Chapter 16

It felt very odd for Julienne to return to Coruscant.

She had spent extensive time here on one of her first assignments from Acina, but it had been some time since she had returned and she wondered why her visions had brought her back to the Republic's capital. She had only the vaguest sense that her master, Darth Acina, would find her here and try to kill her but she had also come for other reasons. A deft hand had managed to cover her facial tattoo so that her appearance would not be quite as memorable, but she was taking no chances. She landed her ship on an obscure platform, paid the fee and hoped it would not be stolen while she was about her work. It was not a reputable area.

Her first task was to ensure that her facial recogition program was still in place within the Coruscant law enforcement system. She let herself in a backdoor that she was very pleased to see stilll worked and then did a quick search using an unidentified photo of herself. When no results showed, she let out a relieved sigh and then closed down the connection. Anyone trying to track her down here would have to do it without the help of the law enforcement software that idetified everyone on the planet.

With that complete, she set about the second task of alerting her former master that she was on Coruscant. She was not sure why, but she supposed that it would be harder for Acina to eliminate her here, where the older Sith Lord had fewer assets. That meant Julienne had to locate and follow the man she suspected was Acina's newest eyes and ears in the Republic's most important city. She wanted him to report back to his master that he had seen her here and do so in such a way that it did not arouse suspicion.

Doing so proved to be much more difficult than she had anticipated. Perhaps he had other qualities as a field agent, but observation and counter surveilllance were not among them. Her more subtle attempts failed until she finally gave up and simply bumped into him rounding a corner. His eyes had widened in surprise and it had taken Julienne's best acting skills to beg his forgiveness for her clumsiness without being obvious that the encounter was contrived. He had been apologetic and rushed off quickly after the encounter, so the seed had been planted. She monitored his communication until she was sure he had sent a message and then turned to her next task; searching the destroyed Jedi Temple of all places.

It was not difficult to access the Jedi Temple grounds because there was no security at all and it had a reputation for being haunted by Sith ghosts now. She smiled at the thought of Sith ghosts inhabiting a structure that had been occupied by the enemy for thousands of years. Julienne made her way by feel until she was far enough inside that a light would not be noted from the outside. From there she simply followed her instincts and fragments of past visions to the place she had seen. It was undoubtedly a library, though not the main library. As she examined the markings on the walls and above the doors she suspected that she had been led to a more restricted area where the Jedi Council kept its own personal records.

When the Jedi had moved its base to Tython, they had left rather abruptly and that meant it was impossible to take everything with them. However, the Masters and Council had certainly taken everything from their private archives so the storage area she searched proved to be a waste of time. She closed her eyes for a moment and searched for some clue and yet, nothing came to her. She kept them closed for a time and tried to reach out in the Force and feel for something she needed.

And there it was.

She reached out in the dark and pushed sideways on a shelf. It gave slightly so she pushed harder and it slid roughly to the side. She smirked at the low-tech approach to hiding their treasures and then flicked on the flashlight to find an empty storage area for holocroms. A thorough search turned up nothing, however, so she hunched down for a moment and tried to sense why she was there. Having found nothing, she left the secret room and the library behind and started down a new hallway. At that moment she kicked something in the dark.

The object had slid over under an overturned box, which proved to be empty when she cast it aside. However, underneath was a small holocron that appeared quite ordinary. Julienne suppressed a moment of excitement. The randomness of her kicking it in the dark after having searched in vain was just the sort of lesson the Force tried to teach about persistence. She picked it up and shook her head. She certainly hoped it had something to offer in her current fight and was not just a manual about some obscure Jedi history, or some Master's personal journal. She also hoped it was not "locked" in some specific way that would prevent her from its viewing.

With the holocron in hand, she started to wander again as she felt for the Force nexus upon which the temple had been built. It was very strong and she walked until she ended up in what she assumed had been the Jedi Council chambers. She sat in one of the chairs that was arranged in a circle and was amused at the thought of the former occupants' reaction to a Sith Lord sitting in one of their positions.

