3643-Tython, the gates of the Jedi palace.
Standing calmly under the gaze of the Jedi guards should not have been easy, but now that she was actually here on Tython, Monikas felt an unusual sense of calm. Events were moving. Shem was coming to her.
When the Grand Master appeared, she did not approach Monikas, but simply stood at the top of the steps regarding her. He mental strength was considerable but she would not be able to glean anything from the Sith in front of her; Julienne's walls were too secure.
Shem arrived at a run and surveyed the assembled group quickly, before descending to meet her. He seemed overimpressed with her wearing full armor but there was something else there. Relief that she had come back to him.
I told you I would come to you on Tython. It is time.
So you did. Do I need to leave with you or is there more afoot here? he asked.
I need to speak with your Grand Master. We need more allies. I have failed to gather more than a handful of Sith to oppose the Emperor and we are hunted even now.
Shem nodded and turned to the grand master with a bow. "Grand Master Shan, my Lord Darth Monikas requests a moment of your time to discuss a matter of grave mutual importance."
Shan smiled and the other Jedi tensed. She gestured to the others then, and asked them to put the Temple on further alert. "Come then, Master Norm. Lord Monikas. Let us discuss this matter in private." The guards looked shocked but she gestured to Julienne to follow and turned to walk away. Julienne joined Shemric and they fell in step.
Nice outfit, he said. Sexy and intimidating.
I am glad you like it, she said. Shem was feeling along their link to sense her emotions and it was impossible to keep him out. He knew how worried she was.
As they traveled further into the temple, they hardly noticed the astonished looks of the passers-by who stared openly at a Sith accompanying the grand master and Shemric. Finally, she spoke again.
Will she listen, your Grand Master, asked Julienne?
I think she will, said Shem. She has always been quite amenable to persuasion if led to it.
She did not seem overly surprised to see me, said Julienne
We have discussed you.
I told you not to mention this to her, she said sharply.
Discussed you in a general sense, he amended. She senses that something is coming and did not want to be caught off guard.
In a few minutes they were at her office door and the guards there were clearly loath to let the Sith pass.
"Come," said Shan. "I sense an urgency about you. Let us discuss what needs to be discussed."
When they had sat across from each other on the low, hard chairs in her office, Julienne began without preamble.
"I have come to seek your help and that of the Jedi, Grand Master," she said. "There is a very great threat in the form of the Sith Emperor and I have put all the pieces in play that I can muster against him. Unfortunately, few among the Sith agree with me and I brought fewer than twenty allies with me. All Lords or very accomplished warriors, but we need more. We intend to assault the Emperor's citadel and bring an end to him."
Shan just looked at her for several long moments. The woman's thoughts were racing ahead of Julienne's words. "How do you plan to actually destroy the Emperor? He is said to have near-limitless power."
Julienne maintained her demeanor but was inwardly surprised at this knowledge. The woman's aura in the Force was substantial. Shem's mother came to mind. She would be a very formidable ally.
"Shemric is the key," said Julienne. "He can drain the Emperor's power so that he can be destroyed."
That is your plan!? To use my parlor trick to destroy the most powerful being in the galaxy!
It is not a trick, said Julienne calmly. It is a gift. And you have been working to make it more effective. Hush now and calm yourself. She needs to see you confident.
"Shem tells me you have visions; have you seen this?" asked Shan.
Now who has been sharing our secrets, asked Julienne with a raised eyebrow?
It came up. They were trying to understand us, said Shem. Julienne's gave Shemric the equivalent of a metal snort before speaking aloud.
"If Shem told you that much, then he must have told you that he is outside my field of sight," said Julienne. "I cannot see him, but I believe that is what can and must happen. We must breach the outer perimeter, fight the Sith warriors and Lords he will have assembled and give Shem an opportunity to defeat him."
Shan considered first Julienne, then Shem for a few moments before nodding. "Very well, what do you need?"
Julienne's eyes widened. "Just like that?" She had expected more arguments. Especially since the woman seemed to have some sense of what they were facing.
"What did you expect Lord Monikas?" asked Shan.
Julienne snorted out loud this time. "I expected to fight my way out of the temple and maybe not even escape the planet."
"Was that a vision or a suspicion?" asked Shan.
"A suspicion," admitted Julienne.
"Well, I have expected something momentous for some time and I thought that Shem would be at the heart of it," said Shan. "So I ask again, what do you need?"
