Good evening, Star Wars Expanded Universe devotees! How are you doing on this warm day of March 22, 2017? Let me tell you, I am exhausted because I worked out on an elliptical at a local gym, and mowed my parents' lawn, all in under three hours. So, how are you all enjoying your copies of the hit video game, Mass Effect: Andromeda? I am loving it, as I am about to embark on the main quest to Eos, as well as complete a bunch of side quests that will get me some much-needed experience points in order for my version of Scott Ryder to level up. Oh, and, in two days, I get the Mass Effect: Andromeda strategy guide from the mail, and then I'll imbibe all of the knowledge within it in order to get the most enjoyable experience from the game. In addition, I will get the novel Mass Effect: Andromeda: Nexus Uprising in seven days. In other news, the third season finale of Star Wars Rebels premieres in just three measly days, and I am so hyped for it, as I can't wait to see how the recently formed Rebel Alliance gets out of the noose that Grand Admiral Thrawn has placed around its neck. Oh, and, Star Wars: Thrawn is getting released in just twenty measly days, and even though I doubt that I can integrate it into my head canon, I know that I will enjoy reading about one of the greatest villains in both Star Wars canons.
Now, onto more serious news. Did you guys hear about the attack in London that occurred just outside of the British Parliament today? I swear, can't the people of this world just get along, and not resort to lethal force, or any force, for that matter, when they find that they have disagreements about… well, anything? Anyway, I am currently reading a book written by Bill O'Reilly that is titled A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, and it is a great read that helps show how old-school values are still relevant in today's… let's just say chaotic times. Anyway, let's get on with the story, as I'm sure that you all are chomping at the bit for some more gritty action. Oh, and, one more thing, I'm sorry if my next few updates are sporadic at best, but I am just enjoying Mass Effect: Andromeda so much. Well, let's get on with the story.
(March 25, 2017 Addendum.) Hello, everybody. Sorry to add an addendum to this chapter, but I just had to share with all of you my giddiness over the Season Three finale of Star Wars Rebels. I enjoyed the finale immensely, as I watched most of it through YouTube last night, thanks to a user who I will not name, as well as Spectrum TV, and I enjoyed just about everything about the season finale. I won't give away any spoilers for those of you who haven't seen these two episodes yet, but I would highly recommend them for all Star Wars fans. So, onto Mass Effect Andromeda news. So far, I have made Eos over 90% viable, and have visited the Angaran world of Aya, and I am ready to move on to another quest. How are all of you doing in the game? Anyway, I'd better get back to writing, as I have a long way to go before this chapter is complete. As Ezra Bridger said in "Zero Hour", "May the Force be with me."
(March 27, 2017 Addendum.) Hello, everyone. I am so sorry for adding yet another addendum to my chapter, but I had to tell you why it's taking so long. You see, it's because a couple of days ago, I caught a nasty stomach virus that I am now recovering from, and I needed a couple of days to rest and recuperate in order to fight the virus. Anyway, let's get back to the story, as I am eager to get back to writing.
Thirty Minutes Later
Words could not describe how brokenhearted and devastated a teary-eyed Adari Thayn Palpatine was at this moment, as, due to Darth Krayt's cruelty and malice, she was given a front-row seat in the arena within Krayt's citadel besides Vestara, who was equally appalled at the barbaric display going on in front of her, as well as Krayt, Wyyrlok, and Chantique, in order to watch her own husband beat up his "brother" on the orders of Krayt, who, despite maintaining a stoic demeanor, Adari could senese the sick enjoyment the Dread Lord of the Sith was getting out of watching the two Jedi duel each other to the death. She looked around the arena, and she saw each of her companions being kept under guard by at least two Sith, who no doubt had orders to kill them if the tried anything. Realizing that the only thing that she could do at this point was maintain hope, she silently prayed that the Jedi would get here soon, if only to wipe that cool and collected look off of Krayt's worn face.
Edaan was horrified at what he was sensing: Krayt had brought each of his loved ones to watch this barbaric display, and, to make matters worse, he sensed that Adari and Vestara were right next to Krayt, Wyyrlok, Chantique, Aphra, Triple Zero, and Nala Se, which was all that kept him from launching himself at the three Sith Lords in a murderous rampage. He quickly regained control of his emotions and telepathically asked Tau, Did you inform Adari about me retaining my identity, Tau?
I told her that I would do what I can to help you, but I didn't follow up with her on that, as I was too busy with maintaining my cover. Tau admitted.