Julienne set the holocron down in front of her and sank deep into a Force trance before testing the holocron and finding it was not locked after all. She proceeded to open it and the Jedi gatekeeper appeared. She nearly groaned when his clothing appeared ancient and his demeanor stern. She doubted very much that he was going to help her.

"I, Jedi Master Neilor address you, seeker of knowledge; state your need," said the tiny hologram man.

Julienne doubted that dissembling would aid her cause so she took a chance and replied honestly. "My name is Julienne Qa, but also, Darth Monikas. I seek aid in destroying the Sith Emperor who is slowly poisoning the Empire. My ally in this task is Jedi Knight Shemric Norm."

The Jedi gatekeeper peered at her carefully and Monikas felt as if she was being weighed and measured. She knew her request was unorthodox and doing so inside of a Jedi temple more odd still, but the Force vision had brought her to the temple and Force sensitivity to the place so that she could randomly kick the holocrom in the dark. She had no idea what the holocron contained or how it might help.

"Darth Monikas, your need must be great if it has brought you here to the temple in the capital of your enemies. I'm very curious how you came to possess my holocrom."

"A vision brought me here and following the whisperings of the Force put me in the place where I kicked your holocrom in the dark. I suspect you were dropped and never recovered in the Jedi's hasty departure from Coruscant."

The Jedi holo appeared distressed and shocked at this news.

"You found me on the floor?" he said.

"Indeed," she asserted. "I searched the Master's archive and found nothing, but then I kicked your cube as I was departing."

The holo Jedi seemed to digest this for a time. Not for the first time, Julienne remarked how creepy holocroms were. She felt like she was talking to a ghost.

Eventually the gatekeeper regarded her again. "I find this entire situation unconventional. However," he paused as surprised he was going to continue, "I sense there is much of import in all these odd happenings, so I ask you again; what is your more specific need?"

"I seek a way to destroy the Sith Emperor who has vast power he acquired by draining the life and the Force from an entire planet," she stated. There, see how he deals with that.

"For your personal gain?" he asked.

"Not at all," she said. "I have sensed the leeching affect he has on the planet he now inhabits and have seen visions that lead me to believe he will destroy the galaxy in a mad bid to attain god-like powers. I do not even know what information your holocrom contains."

Now the Jedi Master's image looked very troubled. This had to be the oddest conversation in which she had ever participated. When he finally spoke, her shock must have been evident.

"In life, I was the Jedi Order's most accomplished psionic," said Master Neilor. "This holocron contains my knowledge and training intended to teach the next generation of Jedi Knights and Masters."

Now a cold shiver did run over Monikas' skin. Was she going to need greater Force psionic skills to aid Shermic? Would this Jedi ghost even teach her?

"It concerns me to share my life's work with a Sith Lord," said Neilor. "None have accessed my holocrom for a very long time. The Jedi that followed me have clearly not been comfortable with the inner workings of the Force-sensitive mind. Have you the strength to even begin?"

"What must I do?" she asked.

"Touch, the physical structure of the crystal, Sith; I would see what you are," replied the Jedi Master.

Julienne sensed no malice from him, but if he started rummaging around in her mind he was likely to find things he did not like. She neither desired to share them nor wished to relive them. He was watching her sternly.

"Come," he said. "I sense your indecision. I also sense your need is great."

She slid from the chair and crouched on the floor before the crystal. He looked pleased, like a teacher who was finally going to be allowed to pass on his knowledge. She reached out and put a finger tip on the crystal base and the sifting began.

It was fortunate for Darth Monikas that there was no one around to hear her scream.

"Your psionic powers are formidable, Darth Monikas," said Master Neilor. Julienne was jerked back to consciousness so abruptly that her physical body flinched as her eyes stared widely. The small image of the Jedi master had grown to human size and he "sat" on the floor across from her. "I suspect under different circumstances you might have made a fine Jedi, Lord Monikas, but since we cannot understand all the ways of the Living Force, we must accept and continue as we can. I think you will need all that I can teach you in the coming days."

Julienne nodded and bowed from the waist. "I submit myself to your instruction, Master Neilor." When she looked up, he was smiling. She returned the smile and understood why the Force had brought her here.

