Coruscant Staging Grounds
The Coruscant Staging Grounds were closed for the day, all for a special moment where thousands were allowed, in masses, to come in and see the spectacle. A single, old, Republic consular frigate sat atop a large platform, with its main ramp opened. Thousands of citizens, hundreds of government officials, senators, representatives, Republic soldiers, and more, all stood in a massive crowd around the Republic frigate on the platform. In an open space before the frigate, stood Ducau Zaoku.
The old Nikto stood with his eyes closed, hands together, and facing away from the ramp. About ten meters away from him were the members of the Inner Council, with an additional member; Serinna Vylantis.
The five Councillors stood shoulder to shoulder, quietly, looking at Zaoku. Selena Vataris of Onderon stepped forward, and hovercam droids flew slowly around her. She had a microphone stand placed in front of her by a clone soldier, and she read from her holo-tablet, with her voice booming loudly all across the Staging Grounds,
"Ducau Zaoku, by a unanimous vote by the Inner Council of the New Galactic Republic, you are to be punished. You have been convicted for the murder of; Amelia Daala, Dorna Vakara, ruthless and illegal treatment to various members of the old Imperial government, and the entire Jedi Order. Your punishment is as follows; you shall be banished from all star systems and worlds of the Republic and shall be exiled to the planet of Arkania."
Ducau turned around, and looked up at the ramp that led into the brightly lit ship. He froze, suddenly having a moment where he could see through time… seeing the past crystal clear…
80 BBY
"You are a strong one, aren't you?" smiled the young human man with long black hair, crouching beside the five year old Nikto boy. "I can sense a strong resonance and ripple in the Force around you. You will like the Jedi Temple, I assure you."
Little Ducau turned around and saw his parents standing a few meters away on the landing platform. His tall father held his arm around his mother's shoulders, holding her close. She was sad, and was crying. But she smiled, coming up to the five year old. The human man stepped away, and a flow of emotions came over little Ducau.
"Ducu, listen to momma." the mother kneeled down on the floor on both her knees. "You will become a great Jedi, like no other." she sniffled up her tears, "You will bring change and make the Galaxy a better place, I know it. Be yourself, and do not forget yourself." Little Ducu leapt into his mother's arms, burying his face in her long hair and her neck, not shedding a single tear.
41 BBY
The silver haired girl looked around innocently as Masters chose their padawans in one of the Temple's great halls. She felt alone, and watched as her peers were chosen quickly. Her closest friends were being picked, and went off, to start their life with a new friend, a new role model.
Young Dorna Vakara held her hands together as she waited patiently, knowing that her time would come. In the midst of Jedi Masters, she saw one man coming towards her. He was a Nikto man, with greenish brown eyes, long flowing robes, and a soft smile.
He knelt in front of Dorna,
"Hello, young one. I am Master Ducau Zaoku. Who might you be?"
"Dorna Vakara. Are you going to be my Master?" asked Dorna nervously.
"I think a more proper question is, would you like to be my apprentice, don't you think?" Dorna relaxed, and smiled,
"Yes, I think so. You are a very nice Jedi." Dorna stared into Zaoku's young eyes, and Ducau's smile disappeared, wondering what she was doing, "You can… you can see things. Like the future. You know how to work with people too, you know how to make them change. You're a powerful Jedi."
"Wow." muttered Ducau, "You seem to know very much of the Force."
"I take it as a yes." grinned the silver haired girl, "I want to be your padawan."
22 BBY
"Things will start to go south soon, don't you see?" whispered Ducau, folding his hands together on the cold metal table. Across from him sat a silver haired woman, his former apprentice. She had smooth skin, light grey eyes, and dark eyebrows. She wore a black jumpsuit, and a silver necklace. She looked out the window of the Coruscant diner,
"This is why I left the Order. I can't deal with all these corrupted and evil people in power. The Jedi Council has lost their way, they are being blinded by the Dark Side."
