Chapter 26. Fall of an Empire

"If my wife agreed to surrender will the Alliance protect the Arquillion people from the Mandelorians, the Hutts, and the Chiss?" Donovan asked this to Kyp Durron who was in command of Alliance forces.

"Perhaps-if the Arquillions are willing to share their force weapons technology with us."

"What if I gave you vital information that could lead to the person responsible for the time alteration."

Donovan's image started to flicker and wave. "What's happening?" The transmission was lost, "Get him back!" Kyp demanded. The technicians worked desperately to reestablish the link, then all of a sudden Donovan's hologram reappeared. "I lost you there for minute." Kyp said.

"This conversation bores me-You haven't changed Master Durron! You still see me as your Padawan-The Arquillions are building a super force weapon. When it is complete the Galaxy will tremble!"

The transmission was cut off, "That was a complete 180." Nowen Steel said to his mentor Kyp Durron.

"I need to speak with Master Skywalker."

Sithari-Home of the Trayus Academy

The transmission between Donovan and Kyp Durron had been interrupted by Darth Traya herself. She was standing behind a technician as he used a program that resembled Kyp Durron. "I am tired of you Donovan Leers! You dragged the entire Galaxy into war with your dreams of destiny and love-You were warned and still you pursued this course of action. You wanted the galaxy-well now its coming to your doorstep! Your days are numbered-Emperor!"

"Well done!" Traya said to the technician as she patted him on the shoulder, "Now get me Lord Khaun." A few seconds later a life size image of Darth Khaun was kneeling before Traya.

"Mistress I await your commands!"

"Where are you?"

"The Arquillion home world."

"Good! The war will be over soon and I want you to bring me Caseopeia and her child the Prince."

"I will have to wait until the battle starts."

"Yes do that!" She nodded to the technician and he ended the transmission. ("Soon the galaxy will tremble before the might of Darth Reign.") She thought to herself, ("And Ben Skywalker's death will unbalance the force for all eternity and bring about the age of the true Dark Side and the Sith.")

Arquillion Home World

"I have lead us to ruin!" Donovan said to Caseopeia in private. The two of them were in the war room alone.

"No my love-I had a hand in this as well-My mother tried to warn me that my ambitions will be the ruin of the Arquillion people."

"When they come we will escape and if you must leave me behind my love then do so."

"No!" She replied grabbing his arm. "I would rather be at your side and face what is to come together."

"Your majesty!" The head of the Imperial guard said bursting in, "The people are rioting and they are storming the palace."

"Ste your weapons to stun!" Donovan said. The man looked at Caseopeia and she nodded.

Alliance Flagship-The Fist of Coruscant

Kyp spoke to Luke via holonet and told him what had transpired between him and Donovan. "I get the feeling that this mysterious sith lord is interfering again."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Be cautious-I sense a great disturbance in the force."

"Take them alive if you can." Lando said as he was in on the transmission as well.

"Excuse me Master Jedi." A man said via hologram, "We have just received word that the Mandalorians have attacked the thirteenth planet of the Arquillion system."

"It has begun!" Kyp said in a voice of doom.

It was the end of an Empire as the Hutts, the Mandalorians, the Chiss, and the Alliance converged on the Arquillion Home World. The Mandalorians had arrived first and were in a bloody battle on the world of Arquive. The planetary shields were at full power which caused the Mandos to concentrate the fire power of their warships on one area of the shield to weaken it enough for their transport ships to land planet side. The Arquillion Capital ships would ram into the Mando ships to stop them. To make matters worse a Chiss battle fleet came out of hyperspace and started shooting at the Mandalorians. The two had been in a heated contest ever since the Alien's Gate Battle.

The other half of the Chiss fleet attacked the ninth world in the Arquillion Star System. The Chiss would have taken the planet in a matter of minutes but the defenders were using force powered weapons. The energy blasts created by the force could not be defended against as the Chiss star ships were blown apart with ease. It was the Chiss Claw crafts that kept them in the fight as they were too fast for the force gunners.

The Alliance Fleet came out of hyperspace near the 7th planet in the system. Kyp placed half the fleet under Jaina's command, while he took the rest of the fleet to the Arquillion Home World, because whoever controlled the home world could dictate what happened throughout the rest of the empire. So it was a race to the finish, as the Mandalorians were attacking the fifth planet in the system. The Chiss had beaten the Mandalorians and moved on to the 8th planet. The alliance was controlling all space in between the 8th and 5th, in order to get to the Arquillion home world they would have to fly out of the system and go around and if they did that the Mandalorians would loose a chance at the other planets in the system.

After nine hours of battle the Kyp's forces finally made it to the home world and too his surprise the planetary shields were wasted no time in ordering his forces planet side. They attacked the Imperial city and palace from the air before actually landing troops on the surface. Kyp personally lead his men into the palace to capture Donovan and Caseopeia. The royal star cruiser was taking off and was stopped in the upper atmosphere by five capital class Star Destroyers.

"This is Captain Mason to Jedi Master Kyp Durron."

"Go ahead captain!"

"Sir we captured the ship-but its a decoy."