"Touch the crystal again, Lord Monikas and let us begin," said the Jedi master.

When Julienne emerged from the temple six days later, it felt like she had developed an entirely new sense. The minds of the citizens of the Republic were an open book to her and she might have quickly become insane without the other teaching she had received to shut them out.

Two things became clear to her enhanced awareness. Shemric stood out to her along their Force connection and practically shone like a beacon. At the same time she knew that Acina had come. She had known she would have to confront her former master and intended to do it with Shemric's help. Just as quickly as those things came to her, she drew her Force-awareness in tight and hid away. Her body and mind were exhausted from the long hours of psionic training. During the days in the temple she had subsisted on energy cubes she had scrounged from abandoned supplies. She needed to replenish her body's strength before she was ready to fight. Julienne Qa, Darth Monikas disappeared into the mass of beings that inhabited the capital planet and began to plan.

Come to me quickly, Shemric. I feel that I will have need of you soonest.

Julienne had carefully prepared the ground and knew from her vision that the fight with Acina would take place on the platform where she had left her ship. She had picked the spot knowing Shemric was close and she called for him now, knowing he would come quickly.

She began to move through the crowd that surrounded her while monitoring his progress towards her. That he could find her even when she was hiding in the Force made it clear their connection was stronger than ever. When he came to join her as she strode down the walkway, she smiled inwardly and opened herself to him in a tight sending meant only for him.

Your timing is exquisite, she said.

Then shall I assume we are in imminent danger, he asked?

That would be correct, she said. My former master, Darth Acina, has been hunting me and is very likely waiting next to my ship at the end of the platform.

Shemric nodded and modified his stride slightly until they were stepping in sync. Julienne settled her consciousness onto his and nearly laughed at how pleased he was to sense that she was pleased to see him.

You always seem to doubt my affection, she said.

You sold me into slavery, my dear, he said. And you were not exactly affectionate before that. Julienne sensed his eyes on her as he studied her from head to foot. She glanced sideways and raised an eyebrow. You look very serious, Darth Monikas.

She chuckled and shook her head. I always wonder when you will finally accept that I AM a Sith Lord.

Not like the others, he said.

Perhaps not, she agreed. Now keep sharp. I sense others, though they do not seem to be Sith. It was her turn to look him up and down. Nice armor. Did you go native on Mandalore?

He sniffed. His modified helmet left his face bare. No thanks to you abandoning me there.

Don't' be angry, she said. It was for your own good.

It was, he said. But I can still be angry about it.

Before they started off again she 'suggested' he lend her one of his javelins and he did so with a calm look on his face. She doubted he even realized it had been her suggestion.

They approached the center of the platform where Darth Acina was waiting, shrouded in her robes and darkness. She was of moderate height but her strength of person did not come from her size but her position on the Dark Council and her power over the Dark Side. They stopped a distance away to regard each other.

"Well come, my former apprentice," she opened. "You have been busy in your treachery it appears."

"Loyalty to the Empire is not the same as loyalty to the Emperor," said Julienne. "I remain the former and not the latter."

"The Emperor is the Empire!" spit Ancina.

"And if he ceased to be, would the Empire disappear as well?" asked Julienne. Her master was probing her psychic defenses and Julienne could easily sense her strength. She also concealed her own strength for a time where she might need surprise.

Ancina's laugh held no humor. "So it is true. You do plot his downfall. You, who have met him and know what he is think to bring about his end. Fool!"

Julienne cast out her shared sense with Shemric. Stay sharp! Something is definitely out there. Ancina drew both her sabers that were protruding above her shoulders. The red blades glowed crimson in the near dark.

"I shall be well rewarded with your elimination and I thank you for bringing your pet Jedi as well. Why the Emperor considers him a threat is beyond me, but we can tidy that up all at once."

"You will find out why he is a threat, just as the Emperor will, someday," said Julienne.

