Good evening, all of you Star Wars Expanded Universe fans! How are you doing on this warm day of February 1, 2017? I am doing all right, as I got the latest Injustice: Ground Zero comic book that came out today, and I volunteered at one of my local libraries for two hours which helped the people who work there out a bit. Anyway, can you guys believe that, as of now, I have written over one hundred and two thousand words for this story alone, and I'm nowhere near done with this story yet? So, in other news, I found out that ArchReaperN7 updated his story IV: Holocaust with another chapter, and what I have read of it is very impressive. If any of you are big Mass Effect fans, as well as Tali/Shepard fans, then you have got to check out his stories, but, here's a heads-up, they're really long. Anyway, let me tell you guys a little about this chapter, because, as of now, I have no idea how it's going to play out. What I can tell you guys about is that it will lead up to a major plot twist in my story that I have planned for Edaan (and I'm sure that a certain someone, who's name I will not mention for safety reasons, can figure out what said plot twist is), as well as my newfound plans with Vestara since I've placed her on the path to redemption sooner than I expected. Well, I guess that I should get started on this chapter, but, before I do, let me just thank each and every one of you who have taken the time to read, followed, favorited, and/or review my stories, as it means a lot to me that some people, even if it's only a handful, have enjoyed my works, and may even sympathize with me on how I feel about the Expanded Universe. Well, with all of my ranting out of the way, let's get on with the story.
(February 4, 2017 Addendum) Good morning, Star Wars lovers. Sorry to add an addendum to my latest chapter, but I have some news that I can't wait to share with all of you. Today is my mother's 54th birthday, and we are going to celebrate by going to a fancy Italian restaurant tonight for dinner. I hope that you all wish her a happy birthday, as I consider her to be perhaps the most important people in my life. By the way, I recently discovered a great song by the late legend, Johnny Cash. It's called "Hurt", and it is featured in the first Logan trailer, which is how I discovered the song to begin with. The song is amazing, and I hope that Johnny Cash is at peace in Heaven beside his wife. Anyway, let's get back to the action-packed chapter.
(February 5, 2017 Addendum.) Hello, everyone. I wish that I didn't have to add another addendum to this chapter, but I've stumbled upon some news that must be shared at once. According to a report from "The Star Wars Underworld" website, The Clone Wars will be leaving Netflix on March 7th, which is a darn shame, as I loved the show immensely. If you plan to watch the show on Netflix, now's the perfect time, otherwise, you'll have to buy up all of the seasons individually by Blu-Ray or DVD. So, how are you doing on this fine Sunday, what, with the Super Bowl coming in a handful of hours? I am not going to watch it, unfortunately, as I am not a fan of sports in the slightest. One more thing. You have got to check out YouTube right now, as someone posted all of the deleted scenes from Seasons Two through Five of The Clone Wars, and they are amazing! I fully recommend them to anyone who is a fan of the show. Well, that's that. Let's hope that I can finish this chapter soon, as I have a test and a quiz that I need to study for.
Deeper Within the Catacombs of Korriban's Tombs
1235 Hours
Vestara Khai was wary, which was expected from a redeemed Sith Lady of the One Sith, as well as the final Grand Lady of the Lost Tribe of the Sith before the latter's collapse, as she, along with the tuk'ata Sith hound that Edaan Palpatine had named Butch, had managed to save several members of the Shadow Alliance's unauthorized strike force from the many traps that guarded the various levels of the catacombs of the Sith mausoleum world.
Knowing that they would be nearing their destination within the next two hours, she began to converse with Sabine Wren, who she only knew by reputation as leader of the famed and renowned Vindicator Brigade, a six-thousand strong army that was one of the most powerful and esteemed Mandalorian mercenary brigades in the galaxy, and as a former comrade of Darth Snoke before he became a Sith Lord.
"So, Sabine, what made you join Edaan in his quest to find me and the One Sith? I mean, I can understand allying with him to stop Admiral Daala from taking over your people, but why would you ally with a descendent of the man who enslaved so many of the Mandalorians?" Vestara curiously asked as she slowed down to accommodate the aging Mandalorian.
"Because Edaan is crucial to leading the Shadow Alliance to victory against the One Sith, and his odds of survival are higher with a group of elite Mandalorians by his side, as I know from personal experience. Why do you ask?" Sabine stoically asked, curious as to where Vestara was going with this line of questioning.
"I'm just wondering as to why you would risk it all for a suicidal mission, even if you are a veteran of the First Galactic Civil War, so you must know a thing or two about impossible odds." Vestara politely replied.
