worried about his wife and his children that were on the planet to think about any sort of plan. Padme was smart and good in a gun fight but with the babies down there he knew she would be less apt to attack and more apt defend her children "Naboo of all places why Naboo" Anakin muttered to himself.
Ventress shook her head and turned her attention back to the view port. Her master had not contacted her and told her what to do so she would have to play the part of a Jedi fighting off the Separatists army. "Wither we know or don't know what to expect Skywalker we still need a plan, our transports need to be ready to deploy troops to the surface the moment we drop from hyperspace" she said. Anakin continued to pace the bridge and not answer her so she turned to the admiral "Make sure our fighters and transports are ready to deploy when we arrive" she said. The admiral nodded and relayed the message to the hangers before turning his attention back toward the view port.
Aboard the Ravager Luke Skywalker stood awaiting the enemy forces to arrival along with four dreadnoughts that flanked each side of his own cruiser. The ground forces had already been deployed and made quick work of capturing the capital Theed. Barriss as well a one of the Fallen had already been sent planet side to over see the ground forces. "Spread the fleet out a further I don't want our ships to close to one another. Bring weapon systems online, raise shields and have the fighters brought online" Luke ordered the droids that manned the controls of his cruiser.
The bridge door opened and Wraeththu walked on board "Are we ready?" she asked. Luke bowed his head as she approached "Yes master the ground forces have captured the capital and ready for the republic forces. Our weapon systems are online and our fighters are ready to deploy" he said. Wraeththu nodded and closed her eyes for a moment reaching out with the force and touching the bond with Skywalker "Your father is coming" she said opening her eyes. "Make sure you do not underestimate him Luke he is cunning and powerful. I needn't say this but I will, do not kill him or his apprentice. Leave their cruiser intact but obliterate the rest" Wraeththu continued. "You're going to let them escape?" Luke asked turning to look her in the eyes.
"Yes I am, I don't want them dead yet Luke. Skywalker will suffer thoroughly before I end his life. Have a transport ready when I reach the hanger I'm going down to the planet I trust you can oversee the battle here" she said turning and walking off of the bridge. Luke bowed his head once more "Yes master" he replied before facing the view port again.