"Oh, I doubt that," said Acina. "I brought a few friends myself." The night glowed bright for a moment as jet packs were ignited and four Mandos in full armor landed in a semi-circle to Shemric's left. "I did not want to discount the skills of the duo who rid the galaxy of that old hag Malgus, but these four have an especial dislike of Jedi. So it shall just be you and I, Julienne." Julienne ignited her weapon and the silver glow made Shemric smile.

It is time to dance on the edge one more time, lover, she sent to Shemric and then rushed Acina.

Julienne sensed the heat of multiple explosions behind her, but kept her focus on her former master. She clamped down on the small sense of unease she felt. After all, Darth Acina was a member of the Dark Council and powerful in her own right. She had also never practiced the lightsaber with her apprentice. She always carried two, but Monikas wondered how often she had used them. She could sense Shem dancing about, causing the Mandos fits bu she had no spare awareness to to worry about him now. She held her saber, the same that Shemric had made her years earlier, and prepared for the confrontation.

Darth Acina was shorter than Monikas by a good ten centimeters but her presence in the Force made her seem to loom. Monikas was in no rush to attack. If Shem could finish off the Mandos, they would take her together. It did not bother her that she might have to depend on him; it was like complaining that you had to depend on your left arm. Acina must have sensed something because she advanced suddenly and rushed Julienne.

The unique dual-purpose saber emitted a silvery blade when she ignited it; Julienne knew she would need every advantage if she was going to survive. The initial clash of sabers brought forth the familiar sparks and Acina jumped back and tried to cook Monikas with lightning. She caught it on the blade and it grounded out harmlessly. If anything, she felt like the Force energy was transferred to her. She reengaged her former master and put her best strength into it, backed by the odd kinetic properties of Shem's lightsaber design. Acina was again surprised and continued to retreat.

Monikas' confidence was growing until she was forced to dive instinctually to the side as she sensed blaster bolts coming her way. A before-unrevealed Mando appeared and continued to fire at her. She deflected as many bolts as possible back at him until Acina came at her again and she had to defend herself. How many enemies were there, she wondered?

Monikas had worn armor and was glad of it as the Mando hit her several times while trying to keep Acina away from her, but it was a fight she was going to lose quickly unless she could eliminate one or the other quickly. The psionic attack she had carefully planned proved to be both less powerful and more difficult to summon when you were fighting for your life. Nevertheless, she repelled at her former master with enough strength that Acina fell backwards with wide eyes. Acina's walls were strong enough to protect her from mind-wipe, but she was momentarily stunned; Monikas spun immediately and leaped at the Mando. She managed a strike that slid off the beskar armor but forced him to stagger awkwardly backwards.

She pressed her advantage until he desperately unleashed a wall of flame that forced Julienne to retreat. She flipped backwards and glanced quickly at Acina to see that she was just beginning to rise to her hands and knees. Julienne took the Force javelin in her hand and reached out to sense the Mando's flight path before hurling it with arm and Force-strength. He rose out of his own flames just in time for the javelin to impale him in the neck where there was a gap between his chest plate and his helmet. He fell to the platform and did not move.

Julienne turned back to meet her master in time to easily block a clumsy psionic attack. Acina retreated behind her own walls and rushed at her former apprentice. What she lacked in psionics, she more than made up for in brute force and Julienne was forced to retreat before the whirlwind double-bladed attack. It was jarring to feel such powerful blows coming from the tiny woman, but Julienne remembered the technique she had learned from Shem and began to deflect them in a variation on traditional Sorensu.

It helped, but she was still being pushed back until Shemric suddenly landed behind Acina and smacked her in the ribs with a bat. Acina's eyes were furious and she blasted him back from her, but the damage was done and it was Julienne's turn to advance.

Shemric's surprise attack had evened the fight, but Julienne could not summon the anger or focus to employ the all-out-attacking style that she had learned from him. She switched between forms, first attack and then defense and hoped to wear out her master, but it was not working. She needed something more.

"You could have been something if you had not strayed so far from the way," said Acina in a tight voice. "You were never truly a Lord of the Sith."

And there it was. After all her work, all her sacrifices, all the blood she had shed, even her peers did not accept that she was one of them. She had nearly given up Shemric to be a part of their cabal and they had never accepted her. That made her angry.