"As many Masters as will come with us on this raid," said Julienne. "I have not seen a great army. Just a handful, really."
"And you seem to be in a rush…" said Shan.
"The Emperor's agents have been tailing us closely," said Julienne. "I suspect they are even now contemplating what sort of incident it will provoke if they make planetfall and attack the Jedi Temple."
"Then give me thirty minutes," said Shan. "I will send word and try to persuade as many as I can. You have a ship, I assume?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Julienne.
"Then please, go with Shem and stay out of sight for a bit," said Shan. "Meet us on the front steps in 30 minutes."
"Thank you, I will," said Julienne, rising quickly and taking Shem's hand.
Julienne had limited his awareness of her until she reached out and took his hand. All at once they joined together and Shem's eyes went wide as her consciousness spread in his mind. He was trying to follow all the different possibilities she had been juggling and he was not prepared for it. Stay with me, dear. We have something we need to do while they are discussing this. She tugged him out of the room before he knew it and even the incredulous stares of the guards, Knights and Masters outside did little to shake his stupor. It was simple enough to pluck the location of his room out of his mind and she continued to tug him in that direction. Come along, Shemric. Our time is short and I have no intension of wasting it.
Where are we going, he asked?
Your room, of course. I wish you to impregnate me before we leave. That was the most important thing she had to accomplish here on Tython. In no possible future did they succeed unless she was with child. She had been carefully preparing for that possibility since the visions had shown her it must be.
Shemric stumbled but Julienne's grip on his arm was a vice.
You want me to do what?
Julienne nearly sighed. They really did not have a lot of time for this, but Shem was still reeling from seeing all the possible futures in her mind. Still, she needed to treat him carefully. Perhaps a bit of humor would help…
Surely you have heard that babies come when men and women … " she began.
I know that, but why now? What has gotten into you?
My imminent demise. Yours. Neither of us. Both of us. Failure. All of those things are possible, but success is also possible. If that is going to happen, I have to be with your child when we go to face him, she explained. Her grip on his arm had not slackened, nor had her pace towards his room. I must go to this fight with your child in my womb or we will fail. And don't ask me why! I have no idea. We have only one chance at this. She nearly chuckled to herself. Well, maybe two; she did give us 30 minutes after all. She sensed his confusion but knew she had to end it quickly. For once just do what you are told!
Shem's mind was churning. It was not that hard to read his every thought while they were joined and his guard was down. Having a child with Julienne had been his greatest desire since nearly the beginning, but this rush was a little much for him. She had to be carrying his child for them to win? How was that going to help? What if he died? What if she was killed? This was madness.
Julienne knew she need to head this line of thinking off quickly. She jerked him to a stop took his face in her hands until he met her eyes under the shadow of her hood.
Listen to me, Shemric! You have to trust me. Many things can happen now and I cannot predict all of them. Perhaps my desire to be the mother of your child is shading my visions. It has happened before. But it doesn't matter. I want this! There will be no time in the coming days and we need to focus on the mission. These may be the last 30 minutes in our lives where we can be alone. Together. I want to go into this fight knowing we started our family and protect that dream with everything that we have. I love you, Shemric. I always have, in my way, and I always will.
She let down her mental walls then and showed him everything, not from her visions but her desires and hopes for the future and her love for him. She knew it would be nearly as overwhelming as the other things he had seen, but he deserved it. His unfailing loyalty to her over the years was the single greatest reason they had a chance to succeed.
Of course, he started crying right there in the hall, but this time, she found it endearing, not annoying. He was Shem and he was hers if she could keep him safe.
He stepped closer and gave her a rib-cracking hug and kissed her soundly.
Now, can we go, said Julienne?
After you, my lady, he said and kept a firm grip on her hand all the way to the room.
Julienne had wondered if she would feel different, knowing she held the beginnings of another life inside her body. She had hoped she would simply because she wanted to be confident they had succeeded. Any normal woman would have had to wait for days to find out, but Julienne did not have days; by this time tomorrow they would be assaulting the Emperor's citadel. She had no idea how she would know but she took her recent knowledge taught from the Jedi holocron and sank into a deep trance. She used it to become aware of her body in a way she had never before experienced. And then she waited. She had not the faintest idea what she was looking for so that when it came to her, it was so subtle she nearly missed it.
It was like a spark. Something was there. It did not yet have a form or a voice but it was a Beginning. She smiled inwardly and slowly rose out of the trance to become aware of Shemric and the room around them. He was looking at her and she smiled at him.