"Yes, I agree, Dorna. The Dark Side is clouding the minds of all Jedi, even mine… But, it should not stop us to try to prevent a catastrophe. Our job is not yet done…"
Vakara looked at Zaoku, thinking hard about his last few words. It was true, there was more to be done. She couldn't give up now, not ever. Leaving the Order was a blessing for her, and now she could do whatever she wanted,
"How exactly do you expect to handle these extra-galactic invaders? Won't the Jedi be strong enough?"
"No." said Ducau simply, "It is hard to think and understand that we will need both sides to come together temporarily to win this future war. Only the full power of the Force will be enough to handle these kinds of enemies."
"That sounds extremely unrealistic. The Sith are gone, and do you really expect the Jedi to be open to this sort of idea?"
"They will not be able to ignore a new Sith Order." stated Zaoku, looking at his former apprentice. Vakara suddenly knew what he was hinting at, knowing what he wanted her to do,
"I am not a Sith, I can't-"
"I'm not asking you to embrace it, Dorna. If you manage to build up an Order of Force-users single handedly, the Jedi will have to acknowledge it and all the problems we face."
"I won't become a Sith." said Vakara sternly.
"You're far too strong to be tempted by the Dark Side… I've known that since you were a little girl. I came to you because I know you can do this, I know you will make things right… for us, for the Republic… for the Galaxy."
0 BBY - Present Day - Coruscant Staging Grounds
The former Jedi, Senator, Chancellor, Emperor, walked his way up the steep metal ramp, into the Republic frigate. The crowds were silent, and so were the Inner Council members. Their robes and clothes billowed in the brisk winds as the sun was shrouded by dark clouds.
Soon, Ducau Zaoku was aboard the ship, its ramp closed, and its engines roared to a start. The three-engined frigate lifted off the durasteel platform, rising into the sky, and blasting to the atmosphere. Everyone looked up to watch the ship leave.
Serinna Vylantis couldn't help but crack a small, half, smile. Ducau Zaoku was gone for good, and now there was no one in her way to lead the New Republic.
Millennium Falcon
The Millennium Falcon exited out hyperspace, into the Alderaan system, passing right by one of its sister planets. The ship continued forward, and Han could see the sun far off in the distance. Alderaan was coming into view, yet the planet didn't look how Han thought it would. There were massive, black, scorch marks across one of its large continents. There were bits and streaks of fire, with much of the continent still ablaze.
Luke rushed into the cockpit excitedly,
"Finally!" his excitement disappeared when he saw the wounded planet. Obi wan slowly made his way into the cockpit, taking a look for himself. The ship was coming close to an asteroid field, and Han had to take evasive maneuvers.
"Where are we?" asked Luke. Han scrambled through the navicomputer systems,
"Alderaan." Obi wan closed his eyes, sighing, and taking a seat behind Han.
"That's not Alderaan." said Luke in disbelief, "Alderaan is green… and gorgeous. That rock is burnt."
"That is Alderaan. The Empire must've did it before their transition." stated Han, and Luke looked forward. That moon was no moon, but in fact a small battlestation. It came into clear view, and so did its super laser firing dish.
"Leia has to be on that station. They couldn't have killed her."
"Luke." said Obi wan, "Mind your emotions. Do not let fear or anger take over your decision-making." Han then interrupted the mini-lesson,
"We are not going on that thing. If your sister is on that battle station, then you can damn well call your Rebel fleet to get her back. Whatever weapon systems that station has will surely obliterate the Falcon."
"Listen here, smuggler," spoke up Obi wan, "you won't get a single credit in return if you bring us back to Tatooine or any other planet. The Rebel Alliance fleet wouldn't last a minute this far into Imperial territory."
Han stared out the viewport, staring at the spherical battlestation. He wanted to be paid, 20,000 credits could do a lot for him. He wasn't willing to lose that kind of opportunity. Solo leaned forward and grabbed the throttle,
"Alright, let's do this."