Right after Vestara had uttered those words, the leader of the Lasat strike force, Garazeb Orrelios, better known as "Zeb", began to chuckle behind her, and he said, "Lady, back when the Rebellion didn't officially exist, it was just me, Sabine, Chopper, Ezra, Hera, and Kanan against the Imperial forces on Lothal, and we managed to outmaneuver them time and time again. We even managed to take down the current Grand Inquisitor and Grand Moff Tarkin's former flagship, the Star Destroyer that was known as the Sovereign, before we were recruited into Phoenix Squadron, and eventually, the Alliance to Restore the Republic."
"Sounds like there are a lot of stories to be told. Maybe you could tell them sometime, so that they're never forgotten by future generations, Zeb." Vestara suggested.
"Don't worry, Vestara, those stories aren't going to be forgotten by my people for centuries, as they're the reason that they're even aware of recent events." Zeb confidently said as he resumed walking in stride in order to catch up with Edaan and Butch, who were scouting the nearby area for any traps or Sith forces that could be lying in wait.
After Zeb left the vicinity of the two women, Sabine asked the reformed Sith Lady, "So, why the sudden interest in me and my current allegiance?"
"Because I'm trying to understand why you, as well as so many other people, would be willing to follow Edaan into the abyss in order to try and save me. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that he came for me, but it's still so hard for me to wrap my head around." Vestara explained.
"Fair enough, Vestara. Well, Edaan reminded me a lot of Kanan Jarrus, who, before his death at Ezra's hands, was my former lightsaber mentor, a Jedi Knight, and a fellow member of the Rebellion, But the main reason was due to the fact that I wanted to avenge the murders of Kanan, Hera Syndulla, and Rex that Ezra committed."
"So you wanted revenge, then." Vestara sympathetically said, as she understood that the desire for revenge was strong in both the cultures of both the Sith and Mandalorians.
"I would have, a long time ago, back when I was seventeen years old, but thanks to Hera and Kanan, I was able to overcome my desires for revenge, and now I just want justice for all of the deaths that Ezra committed." Sabine countered, not at all surprised by Vestara's response, as she still had a long way to go before she fully escaped the Dark Side's grip.
"Strange, you sound less like a Mandalorian, and more like a Jedi." Vestara half-jokingly said, earning a few chuckles from the veteran Mandalorian commander.
"Funny, that's exactly what Hera said after Kanan, Chopper, and I captured Journeyman Protector Fenn Rau above Concord Dawn's third moon." Sabine said as she reminisced about the days of her youth and how she was a member of the Spectres of Phoenix Squadron, before she snapped out of her reverie and said, "Hey, weren't you friends with Mirta Gev before you became the leader of the Lost Tribe of the Sith almost five years ago?"
"Yes? What does that have to do with anything?" Vestara said, wondering where Sabine was going with this line of questioning.
"She should have answers to all of these questions, so why don't you ask her all of these things, as I'm sure that the two of you have a lot in common, what with having to atone for the damage that you two ladies have caused?" Sabine said with a hint of anger in her voice as she spoke.
Sabine's disgust that was directed at Vestara did not surprise her, as she knew that as she had a great deal to atone for during her time as a Jedi deserter, Sith Lady, and Grand Lady of the Sith. Knowing when to take a hint, she changed the subject, and asked, "So… I'm a little curious. Just how much do you know about Ship?"
"What, you mean your sentient Sith meditation sphere that Ben Skywalker discovered during the Second Galactic Civil War? Not too much, but I do know that it's at least five thousand years old, and can construct any weapon on its exterior that its commander can think of." Sabine said as she recalled all the research that Admiral and Neo Death Watch leader Natasi Daala had compiled on the many Force-based organizations that existed across the galaxy in her demented efforts to eradicate the Force from existence.
"Well, that's a lot more than most people know about them." Vestara replied, more than a little impressed with Sabine's well-versed knowledge of Sith history and secret weapons, before she continued, saying, "Ship is also a Sith training vessel, which means that he was created by the Sith Empire in order to train young initiates in the ways of the Dark Side. He can be commanded by any Force-sensitive individual with a strong enough will, but he especially responds well to people who follow the Dark Side. I remember how Abeloth was able to control Ship for over a year through her immeasurable power, and how Ben and I…" Vestara stopped herself as she ruminated on how she then abandoned Ben after the two of them killed one of the last of Abeloth's avatars, and Sabine put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder as she trembled ever so slightly. "Thank you, Sabine." Vestara gratefully said as she calmed down.