Oh, sure. You could contact my master and tell him of my physical enhancements, but you couldn't give the time to tell Adari that I was okay?! Edaan mentally shouted into Tau as he charged at Tau for what must have been the seventh time, this time using the seventh form of lightsaber combat that was known as Juyo, the Way of the Vornskr, against Tau via a rapid fashion of lightsaber strikes, with Tau only being able to intercept most of them, a few getting their marks on Tau's skin, making him grunt in pain as he struggled to fight off the agony of the lightsaber burns on his skin.
Well, I'm sorry, but I've been busy planning with Chopper on how to sabotage the One Sith, while you've been training in order to lead Krayt's death squad! Tau angrily retorted as he used his pain to keep himself on his feet as he launched a powerful storm of Force Lightning at Edaan, making take several steps back, and then fall down as his body struggled to compensate for the pain that he was in.
OUCH! Okay, point taken. Sorry. I just hope that Adari can forgive me for what's happened to me. Edaan apologetically said before he turned his thoughts towards his wife, and the electricity stopped crackling all over his body, allowing him some time to come up with another plan of attack as he rose back up yet again.
Deciding to change tactics yet again, he punched the ground multiple times with his enhanced strength, creating many cracks in the ground around him. He then jumped back, and used the Force to levitate many rocks of various sizes, ranging from pebbles to five-foot boulders, and he then launched them all in a rapid succession against Tau, who had to use the Force to augment his speed in order to avoid being crushed by any of the boulders as he ran around the arena. Once the boulders stopped coming at him, he used the Force to launch himself at Edaan, and, faster than the cyborg could react, he activated his purple and red lightsabers and made an X slash on Edaan's chest, hoping htat it would be enough to bring him down, but not enough to kill him, because if he did somehow manage to kill him with that attack, then Adari would kill him, and he had no intentions of letting that happen to him.
Edaan felt a massive spike in pain rise in his chest from the damage that Tau had inflicted on him, and, rather than waste precious time communicating with Tau over his effectiveness, he sought to end this battle quickly before either of the two brothers was killed. With the adrenaline rushing through his veins due to his cybernetics, he used the Force to levitate Tau into the air, and then had him thrown in his direction, where he then connected his metal-gloved fist with Tau's face, more than likely breaking a couple teeth and other bones, as he heard a sharp Crack sound, which knocked him out in less than a second, with a massive amount of blood flowing out of his nose and mouth.
As the crowd roared in approval of Edaan's brutality, he looked to Darth Krayt, and, upon getting an approving nod from him that Edaan immediately understood, as well as, due to the implants that Aphra and Nala Se had put inside of him, an unspoken command through the mental link that Krayt and Edaan now shared. In order to maintain his reestablished cover, Edaan false-obediently nodded, and deactivated his lightsaber, gently picked up the injured Tau, and began to carry him to the medlab, where a large bacta tank awaited the heavily wounded brother, all the while ignoring the boos and hisses that came his way until he exited the arena.
Once Edaan and Tau were out of the arena, Darth Krayt took a deep breath to gather the air he would need in order to project his message, stood up to once again address his enraged mass of followers, he thundered out at the top of his voice, "SILENCE, MAGGOTS!" Once the commotion died down, and he was certain that he would not be interrupted yet again, he continued, saying, "I trust that you have not forgotten that the purpose of this match was to test the two 'brothers', and determine whether or not one or both of them were traitors to the One Sith. Well, after watching the brutal attacks that each of them had made against the other, I have concluded that neither of them is a spy, and, therefore, they will be given complete medical treatment in order to prepare them for their roles in the coming battle with the Jedi and their Shadow Alliance. I hope that all of you enjoyed the match, because, from here on out, it's nothing but work until the endgame is upon us. Now, then, you are all dismissed. Return to your respective posts or duties, and don't give me a reason to have another match between any of you."
With that said, the crowd slowly dispersed, as the workers and fighters left the arena to head back up to the surface in order to prepare for the upcoming siege, while the Sith went back to their respective jobs that were either within the citadel, within the catacombs that led to said citadel, or on the surface with their surviving allies in readying the city of Dreshdae for the Jedi's arrival.
All the while, however, no one paid any attention to a certain black-colored C1 astromech droid that was rolling all around the Citadel, as well any droids that he seemed to stop in order to converse with in droidspeak, which very few of Krayt's followers could understand, giving Chopper complete anonymity in his self-appointed mission to reprogram as many droids as he could to his side before the Shadow Alliance arrived in the Horuset System.
Twenty Minutes Later
In the Mandalore System
On the Executor-Class Star Dreadnought Megador
In the Briefing Room
"Why can't any news that Edaan or his comrades give us ever be good news?" Han Solo said as he rubbed his forehead in annoyance, as he had a difficult time processing the information that his nephew and Bwua'tu had just delivered.