"I think our time is about up," he said with regret.
"Well, we have done what we can," she said. She laughed then, for no reason she could pinpoint. Shem had that effect on her sometimes.
"Bet you can put on your armor faster than I can," she said.
"That won't even be a contest," he said laughing, and rolled off the small bed and threw open a foot locker that was the only piece of luggage in the room that was his. Despite his claim, she beat him by a wide margin and teased him for being slow.
"You have made us late," she said.
They jogged through the hall steadily until they arrived at the front doors to find less than a dozen Jedi waiting for them, including Master Shan.
Well that recruiting job went poorly, said Julienne.
They approached the grand master who was flanked by a short being of a species Julienne did not recognize. In the Force, she felt like a female and Shemric obviously knew her well.
"Battlemaster Nofa, I hope you are well," said Shemric.
"As well as can be for one my age," said small Jedi. "Much better now that I get to meet your lovely Sith yum-yum," she cackled. Shan smiled wanly. To her horror, Julienne actually blushed. "Come now, young lady, take off that hood and let's have a look at you. I am quite fond of this young man and I should like to make sure he has not made a mistake."
The woman had a way about her that was both comforting and commanding and Julienne found herself obeying. The Jedi Nofa smiled broadly as she looked up at Julienne. "Oh, I see our dear Shemric was doomed from the start. Well, I hope you two know what you are doing." She elbowed Shem in the thigh and whispered so loudly that everyone could hear her. "She is quite the looker, your yum-yum. I guess I can hardly blame you." And then she offered a hand for Julienne to shake.
"Julienne, this is Battlemaster Nofa who is clearly pleased with her own cleverness," said Shem.
"It is a pleasure to meet someone who speaks their mind, for a change," said Julienne gravely.
"Well, it is a failing of the old," said Nofa. "So are we all going to die on this little adventure, do you think?"
"That is the most likely outcome," said Julienne.
Nofa cackled in amusement but Shem started. "Are you coming, battlemaster?"
"I most certainly have volunteered," she said. "The others have, oh, about five more minutes to appear before we leave." She leaned closer to Julienne's leg and whispered. "I would not go telling the rest we are about to die. It is bad for morale."
"I will take that into consideration, ma'am," said Julienne. "However, there is some chance that we will win and survive. In fact, it seems to be increasing all the time. You see, it seems that Shem here managed to impregnate me a few minutes ago, even if it took him two tries. That was sort of important in my visions."
Nofa burst out laughing and slapped her knee several times while Shem looked away, his face on fire.
Do we need to be sharing that with everyone, asked Shem?
It is good news; don't most newly expecting parents share that kind of thing, she said innocently?
During the next five minutes their numbers increased dramatically as masters and a few knights hurried up in full battle gear. One of the last was an older master who actually winked at Shemric.
"I think that might be all we are going to get, grand master," said Nofa.
Julienne counted about two dozen.
Is that going to be enough, Shem asked?
It is just about right, said Julienne. I have to admit though, this is going to be a small army to take on the might of the Empire.
Yeah, and that does not even consider how you think I am going to defeat him, said Shem.
Do not worry, my love, she said. We have to get there first. We might not even make it that far.
Lovely, he muttered.
At that moment, the grand master stepped forward. "I am not going to make any sweeping speeches to motivate you, but I will thank you for coming. Your trust in me is appreciated. From now on, Lord Monikas will be running this mission and I will be following her orders." She nodded at Julienne as Shem heard some low murmuring. They did not seem to like that bit of news. Shem had not realized the grand master was coming until that moment.
"Grand Master Shan, are you sure it is a good idea for you to be leaving," asked Shem? Several of the masters nearby shook their heads and soon all were listening.
"I am not sure if it is good or bad, Master Norm, but if you are right, and we fail, nothing I will be doing here will matter," she said. "As such, I prefer to lend a hand."
Julienne called her ship's pilot and told him to come right to the temple steps. Less than five minutes later a Sith Dropship sped into view. She stepped forward quickly to address the group.
"My name is Julienne," she began. "Though I have earned the title of Sith Lord from years of hard work and sacrifice, much as you masters have, I do not expect you to use my title, if you prefer not. We are going to be joining a similar number of Sith Lords and warriors under my command who have equally volunteered for this mission. We all need to fight together to get through this and succeed, so please, think of them as patriots to their cause, much as you view yourselves, and treat them with respect, as they will treat you." She nodded and the dropship set down with the ramp already lowering.