Monikas could feel the older woman drawing heavily on Darkside power to fuel her attack and defense and she did not seem to be tiring, but it did not matter. Monikas had found what she needed for her own strength and she pounded back at her former master blow for blow. Then Acina coughed and there was blood on her pale lips. Her broken rib must have punctured a lung. Monikas reacted quickly with all her skill and brought into play the style of attacking they had practiced when Shem had forced her to try and finish him quickly. Acina was only just managing to defend before she leaped back and hurled one of her sabers at Julienne. It was a surprising move and caused the younger Sith to leap to the side.

Lightning crackled and caused Monikas' muscles to spasm, but she managed to bring up her blade and ground out the remainder of the attack. When she rolled to her feet, there was no sign of Acina. She rushed to the edge of the platform, but there was nothing. In her mind, she knew that Shemric had been successful and he joined her as she looked down into the dark.

"I am not sure if I would have defeated her on my own," she said. "She was quite powerful, though not particularly sharp in her combat skills. I think, when you hit her, you broke ribs and punctured a lung. It was enough to tip the fight in my favor." She shook her head. "Do you remember our very first fight against Darth Fright?"

"I thought our first fight was against each other," he pointed out.

"Fine; our first fight together against a Sith Lord," she said.

"Oh, I remember it," he said.

"Do you remember what I said?" she asked.

"Something to the effect of 'you are going to keep getting me in trouble and then keep claiming you had to save me from it,'" he replied.

"Well, I seem to have been right," she said. He opened his mouth to complain and she lifted her gaze and smiled at him. "It no longer bothers me." Julienne looked at Shem more closely and started. "Korriban's Nightmare, what happened to you?"

"You try and fight four Mandos and see if you come away with nothing worse than a bit of singeing," he said. She could sense his pain started to bleed through their link.

"No thanks," she said. "I was lucky enough against one angry Sith Lord and her Mando accomplice, and she still managed to escape."

"You know what kills me when I think about it," he said. "If you had not sent me to the Mandos in the first place, I would never have learned how to fight them and then this fight may have been a lot different."

"There is no point in pondering the whys and wherefores of our existence, you and I," said Julienne. "We simply move to the strings of our puppetmaster." Still, she thought, it was gratifying to know that she had gotten it right.

"You do not even sound bitter when you say that," he said.

She shrugged. "What is the point? I struggled against it in the beginning but that caused me even more grief." She turned away. "Let us leave, Shemric. This was the last of my business in this place and I have another appointment two days travel from here."

"Do you know why we keep winning at these fights?" he said as they walked to the ship's ramp.

"Do tell?" she said.

"We never left any witnesses, until now," he said. "So no one really knows what we can and have done. We remain anonymous and our enemies take us for granted."

She nodded, and knew that he was correct. "Maybe that has to do more with you than me," she said. "I have been challenged on numerous occasions and there are nearly always witnesses. And of course, Acina will likely find a way to report this to the Council without making it look like a failure on her part." She made her way to the cockpit and sat down at the controls. They lifted off quickly and arched away from the planet's surface. A stolen code granted them a swift departure and they were in space in a few minutes. As the stars turned into streaks of light, he asked where they were going.

Mandalore, she said.

Well, that seems ironic, he said. Did not half of dozen of their fellows just try to kill us, along with your former master?

I didn't notice, she said and turned to him, smiling. When she saw his burns she frowned. Oh, yeah, those Mandalorians. Why don't we see if we can get you patched up? We may need to shave your head. Your helmet did not look like it helped much.

It kept my head from being torched, he pointed out. But then it caught on fire.

She led him back to the ship's infirmary and they both stripped out of their fighting gear. They had patched each other up a number of times and they went about it in a methodical fashion.

You want a painkiller shot, or are you going to work your Force magic, she asked?

I will take a shot, he said. You look like you came out of the fight rather well.

He flinched when she poked his arm with the needle and she raised her eyebrow at him.

You might have warned me, he groused. I do not like needles.