Hoping to take Vestara's mind off of the depressing topic of being away from your one true love, Sabine then asked, "So, why do you talk of Ship as if he's a person, as I noticed that you call Ship a 'him'?"
"Because he was programmed with a masculine personality, and... I'm very fond of him, as one might expect due to me spending so much time fighting alongside him over the years." Vestara honestly said, knowing that a certain Jedi Knight and former Sith Saber were keeping a close and watchful eye over her.
"But do you think that you could kill him, if it came down to it, as I'm sure by now that he knows that you've left the One Sith behind?" Sabine hesitatingly as Jaden and Seelah came up from behind her, as they were also interested in hearing what Vestara had to say about the matter.
"I…" Vestara cautiously said before she hesitated, not wanting to promise anything she might not be able to fufill, before she gathered her courage, saying, "Look. Ship was, besides Mirta, my only friend for so many years, and I'm not sure that, if it came down to it, I could kill him, not only because he's very powerful with the Dark Side, but because I have an attachment to him. I know that it's wrong, but I can't help it."
"Don't worry about it, Vestara." Jaden said, surprising her, as she expected him to say something patronizing about her selfish desires before what she heard next shocked her even more, "Actually, I would have imprisoned you if you said that you could have killed him, as I would have known that you were a Sith spy, so your honesty is greatly appreciated."
Not knowing what to say in light of such a remark, Vestara simply nodded in response before she turned to Seelah and asked, "So, Seelah, what compelled you and the rest of your colony to follow Edaan into the krayt dragon's nest, where you'll probably die or worse?"
"Because, Vestara, back on Kesh, Edaan showed all of us another way to live, without the Dark Side, and we want to protect our children from the One Sith and the Dark Side, and the Jedi and their allies are the best defense against them." Seelah passionately said, surprising Vestara.
"Children? How many children are within your little tribe?" Vestara disbelievingly asked.
"Eight, Vestara. Their names are Spinner, Dallis, Yaru, Candra, Jorel, Deama, Takara, and Amara. We named four of them after the historical figures of the Lost Tribe of the Sith in order to remember our ancestors, as well as hope that something good will come out of our ancestors' vile legacy." Seelah fervently said, which did not shock Vestara, as she knew that Seelah always disagreed with the path that the Lost Tribe had taken over the five millennia that it existed for.
"I see. So, I assume that you took them to Shedu Maad's Jedi academy for safekeeping?" Vestara asked, wondering if Seelah would trust the entire Jedi Order after how they invaded their home world.
"No, Edaan convinced them to send their children to Mandalore, where they can be protected by the Shadow Alliance until they invade Korriban. Then they'll go to Shedu Maad for training in the ways of the Light Side of the Force. Who knows, maybe one day, they can teach the other Force-sensitive inhabitants of your home world to use the Force for the betterment of others instead of their own personal advancement." Jaden said, putting himself back into the conversation.
After Vestara warmly chuckled at Jaden's reply, she wistfully said, "You know, before the Jedi recaptured Coruscant during the Lost Tribe's emergence, I told Ben that I wanted to lead a Jedi missionary force to teach the natives of Kesh to embrace the Light Side, but I didn't truly believe it at the time. But, thanks to Edaan's mercy and compassion, my false dream might actually come true."
"Well, Kanan used to say that the Force always worked in mysterious ways." Sabine said as she lightly chortled, before she continued, "So… Vestara, what's wrong?" she quickly picked up on Vestara's sudden anxiety that took over her face as she pulled out and activate her lightsaber, and she quickly ran ahead to where Zeb, Edaan, and Butch, who howled at an unseen enemy, could be located. Sabine then turned to see Jaden and Seelah activate their lightsabers, and, before they could head to the front, Sabine, as she pulled out and activated the Darksaber, quickly asked, "More Sith?"
"Guessed it in one, Sabine." Jaden grimly said before he continued, saying, "As far as I can tell, there's… at least forty of them, so they aren't taking any chances on capturing us. They even got Ship out to capture Vestara." Sabine's eyes shot up at the revelation before Jaden continued, saying, "They'll be here in three minutes, tops, so get the men ready for the fight of their lives."
"Understood. May the Force be with us." Sabine grimly said as Jaden and Seelah began to run in order to catch up to Vestara, and she began to type a brief message to all of her Mandalorian soldiers, alerting them of the incoming threat.