Donovan lead Caseopeia and 50 members of the royal guard to a secret hangar. When they entered the Hangar Darth Khaun's mercenaries who were disguised as Alliance Commandos were waiting and fire fight was started. One of the officers sent Kyp the location of the Emporess and her husband over the COM.

"Going somewhere?" Kyp asked standing in the middle of the foyer that lead to another hanger.

"Yes my wife and I need a place to hide until my son is of age to take his throne back for his people-I will teach him the ways of the force and he shall rule the galaxy."

"Your destiny has brought you to this end-I warned you!" Kyp ignited his lightsaber. "Surrender! You will not get a second chance."

"Captain take my wife to the ship-I will handle this." Donovan said removing his robe.

"No I am staying with you!" Caseopeia said.

"Go now!"

"Nowen go after the Emporess-Do not let her escape."Donovan tried to block his path, but Kyp charged Donovan while Nowen leapt over them both and ran after Caseopeia. Their blades met in mid air producing the infamous crackling noise as they touched. "Surrender Donovan! Let me help you!"

"I don't need your help! I am more powerful than you-I am more powerful than any Jedi!"

They broke their stand off and whirled their blades from side to side hitting them as they did. Kyp broke his defense and kicked Donovan in the chest. "Don't make me kill you Donovan."

"You underestimate me!" He threw his hands out as he lay on his back. Kyp left his feet and flew across the room, but he twisted his body in the air and hit the wall with his feet. He pushed off the wall using the force and flew back towards Donovan who unleashed force lightening at him. Kyp caught the lightening with his sword.

When Caseopia and her guard reached the second hanger they lowered the ramp and gasped, because as the ramp lowered an alien dressed in black stood on the ramp with his gloved hand in a claw. The guards grabbed their throats as they were force choked to death.

Caseopeia backed away holding her baby, "Who are you?"

He bowed, "I am Darth Khaun at your service."

"What do you want?"

"You and your child are coming with me."

She tried to run but she was held in place by Khaun. Then she breathed a sigh of relief when Nowen Steel entered the hanger. "Who are you?"

"I am Darth Khaun boy and I am way out of your league."

"Let her go! She is under the protection of the Jedi order."

Khaun drew his lightsaber and ignited it, "Last chance boy! Leave!" Nowen sized him up and started walking towards the alien sith.

Kyp was no match for Donovan when it came to the force, but he was a Jedi Master and he knew how to redirect and dispel his power. Kyp also had a lot of experience on his side. He also used Donovan's emotions against him. All these things kept Donovan from gaining the upper hand against his former master. After forty moves Kyp grabbed his lightsaber from his hand, but Donovan grabbed Kyp in the force and threw him across the room again, as Kyp flew through the air he threw Donovan's own lightsaber at him.

"DONOVAN!" Kyp used the force to distract Donovan projecting his voice to sound like CAseopeia. Donovan managed to bat the lightsaber to the side using the force, but failed to notice Kyp's lightsaber which was following close behind the first. It hit him in the chest as Kyp hit the floor. He stood up and walked over to Donovan who lay dying on the floor.

"Ple...ase...Mas...ter...wa...wa...watch! Waaatch over my son!"

"I promise!" Kyp said kneeling over Donovan. All of a sudden Kyp felt a great pain from his apprentice Nowen Steel.

Nowen was on his knees holding his wrist as his hand had been severed. Darth Khaun stood over him looking down. Nowen looked up and saw that he had no facial features. No eyes, mouth or facial hair, there was only skin. "What are you?"

"I am Darth Khaun a force adept Tosh-The last of my kind."

"So your the infamous Darth Khaun!" Kyp said.

Khaun pointed his hand at Nowen and threw him into a ship, "You will be as about as challenging as he was-Stand down and I shall leave in peace."

"You are going to leave in pieces."

He was about to attack when Kreia touched his mind, ("Lord Khaun get the woman and her child and leave now-Jacen Solo is on his way-He is not like the others-He believes what we believe about the force!")

"As much as I would like to play little Jedi I have to go!"

"You are not going anywhere!" Kyp defiantly said.

Khaun tried to drag Caseopeia across the floor, but Kyp grabbed the baby in the force and caught him out of the air with one hand. Khaun threw Caseopeia down as she screamed over her baby's safety. "The boy will be coming with me as well."

"I don't think so!"

With a simple glance Khaun gripped Kyp in the force levitated him into the air and took the baby. He gave Caseopeia her child and returned his attention to Kyp, "You fool-not even Skywalker can compare to the power I wield-Die Now!" He began crushing every bone in Kyp's body. Nowen tried to help, but he was unable to, that is when Jacen grabbed Khaun in the force and threw him across the room.

Khaun slowly stood as Jacen lowered Kyp to the floor, "You and your master misuse the true nature of the force."

"Show me boy! Show me you know the true nature of the force!" Khaun unleashed a lightening storm that Jacen blocked with his hands. He pulled the lightening into his hands and unleashed it in blasts of raw power that ripped up the hanger and destroyed ships. Khaun was forced to duck and dodge to avoid being hit. When Jacen ended his attack Khaun landed on the cockpit of a star fighter. Jacen unhooked his lightsaber and leapt towards the Khaun who blocked a sideways attack. They fought on the back of the fighter using the Vong-Shii technique, invented by Khaun's former apprentice Ruhass who died while trying to become the new Supreme Overlord. Jacen had learned the technique via his vong sense and fighting Yuuzhan Vong in battle. Jacen managed to sever the Sith Lord's hand, but Khuan grew another in its place.