You'ill get over it, she said. As for the other, I was expecting and preparing for Acina. I just figured she would come alone. I guess I should be flattered that she brought along help. She must have assumed I would have you with me, though how she could have known is beyond me. I guess our reputation unnerved her. She ran a hand over his head carefully. Are you going to need a moment to heal your burns? We will need to shave your head if anyone on Mandalore is going to take us seriously.

I have not shaved my head since I was a new Padwan, he said. Is it better to have burns and look tough or to not have burns?

She gave him a once-over. Are they really bothering you?

They are burns, he said, shrugging, they hurt like the Nine Hells of Korriban.

Don't use my curses, you sound silly, she said. Why don't you lie down and fix yourself. I would like to try and follow what you are doing. Maybe I will learn something.

Very well, he said. Shemric lay down on the bed and closed his eyes.

It turned out that psionic strength had little to do with the Force awareness used in healing because Julienne's sense of what was happening was no different than it had always been. Still, she was able to follow some of it and commented.

So you really just accelerated what your body was already doing on its own, with the help of the Force.

You can go a bit further when you are healing another, he pointed out. When you heal someone else, you have your strength, the Force and strength of the person being healed. On yourself, you only have two sources. Healing yourself too much would leave you so exhausted you would have to have considerable rest afterwards. You have to find the balance.

Well, I could sense much of what you were doing and probably apply the concept on a basic level, but it seemed … complex, she said.

You get better with practice and you can definitely develop an affinity for healing the same person, he said. That is why I can heal you so effectively.

Do not try it now, she said. I am fine, and now I know what to look for when you are working your Jedi sorcery.

He sniffed pointedly but she smiled at him to let him know she was joking. Their connection made it hard to block out his feelings of affection for her and made it obvious he was overjoyed she was herself again. Or at least back to his image of what she should be.

Oh, enough with your insufferable satisfaction, she said. You got what you wanted and I am back in the game. I am not sure you paid as much as I wanted during your Mandalorian time. I was really angry when I sent you off.

I get it, he said. I have been there before, after Balmorra. Of course, I did not drug you, tie you up and hand you over to the Wookies for sport. They would have loved a Sith toy.

She stared at him for long moments before responding. I did not want to go back to any sort of life. I could have happily stayed on the island and avoided my problems, but you forced me back into the struggle. I tried to punish you by showing you what I had done and been, but you could not handle it. Your brain shut down and further contact might have turned you into a vegetable.

Well, we already knew you were tougher than I was, he pointed out.

Just as long as you remember that, weak-minded Jedi, she replied. She sensed that Shemric was basking in her affection like a sunbather on a warm day. She rolled her eyes and headed off to find a refresher.

The captain's refresher turned out to be luxurious in the extreme. They emerged feeling clean, sanitized and nearly human again. When he reached for his pack and new clothes she gave him and incredulous look. "Really?" He turned and his eyes took on that glazed look that happened when she was not wearing anything. She pulled back the curtain on the captain's bunk and crooked a finger at him. It did not take a lot of persuasion for him to follow.

Julienne had to admit that she had missed the physical interaction with Shemric. She knew it was more than just sex, which came and went quickly, if spectacularly. Being able to lie together quietly, with nowhere to go and nowhere to be at the moment was incredibly restorative. With Shem it could not last long and she finally asked her why she had changed her mind.

Changed my mind about what, she asked?

Well, you know, about being human again and not a soulless automan, he said?

I told you the last time, as you recall, that I had to put all my feelings for you in a box and hid them away, she said. I think it protected you from the Emperor, to a degree, and protected me from being torn apart by the things I had to do. When you forced me to see and feel again I had to dig up that box and reevaluate it. Had I been a fool to associate with you? Would I be an idiot to do so again? I needed help and there was no one to provide it.

After admitting that to him, she pondered when the decision had come to her that she wanted to speak to his mother. She needed to speak with someone and there had really never been anyone else. Finder Shem's family had not been too hard once she pulled on the string that connected them all in the Force. That had taken her to Nubia and an obscure home in the mountains. She had been very careful to lose anyone that might be searching for her so as to not endanger Shem's family, but the need to visit his mother had grown insistent.