"Tell me about it, Uncle Han." Ben said in agreement as he continued, saying, "And I had to deliver the news to Bwua'tu myself under an hour ago, so I know how difficult it is for all of you to process this intelligence. But now we have to decide just what it is that we're going to do with this newfound update."
"Actually, I think that we have to decide whether or not we can trust this 'Tau Palpatine', as I find it hard to believe that even Edaan could reprogram an under-two-week clone to help him survive a transformation into a cyborg Sith trooper." The Mandalorian Ghes Orade skeptically said as he spoke up for the first time in the last few meetings.
"Normally, I'd be inclined to believe you, Ghes, but I doubt that anyone would, or could, for that matter, make up a story of this magnitude, and be able to fool Ben with such a piece of vital knowledge." Leia Organa Solo said in response to Ghes's doubt.
"Even the brightest minds in the galaxy can make mistakes, Leia. Just look at Grand Admiral Thrawn's trust in Rukh, and where it got him when his confederation's deception against the Noghri people came to light." Han countered, not fully trusting Ben's judgment in this case, but also not willing to offend him by bringing up his misplaced trust in Vestara during the Lost Tribe of the Sith's emergence.
"Oh, really, Solo? Well, need I remind you of Luke when he, as well as the bulk of the New Republic at the time, didn't trust Kir Kanos during his efforts to stop Ennix Devian and his Restored Empire's machinations to take over the galaxy thirteen years after the first Death Star's destruction, and that could have cost the galaxy dearly?" Boba Fett countered, as he knew of that series of events with great accuracy, as he helped Devian by bringing the former Imperial Royal Guard to him at the start of that near-disaster, which earned a death glare from the captain of the Millennium Falcon, which the Mand'alor returned with equal intensity.
"Okay, let's change the topic of the conversation before things get out of hand, okay?" Kyle Katarn calmly said, eager to keep the two longtime adversaries from trying to kill each other, as well as getting everyone else caught in the crossfire.
"Fine." Both Boba and Han simultaneously said before the holotable that was used to project a map of Korriban's catacombs received a mysterious transmission.
Bwua'tu motioned for one of the present technicians to identify the source, and, soon enough, a holographic image of a C1 astromech droid that everyone knew appeared in the projection.
"Chopper?!" many of the various members of the Shadow Alliance's High Command shockingly said, and the astromech droid quickly grunted in confirmation of his identity.
"I'm sure that everyone has a lot of questions for you, but I will go first, as I have three very excellent questions for you. Might I ask what it is that you're doing, contacting us from Darth Krayt's citadel? What happened to Edaan and Tau? And what in the galaxy has happened to the rest of the strike team?" Bwua'tu asked, asking one question after another in rapid succession.
Chopper quickly got to work explaining the dire straits that Edaan and his allies were in, telling everyone how he was turning Darth Krayt's droids against him in order to help the Shadow Alliance in the inevitable siege, how battered and wounded Edaan and Tau were from their brawl in front of the entire One Sith's army, and how everyone except for Jaden and X2 were accounted for in their cells, as the two Jedi were being held in an area deep within Krayt's citadel that no one, except for a handful of Krayt's closest individuals, could enter.
After about five minutes of listening to Chopper going on about how unfair the situation was, the Hutt lord Azzim Anjilic Atirue angrily said, "Enough! We get it, Chopper, life isn't fair for you! Get with the times, life isn't fair for any of us, especially Edaan and Adari. Now, how many droids have you managed to reprogram for us?"
Chopper grunted a couple times, and the leader of the Galactic Alliance's Wraith Squadron Voort sa Binring said in commendation, "Forty droids of various maintenance, medical, and combat droids. Good work, Chopper." He then thought back to the former member of Wraith Squadron who now goes by the name of Kirney Slane, and how she used reprogrammed Imperial droids in order to cripple Warlord Zsinj's Super Star Destroyer, the Iron Fist, and set the stage for the Battle of Dathomir after Han Solo kidnapped his future wife in order to take her there.
Chopper then warbled in gratitude for the Gamorrean's compliment, and was then questioned by Luke Skywalker, who then said, "Chopper, how long will Edaan and Tau be out of commission, and are they in danger of being exposed as spies?" Chopper then beeped a few times, and Luke gratefully repeated, "A couple of days, and their cover is safe. Good. We've already lost too many good people to the Sith and their minions."
"You'd better go, Chopper, before someone finds out that you've hacked the Sith's databases. Oh, and try and find a way to learn what's become of Jaden and X2, as we'll need their help when we invade Korriban." Jedi Council member Kyp Durron said as he spoke for the first time during this meeting, which surprised everyone, as he was usually a master of taking risks.