They boarded quickly and strapped in before lifted off under heavy G's to speed skyward in a roar of rocket engines. Nofa had chosen to sit next to them, but it was impossible to speak amidst the engine noise. Her craggy face looked quite serene as they left the atmosphere and the ride smoothed out.
"Two minutes to Jump," came a voice over the intercom. "Hold on tight. We have unfriendlies."
The ship lurched under cannon fire and then began to maneuver wildly as the pilot attempted to line up the jump to hyperspace while not being destroyed by the hostile ships. Shem looked across at Grand Master Shan whose eyes were closed and seemed to almost be sleeping. In a few moments the lurching stopped and in less than a minute they had jumped to hyperspace. Master Shan's eyes opened abruptly and Julienne if she had done something to affect the craft or pilots that were following them. Influencing someone's mind from a great distance was difficult, but Julienne thought she might have managed it had it occurred to her.
"You are free to get up and move around if need be," came the pilot's voice again. "This is going to be a short hop before we rendezvous with our other partners in this venture. Basic rations are in the bulkhead at the front. The head is in the back."
Julienne went forward to speak to the pilot and then returned shortly. Shem seemed surprised when she reached out and took his hand. I appreciate your public displays of affection, dear, he said.
Her mental sending was amused. It matters very little what the others think of me anymore. After this, I will no longer be a Sith Lord, just as you will no longer be a Jedi Master. What we were is behind us now. I am sorry for making fun of you back on the temple steps. Our child is not a joke to me. It is our future and my hope is that we meet that future together.
I was just surprised. Women talk about anything to each other, he teased.
Well, your friend seemed to be in on our secrets and she had an entitled sort of way about her as if she deserved to know, said Julienne.
She has been my closest friend since I arrived on Tython, said Shem. I think she views me as the grandson she never had.
She seems sweet. Was she really the Battlemaster, asked Julienne?
Yes, she was, he said. Do not let her size fool you. She taught me a great deal and tested me even further. On another subject, who are we going to meet?
Julienne shifted to meet his eyes and smile. Why, your friend the Mandalorian Champion of course. And a few of his compatriots. That surprised Shem. He had not thought the Mandalorians would get involved. They did not. It is just the champion, Dao Stryver and a few others. They are providing a fighter escort and a few warriors to accompany us.
"You two are giving me a headache, with all you mind-speaking," said Nofa abruptly. "Can we have a conversation like normal people?" Both Julienne and Shemric stopped abruptly to stare in surprise. Nofa rolled her eyes in a very human-like gesture that was even more effective when your eyes were the size of hers.
"Your pardon, Battlemaster Nofa," said Julienne. "We will try to keep things on a tighter string from now on. We don't mean to be a bother." It had not occurred to her that anyone would 'overhear.'
"You rousted me out of my stupor at the temple for the first time in years," said Nofa. "You are not a bother. But… it would be nice to have a conversation in the normal fashion."
"And what would you like to talk about Master Nofa?" asked Julienne politely.
"How about Nerf steaks?" said the Jawa. "It has been a long time since I had a really good Nerf steak."
Julienne wondered if the battlemaster just like to say things to see the reaction she received. Two could play that game. "And how do you like your Nerf cooked?" said Julienne.
"Oh, rare, of course," said Nofa. "Why scorch all that good meat?"
"I like mine a little more done, but I don't mind it a bit rare," said Julienne. "My father used to cook it a bit on one side and then the other and call it good. I used to tease him that his food was bleeding." Julienne took a sharp breath and covered her mouth in a gesture of surprise. "I have not thought about that in twenty years." Memories came flooding back to her of camping trips and fun times. Her parents had loved her dearly. And now she was going to cry in front of a ship full of Jedi and Sith warriors.
Nofa reached across Shemric to squeeze Julienne's knee. "That is a good memory to bring up. It helps us to remember the ones we love. Tell me then, what is your favorite memory of Shem, then?"
Julienne brought herself back to the present and considered the small woman's question. "Battlemaster, I have many memories of Shemric and for the most part, they are the only really happy or peaceful ones that I recall. I'm not sure I can separate out one. However, I will tell you his most positive trait; he is and has been unfailingly loyal to me since the day we met."
They chatted quietly for a time until Julienne was able to sit back and revisit that memory of camping with her parents. She had blocked out all memories of them and knew she needed to recall them. She was about to become a parent and she was terrified that she would not have the first clue how to begin.