So what changed exactly, he asked gently?

Oh, I went to visit your mother.

"What?!" he said out loud in surprise. "How did you even know where to find her?"

Really, Shemric, she replied? Do you think I could be so tightly connected to you and not be able to find those others with whom you are joined? It was not really that difficult. Even if you had not told me they were on Nubia.

Julienne smiled as she sensed the turmoil in his thoughts.

Please tell me you did not show up on their doorstep dressed in black.

Actually, that is exactly what I did, she said. It was impossible to think back on the nerve of it without smiling.

How did that not end badly, then, he asked?

I am pretty sure your mother was expecting me, said Julienne. At least, she was sitting in a chair looking out to the road and met my eyes almost as soon as I descended from my hired vehicle. I am almost sure she had purposefully sent everyone else away in case things did not go well.

So, you just pulled up a chair and had a little chat, woman to woman, he asked?

Yes, said Julienne. That is pretty much what happened.

Did she like your Sith outfit, he asked with a snicker?

It is not my 'Sith outfit'," said Julienne. "It is the normal attire of Darth Monikas." It was her turn to let out a small giggle. She told me I looked properly intimidating. She has …a presence that I found very … impressive. I think she was prepared to fight or talk, depending on the reason I had come.

Wow, that would have been something to see, he said.

Me fighting with your mother? Julienne sounded exasperated.

NO! said Shem. You meeting my mother. I mean, she knew about you, but she cannot have imagined you would just show up one day.

On the contrary, said Julienne. I think I already pointed out that she was expecting me.

Well, still, it would have been interesting to see, he said.

I can accommodate that, said Julienne. They had shared memories before, but Julienne knew much better how to do it now and she easily joined her thoughts to Shemric's so that he saw the meeting out of her eyes.

Once he had seen the initial conversation, Julienne pulled back smoothly until Shem came back to his own thoughts. His face was covered in tears he had shed sympathetically with hers in the vision. He wiped his eyes and nose and she sensed he was embarrassed, so she said nothing.

"Does that mean that you have learned to be Julienne and Darth Monikas?" he asked.

I have, she said. Your mother really showed me that Darth Monikas can be who she wants to be. If she wants to keep a Jedi yum-yum on the side then she can do that, too.

Shemric sniffed pointedly. Did you not tell me once that yum-yum was a sexist term that did not apply to men?

Hah! We make up our own rules now, Shemric, she said. The entire trip was most enlightening. After meeting your baby sister I find myself considering having one or two of them with you at some point in the future.

Wait, you met the rest of the family, he asked? You want to have children now?

No, I said later, not now, and yes, I met the rest of the family, she said. We had a lovely visit. Your brother Marioh was scarily impressed that his big bro' is married to a Sith Lord. Your father was not so enthusiastic, but I used a winning smile and your mother's approval to win him over.

Julienne was amused by Shem's wondering expression. She could sense it was difficult for him to imagine.

Did they get a picture of you holding the baby wearing your Sith robes? I would pay money for that.

Funny that you should ask, said Julienne. I actually think your mother did take a few pictures. She showed me how to sooth a child using Force techniques. After that, Eliahza thought I was at her service whenever I sat down. She thought my facial tattoo was particularly intriguing and kept touching it with her little fingers.

And you let her in your personal space, he wondered?

It was strange, she admitted, but then you get used to it and you can't help but enjoy the exuberance of their little spirits. The others were interesting. I only saw Shaliah on the second to last day. She had flown in from the capital, probably at your mother's prompting. By then your mother had provided me with something other than black Sith robes and armor, so I probably seemed a lot more normal to her. She was kind to me and asked about you. They all asked about you and wanted to know if we were having amazing adventures. I told them a few things. It was hard for Julienne not to take great pleasure in the memories. Immersing herself in Shem's family had cured any number of ills in her. They all want to imagine their big brother is a grand hero, so I tried not to disappoint. Marioh tried not to act scared when he first met me, but you could see he was somewhere between thrilled and terrified. Once he saw me holding the baby, I think he softened a bit. Then he wanted me to train him to be a Sith. Your father was not amused.