Chopper sadly acquiesced, as he cut off communications on his end, leaving the members of the Shadow Alliance alone as he returned to his self-appointed mission of sowing even more of the seeds of the One Sith's defeat.
After a moment of contemplation, Leia Organa Solo said, "So, what are we going to do about the information that Master Skywalker and Supreme Commander Bwua'tu have brought to us?"
"I think that we need to prepare for the worst, just in case that this Tau is telling the truth about the Sith troopers' anatomy and Edaan's physical transformation into one." Firmus Nantz grimly said, earning several nods of approval as he spoke.
"I'm inclined to agree, Admiral Nantz." Bwua'tu said in concurrence as he spoke, grimly saying, "Even though I trust Edaan since he helped us defeat Daala and her minions, even the best strategists need a contingency plan, because, as any good warrior knows, no plan survives first contact with the enemy. So, we'll have to replace the bulk of our ion weapons with conventional weaponry, and get ready for a lot of bloodshed."
"Agreed." Everyone present said in concurrence as they moved on to their next matter of business.
Forty Minutes Later, In Darth Krayt's Citadel,
As Jaden Korr lay strapped to a table that was below much scanning equipment, with a clone that looked exactly like him on a table right next to him, Nala Se, Aphra, and several Sith and Neo Death Watch Scientists were monitoring the various equipment, Darths Krayt and Wyyrlok came up behind him and said in a false-gracious tone, "Forgive me for not coming to see you sooner, Knight Korr, but I have been preoccupied with Edaan and his allies, as well as preparing for your people's invasion of this planet. Anyway, I'm here now, and now, we can finally begin to determine what went wrong when the first attempt to replace you with your Iteration failed over fifteen years ago."
"What are you talking about, Krayt?" X2 venomously said from his prison cell that was about ten feet away from all of the equipment, wishing that he could, at the very least, say Krayt's true name in front of him so that he could show just how much he despised the Dread Lord of the Sith.
"Tell me, Jaden Korr, when did you realize that your body wasn't quite the same as it was before the hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn's renegade Force-sensitive clones? And don't try to lie, or the equipment will send a powerful blast of electricity into your nervous system, which will hurt very much." Krayt said as he ignored the Jedi Master's not-so-subtle barbs that were a poor attempt to get him riled up.
"When I prepared to shave after defeating the Rakatan entity known simply as 'Mother.' I noticed that a very old scar from my childhood was missing, and… Come to think of it, Marr felt like he was hiding things from me after I was knocked out by the Umbaran known simply as Nyss. What are you getting at, Krayt?" Jaden said as doubt began to permeate his being after so long, which he allowed to flow into his entire being in order to keep his mind sharp.
"Do you know how your former apprentice, Marr Idi-Shael, was killed, Jaden? He was tortured by Daala and her interrogators, and was forced to reveal all of his information to her and us. We received some… disturbing information that explains what went wrong with our first attempt to replace you with an Iteration, or a rapidly-grown clone, if you will, that would infiltrate the Jedi Order until such a time that we would require to activate you." Krayt explained in a tone that befitted a schoolteacher mentoring a young student.
Both Jedi could barely comprehend what had just been said, as they found it almost too much to swallow. Finally, Jaden summoned the courage to say, "What do you mean, Marr revealed the truth to Daala?"
"Well, Jaden, after your skirmish with the clones in their cloning facility following Darth Ceadus's death, I sent two additional agents, the Umbaran twin siblings Nyss and Syll Nenn, to replace Kell Douro, the Anzati that was killed by the Junker's captain, Khedryn Faal. I also sent with them one Iteration, a clone that was created from your own tissues, in order to transfer your memories, as well as a series of hidden commands, into the Iteration in order to make you a loyal servant of the One Sith. But, when you were killed by Nyss and the Iteration, Marr managed to prematurely give him your memories and consciousness, essentially overriding the Iteration's consciousness, and replacing his with your own. He then cut off three of your fingers in order to maintain his cover, and never told anyone, not even Khedryn." Krayt said as he concluded his long-winded explanation.
Jaden could scarcely comprehend what Krayt had just told him. According to the former Jedi Master, for the last fifteen years, he had inhabited a Sith-bred clone's body that was designed to infiltrate the Jedi Order and spy on them until said clone was activated. He then asked the only logical question that he could think of, and said to himself, "How could Marr have not told me of any of this?"
"Oh, come on, Jaden! Don't tell me that you're buying any of this poodoo?" X2 disbelievingly said.