"Well, we knew that they would be coming for us sooner or later." Zeb said as he reconfigured his bo-rifle into its electrostaff mode, and began to fall back with Edaan and Butch in order to avoid being cut off by the incoming horde of Sith warriors.
"Let's just hope that we can survive this one, Zeb, as I can sense that Darth Wyyrlok, Krayt's right-hand man, is coming with the forty-nine other Sith, including Darths Sedirss, Snoke, and Mallues, to take us down." Edaan said as, due to his training in sensing Dark Siders in Dark Side nexuses with his five dead masters, he sensed that the Sith were rapidly closing in on their position, and he, Zeb, and Butch quickly moved closer to their followers in order to maintain their strength and current superiority in numbers.
"Good. Means that once we kill him, Krayt's chain of command will fracture, and help us in the long run." Zeb eagerly said, hoping to get to be the one to kill Wyyrlok, as he needed to deal with his pent-up aggression hat he had been carrying ever since he met Edaan and dealt with one insane plan after another.
"Yeah, if we can survive long enough to enjoy the benefits of the power struggle that could erupt form Wyyrlok's death, as we don't have a good enough idea of how the One Sith's power structure works." Edaan cautioned his Lasat comrade before he sensed a very dark and familiar presence that made his skin crawl from the inside out, and he growled out one word in response, "Ship."
"What?" Zeb confusingly asked, not at all aware of who Ship was. "Who's 'Ship'?"
"Long story that I have no time to explain. Let's just say that ship is a very old enemy of the Jedi, and is bent of getting Vestara back to his side." Edaan quickly said as he drew his violet lightsaber and launched a massive barrage of Force Lightning into the darkness, briefly illuminating it and revealing at least twenty tattooed Sith Lords and Ladies, one of them a middle-aged red Chagrian male that was covered in an intricate set of Sith Tattoos, and hatefully glared at the young Jedi Knight.
"Uh… am I to take it that that's Wyyrlok?" Zeb said as Butch growled in defense of his master, and Edaan returned Wyyrlok's glare with equal intensity.
"Yup." Edaan simply replied as he readied himself for what would come next, as he felt the ground shake beneath him, and a heavy laser blast blew away much of the ceiling above the three of them, revealing an orange Sith Meditation Sphere that Edaan recognized all too well, and he then angrily said, "It's been a long time, Ship.", earning an astonished look from Zeb as he realized that Ship was not a person, but an actual ship.
Too long, Edaan Palpatine. You've grown much more powerful in the Force since our last encounter, and you've become a great leader in your own right. Ship telepathically said to the young Jedi in acknowledgment of his growing power and influence, before he continued, saying, It's a shame that you took Lady Kitai away from me, as now I have to expend the time and effort in bringing her back to the Dark Side.
"Don't count on it, Ship. You'll only get Vestara back after you've pried her from my cold, dead fingers, as now that I've found her, there's no way that I'll let the Sith take her away from Ben again." Edaan fiercely said.
"Uh… Edaan? Not to interrupt your… whatever it is that you're doing with Ship, but we have about twenty Sith right in front of us, and they look very angry." Zeb hesitatingly said as he activated his electrostaff and held in in a defensive position to try and stave off the advancing Sith.
"Right. Sorry Zeb." Edaan apologetically said as he sensed the distinctly presence of three of his allies about to reinforce their position and, deciding to catch the Sith off-guard, did something monumentally reckless and stupid. He charged right at the twenty Sith that were slowly advancing on them.
The speed that which Edaan charged at them caught three Sith with their defenses down, and he quickly cut them down, enraging sixteen of the other Sith. However, before they had the chance to retaliate, Wyyrlok shouted, "STOP! The Jedi is mine!" Realizing that Wyyrlok would deal with this young upstart, the sixteen other Sith, as well as Ship, began to deal with Jaden Korr, Seelah Verge, and the traitorous Vestara Khai, who arrived to support Zeb and Butch before they were captured or killed by the survivors.
As the five fighters engaged their numerically superior enemies, the Chagrian Sith Lord faced his younger opponent, and menacingly said, "You have been a thorn in my master's side for too long, Edaan Palpatine. I will offer you one chance to come with me willingly, or I will take you and your compatriots in by force."
"Yeah… That's not going to happen, Wyyrlok. I've come too far in achieving my goals to back out now, or surrender to a lapdog of a traitor." Edaan said, praying to the Force that Qui-Gon was wrong about Darth Krayt's true identity.