I can imagine not, said Shem.

He still wanted me to help him train whenever I sat down and looked like I was not busy, she said. He is pretty good with a lightsaber. We went up into the hills behind the house and I would sneak up on him and try to surprise him. You father was a little concerned with how effectively I could hide from all of them until I told him that you had taught it too me.

I did not teach it to you, said Shem. I just came up with an idea to make it useful in training.

It made them feel better, she said.

And how was Nina, and my father, asked Shem?

I don't think your mother warned him that I was coming, said Julienne. I think she created a reason for them not to be at the house and then assured them all was well when they came home and I was there. Your father scowled at your mother something fierce but did not say anything in front of the others. It did not take much for him to guess who I was. I think he warmed up after he talked with your mother. And saw me holding the baby.

Nina, though, she does not speak much, said Julienne. I think she was comfortable to have me around and would ask a question or two, but for the most part she was content to have me there, a connection to you.

I have not gone to see them for some time, he said.

I doubt now would be a good time either, said Julienne. Things are not safe in the galaxy for you and me.

And are they in danger, he asked?

This was months ago, Shemric, she said. And they told me they would take precautions.

So tell me again why we are going to Mandalore, he asked?

We are actually meeting with The Mandalore, said Julienne.

Shemric started. "How did you manage to arrange that?"

Actually, it was you that 'arranged it', so to speak, she said. I came in contact with the Mandalorian champion, Dao Stryver. She seemed to have some familiarity with you.

She?! What? Shem asked, confused.

Julienne smiled. Clearly Shem had not seen anything under the helmet. You did not know he was not a he, but a she? Well, she is not human either, so it could not have been easy to tell. She is a Geckto.

Shemric nodded.

Stryver actually found me and we discussed an alliance with Mandalore against the Emperor. Apparently she has spent some time since meeting you trying to nail down a few rumors and she believes he needs to be eliminated. I am not sure how the Mandalore feels about it, but we are going in under cover of armor and Stryver tells me that she will plead our cause with her boss.

And what sort of exit strategy do you have if that does not go well, he asked?

I am trusting Stryver, she said.

And is that wise, he asked?

I don't think she was trying to deceive me, said Julienne.

That is a big reach, he said. Fighting our way off Mandalore will be an entire new exercise in futility.

Well, then, it is good that you are with me, she pointed out.

Your faith in me is inspiring, but it may not be enough against a planet of madmen, he replied.

You worry too much, she said. I'll do the worrying. You can maintain the optimistic outlook.

Well, at least I am good for something, he said sourly. Even it if it does not include knowing the plan.

Julienne poked him in the ribs. When you can keep a secret better, then you can know the plan. Shem did not seem at all pleased by being kept in the dark, but it was necessary.

So, basically never, he replied.

Deception and subterfuge are not really your strength, Shemric, she said. You are just going to have to trust your 'yummers.'

Shemric sulked in silence until he asked her why she was taking him with her to Mandalore is he was such a liability in her plans.

Don't put words in my mouth, she chided him. I never said you were a liability. When I need to be Darth Monikas then it would be very difficult for you to accept some of the things that I do. When I need to meet up with the Mandalore on a 'planet full of madmen' then I need you will me in case things go bad. I told you I trust Stryver, but make no mistake, she is in this for her own reasons and I doubt they are the ones that we have. Going there is a risk, but taking you with me is the best and frankly, only way to mitigate that risk. Now stop thinking about it and go to sleep. I have a plan. It will be well.

She backed that verbal suggestion with a mental one that quickly made Shemric forget about Mandalore and fall off to sleep. It was the way that she managed to win most of their arguments. Sleep was much harder for her to find however. She did have serious doubts about Stryver. The Mando had resisted her mind-probing and the alien thoughts had been difficult to decipher. It was definitely going to be a risk going alone to Mandalore, but they need more allies.

When she had stewed on it long enough, she followed Shem's consciousness deeply enough to sense his peace and relaxation and slipped into sleep as well.