"He is right to believe this, as the signs were pretty obvious once they were put into perspective." Krayt replied as he motioned for Aphra to begin some unknown experiments, and for Nala Se and Aphra to bring the Mindspear above Jaden, and he then said, "This is a Mindspear. It is a very rare Rakatan artifact that has the ability to transfer a person's memories into another being's consciousness. I had Doctor Aphra modify this one so that the person whose memories are copied can retain those memories so that they do not die. This way, this Iteration is finally successfully created, and you can bear witness to the destruction of the Jedi Order that you've spent over forty years defending."
"You won't get away with this, Krayt. One way or another, we will stop you, and bring you to justice, or die trying." X2 said, his voice full of raw determination as he spoke.
"Then you will die trying, X2." Krayt expressionlessly said as he motioned for Aphra to continue with powering up the Mindspear.
Soon enough, an incredible amount of pain began to sear its way into Jaden's brain as the Mindspear activated, and began to copy and download all of his memories and experiences into the intricate piece of Dark Side technology, with Jaden powerless to resist the process as his mental stamina had been exhausted by the fatigue that he was feeling due to the lack of proper nourishment.
After an indefinite period of time, the pain stopped, and Jaden's mind felt like it had been reduced to a gooey mess, as his entire nervous system felt like it was on fire from a massive amount of searing pain. He took many deep breaths in order to try and regain control of his highly nauseated head, and, after a few minutes, he heard the voice of X2 cry out and shout, "Jaden? JADEN?! Can you hear me?!"
"Ugh. Yes I can hear you, Master X2. Now, stop your yelling, because my head feels like it was shredded from the inside of a blender." Jaden exhaustively said.
"Good. You're awake. I was worried that the process would be too much for you to handle." Krayt smugly said as he then whispered something in Wyyrlok's ear, and he nodded in acquiesce before he called upon four Sith troopers to escort the weary Jaden and irate X2 back to their cells, leaving the two Sith Lords and their handpicked crew of scientists alone before Krayt and Wyyrlok left the room to discuss a crucial matter.
"What is it that troubles you, my master? "Wyyrlok questioned in a knowing but respectful tone.
"I suspect that Edaan and his Iteration are truly Jedi agents, but I have no proof, as their performances in the arena were very convincing. I am in need of your counsel, as you are an expert at weeding out traitors and dissidents from within our own ranks." Krayt honestly said as the two longtime allies passed a group of young Sith acolytes that were walking to their next lesson.
"Then we must flush them out, Master. And the best way to do that is to set a trap for them. Send Edaan to the front lines with the Sith troopers, but give the other Sith troopers a hidden command to kill him if he should even show the slightest hint of rebellion. As for the Iteration, have Nala Se place a control chip inside of him that will cause his head to explode if he reveals any crucial information to the Jedi, or if he tries to nullify it by use of the Force." Wyyrlok replied after weighing all of the options in his mind at a rapid pace.
As soon as Wyyrlok finished speaking, Krayt looked to him with an extremely sinister smile on his face and said, "Excellent suggestions. As soon as Edaan's Iteration is healed from the wounds that Edaan inflicted on him, have Nala Se do the procedure on him immediately, so we can move on to other matters."
"By your will, my master." Wyyrlok loyally said as he and Krayt resumed walking towards the armory, where they would examine the progress of the stockpiling of weapons that were to be used against the Jedi and their comrades when they invaded.
And, cut! Wow! I can't believe that I took me nine days to write a 4000+ word chapter. I am so sorry for the delay, but, like I said before in my addendums, I had a nasty stomach virus to fight, Mass Effect: Andromeda to play, homework to do, and an interview where I got my second d job to go to, all in the span of a week. So, how much do you guys desire more Expanded Universe content beyond just The Old Republic, because I do, IMMENSELEY! I just love the old ways, the ways before Disney took over, of course, and I want them back so much. I realize that it can't be brought back in full capacity, but, is it really too much to ask for two or three books a year, as well a couple of comic book series every now and then? By the way, I hope that you all enjoyed my EU references throughout this chapter, as I just love putting in little tidbits of past stories in them. Oh, and I hope that you all enjoyed the action and minor blood that was seen in this chapter, because I doubt there will be any more scenes like that in this story. Well, hopefully, just a few more chapters left in this story, and then it's on to the final story in my six-book saga. I hope that you enjoy, because I've saved the best for last. Oh, one more thing. About three days ago, I got the novel Mass Effect: Andromeda: Nexus Uprising, and I plan to read it once I go to Florida with my family in April. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised to find out how long the book is, and that I can't wait to read it. Anyway, May the Force Be With You, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!