"I see I will have to remove your head!"

"Good luck with that!" Before Jacen could make a move there was a bright red flash, both Khaun, Caseopeia and her baby were gone.

The Arquillions had been defeated and the war was officially over. Kyp reported to Luke and Lando on what happened with Jacen at his side. When they were done Kyp met with the military leaders of the Mandalorians. The Chiss, and the Hutts to discuss what to do about the Arquillion people. The other Aliens and governments of the Unknown Regions demanded that Arquillion nobility and military command be put on trial for crimes against humanity and alien kind.

The Reaver Darth Khaun's personal star ship.

Caseopeia sat alone in a cabin with her baby in her arms. When Kyp Durron entered the hanger she had deduced that her husband Donovan Leers was dead. She knew there was a force technique that allowed a force user to instantly travel from one place to another, but she never dreamed that anyone among the sith or the Jedi knew the technique. The young Jedi who came to Kyp Durron's aid was about to defeat the Tosh Sith when Caseopeia along with Darth Khaun were engulfed in a bright red light. When the light faded Caseopeia found herself abaord Khaun's ship.

The door swooshed opened and the assassin droid Darth HK-500 came in, "My master sent me to check on you and ask if you care to join him on the bridge?"

"No thank you!" She coldly replied, she closed her eyes ignoring the droid as it stared at her for a few seconds before leaving.

Trayus Academy

They finally reached the Trayus Academy. Khaun ordered Nom Anor to remain aboard with Greelock and HK while he took Caseopeia and her son to meet his master. Nom Anor came down the ramp an sat on the edge. He watched the droids and hanger personnel go about their business. Then he noticed a group of children of different ages and species staring at him.

"They are curious about you if you are wondering." HK said from behind Nom Anor.

"Why?"

"None of them have ever met a Vong before and they are familiar with the tale of how the force was stripped from your people."

"I never thought I would find children among the sith."

"Do not underestimate them-They are just as deadly and cunning as their parents and masters of this place."

Darth Traya's throne room

Khaun lead Caseopeia across the marble floor through a group of sith lords who stood at attention before an old woman on a throne. "Welcome home Lord!" The woman said in an elderly, but strong tone of voice. "Leave us!" She ordered to the others.

"Mistress-I bring you Caseopeia Empress of the Arquillions and her son Prince Tristan."

Traya stood up and walked down the steps with a Takata hound at her side, "I have waited a long time for this moment-Your child may I see him?" Caseopeia backed away turning to the side, but her son was ripped from her arms by the force. The baby laughed as it floated through the air into Traya's waiting arms.

"My son-Give him back!" She demanded and when she tried to retrieve him she was shoved to the floor by the force.

"You are the key to unbalancing the force forever little one-In you lies the Sith's ultimate victory and the death of Ben Skywalker!" She handed the bay to a Sith Priest who took him tohrough a secret passage.

"Give me my baby back!" Caseopeia demanded from the floor.

Traya raised her hand, levitating her off the floor, and held her right in front of her. "Your son shall be well cared for and now you shall help me get back something I lost altering time and space itself."

"It was you!"

Traya grabbded her arm and drained all the youth from her. As Caseopeia aged in matter of seconds, Traya's skin straitened, her hair filled out and became black as a raven's feather. Her breasts filled up and she stood strait and tall as young woman of 21, while Caseopeia became an old hag.

"What have done to me?" Her voice was still that of a young woman.

"Thank you! Now die!" With a flick of her hand Traya broke her neck.

"Welcome back mistress!" Khaun said dropping to one knee.

"Thank you-Arise Lord Khaun." They started walking across the floor of the throne room with the Takata following. "I suppose now you wish to go on your fool's errand?"

"You swore I would be free of you if I accomplished the tasks you set before me."

"So I did!" Traya sighed, "I...You have been with me longer than any."

Khaun smiled, "You're not getting sentimental on me are you?"

She laughed, "No-Go if you must, but Luke and Ben Skywalker are not to be harmed."

"I only want my revenge on the Mandalorians!" They stopped in front of two statues of past Sith Lords who bore the name Darth Traya. "I have one request-Nom Anor cannot follow where I go so I ask that you make him a student."

They turned and face one another, "Done! Anything else?"

"Command me in all things!"

"When Darth Reign comes to power and you are still alive pledge yourself to him!"

"I obey mistress."

Nom Anor was left at the academy to be trained as a Sith. He spoke with Traya about many things then she gave him an amulet that would lead him to his destiny or doom as Traya put it. The Unknown Regions had finally become apart of the galaxy as whole. It no longer held the mystery and awe it possessed for so many years. New hyperspace lanes were discovered and open trade with the humans and aliens that dwelt there. Archaeologists, scientists, and treasure hunters from all over the galaxy flocked to the Unknown Regions as well.