Wyyrlok's eyes widened for an instant before he recomposed himself, and quietly said, "So, you know the truth then." He then raised his voice as he continued, saying, "It matters not. You will be coming with me, but now you have elected the way of pain!" As soon as Wyyrlok ceased talking, he charged at Edaan with a speed that surpassed Edaan's previous charge, and Edaan was barely able to maneuver himself out of the way of the dual lightsaber strike. He then used the Force to augment his strength, and push Wyyrlok away from him, giving him some breathing room as he tried to come up with a strategy to eliminate the Chagrian, only to come up short.
This is going to be tougher than I thought. And here I thought that this would be a walk in the park. Edaan wryly thought to himself as he unleashed a wave of Force Lightning to counter Wyyrlok's equally powerful barrage of lightning.
Five Minutes Later
Vestara Khai was in great turmoil, as, in addition to the four Sith that were attacking her, she was facing off against her oldest surviving comrade and friend, Ship. Despite her promise to help Edaan destroy the Sith, she could not give her all into fighting her former ally, as he had been there for her when no one else was, even Ben. She struggled to keep her mind in the here and now, as she was being mentally assaulted by Ship's waves of Dark Side energy in an attempt to ensnare her back to the Dark Side. However, despite her very recent reconversion to the Light Side, her spirit was being very resilient, as she knew that she had more to fight for than just Ben now. She knew that Edaan had risked life and limb to save her without expecting anything in return, and she owed it to him to give it her all in serving the Light Side of the Force, and hold on until she was reunited with her first and only true love, Ben Skywalker, and she could begin to atone in his eyes for all of the damage that she had done to the galaxy.
I'm very disappointed in you, Lady Kitai. I had thought that a child pretending to be a Jedi would not break your commitment to the Dark Side. Ship telepathically said to Vestara, whose heart ached at losing a longtime friend due to her recommitment to the Light Side.
I'm sorry, old friend, but I have to do this. Either stand aside, or we will be forced to take you down. Vestara warned her longtime friend as she cut down a Kubundi Sith Lord that had the misfortune of leaving himself open to a fatal blow, leaving only three very irate Sith Lords to renew their assault on her, while Ship increased their strength through the use of the Dark Side of the Force, forcing Vestara back onto the defensive.
Then you shall fall like the rest of the Jedi, traitor. Ship angrily said as he unleashed two proton torpedoes at Vestara's rear position, which she barely avoided by rolling on the ground away from the range of the blast, and came upon a wounded Seelah Verge, who had several lightsaber cuts on her body, and her left arm dangling loosely by her side as she faced off against the two remaining Sith that besieged her, who quickly linked up with the three Sith that targeted Vestara, and renewed their assault on the two former Sith women, who met the onslaught with as much grace and strength as they could muster, before a lightsaber came from behind and beheaded two of the five Sith Lords, revealing a bloodied but able Jaden Korr, much to the relief of two women.
Moving quickly to press the advantage, the three Force-Sensitives quickly cut down their remaining adversaries, and, with Ship suddenly outnumbered, fled the area, much to the confusion of Vestara, as she never knew Ship to flee from an opponent that was on the land. However, here contemplation was interrupted by a nearby scream, as she saw Edaan flying across the room before he narrowly avoided falling onto a broken urn, with Wyyrlok closing in on him. Acting on instinct, Vestara shot a knowing glance at Jaden and Seelah, and she then ran to support her friend while Jaden and Seelah rushed to support Zeb and Butch, who were struggling to hold off their three remaining superior opponents through superior tactics.
However, as soon as the two warriors came within attacking range, the three remaining Sith fled the area, leaving the four Shadow Alliance warriors confused, before they realized that the three Sith were heading for the rest of their allies, and they rushed to support the rest of their friends, but not before warning Edaan and Vestara via comlinks that the Sith were assaulting the rest of their forces.
And, that ends another action-packed chapter of my fifth story. So, tell me what you think of it. And, be honest, as long as your criticism is constructive, and not rude and offensive. So, how are all of you doing on this fine evening of February 5, 2017, as I am doing fine, although, I am a little tired, and it's only 5:44 PM where I am? Well, I have almost reached two hundred pages with this story, and I have no plans on stopping now, especially since I have so much time until the Shadow Alliance arrives en masse on Korriban to invade. All that I can say about my next chapter will be that it will be quite a bloodbath for both sides. May the Force be With Edaan and the rest of his compatriots, as I fear that not all of them will make it out of this battle alive. So, with that little piece of spoilers out of the way, May the Force Be With You, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!