Chapter 28

"I don't believe it", Mara Jade said in disbelief as she watched the footage of Skywalker's arrest on Mandalor. "Don't believe what?", Zyon asked as he entered the room, followed by Ragnos, the half-breed stood tall, he had to crouch to enter the room, making it seem like he was a small Rancor. "My probe droid just transmitted it's recording", Mara explained as she showed Zyon and Ragnos the footage, "Skywalker just likes getting himself into trouble", she said in anger. This wasn't good, at least, for her. With Skywalker arrested, she couldn't continue her mission, and she would have to face another round of torture from Rax. Mara flinched at the thought of being electrocuted again until she was left unconscious. "These are New Republic forces, why are they arresting their own hero?", Zyon asked as he pointed to the screen. The screen displayed the young man, the Togruta, and the Mandalorian arguing with the leading officer, who was a green Twi'lek, as they were moved into the modified CR-90 Corvette.

"They're afraid", Ragnos stated as he stared at the black sky. "Afraid?", Mara asked confused about Ragnos's words, "Why would they be afraid of Skywalker? I get he killed the Emperor and Vader, help end the Empire. But we should be afraid of him. Not... them", Mara tried to explained. Ragnos simply chuckled at Mara's attempt for an explanation. "My dear disciple, you must see the bigger picture", Ragnos began, "If what you told me is true, Skywalker is the last of all the jedi. With no sith, or any jedi order, nothing can stop Skywalker from taking whatever he wants. The Republic always had a history of being betrayed, it seems that this new government had learned from its mistakes in trusting the jedi", Ragnos finally explained as he just smiled at the vacuum of space in front of him.

"So what should we do now? We can't exactly attack the fleet. We are definitely outnumbered", Zyon stated as he walked over to the resurrected sith lord, "And I don't think your little group of imperials want attention that badly", he said looking over at Mara. "Where are they taking the jedi?", Ragnos asked her. Mara looked at the nava-computer determining the hyperspace route the New Republic fleet would take, and all the ships were facing one direction. Coruscant. Of course, the heart of the Republic, this is going perfectly, Mara sarcastically exclaimed in her mind. "They're heading to Coruscant", Mara said calmly, though internally she was panicking. The mission was already dangerous just following Skywalker and with Rax breathing behind her back, but they now had to go Coruscant, a place filled with enemies. Hopefully Ragnos would reconsider all of this-

"Set course for Coruscant", Ragnos commanded as he kept staring at the black heart of space, observing each asteroid that periodically passed every few minutes. "Are you crazy?", Mara shouted in horror, "You want us to follow them right into their own base!? That is the most ridiculous plan ever". Ragnos slowly moved his head towards Mara, his yellow eyes glimmering down at her, he suddenly grabbed Mara by the neck lifting her off the ground. Mara desperately tried to cry out. But Ragnos simply tightened his grip on her. "Never underestimate me child. I may be a fraction of my previous self, but I am still powerful. I sense conflict in you, you may have it hidden, but it's there. You are weak", Ragnos got closer to Mara as he whispered in her ear, "And the weak shall suffer a painful death. Never question me or my decision, understand?". Mara nodded as tears started forming in her eyes, Ragnos started to squeeze her neck even more. Mara slowly started to turn purple when Zyon's voice broke the silence.

"Ragnos!", Zyon shouted. The sith lord looked at the Master of the Knights of Ren, still with the same glimmering eyes staring right through Zyon's soul. "What is it, Ren?", Ragnos said as he loomed over Zyon. "We should get back to the task at hand", Zyon said holding his ground. Ragnos smiled, "Yes, my apology Ren". Ragnos loosened his grip on Mara, as she collapsed to the floor gasping for air. Zyon extended his hand to help Mara get up, but she swatted his hand away from her as she stayed on the ground. "Set course for Coruscant. I have sense an awakening I haven't felt in a long time. There, we will continue our journey to stop the new jedi order from rising", Ragnos ordered as he exited the cockpit to continue training the other knights of ren. "You alright?", Zyon asked Mara once they were alone. "Just do as he says Ren", Mara spitted back. "As you wish", Zyon replied nonchalantly as he started the hyperdrive.


Coruscant- Level 1313

Marka Ragnos led Mara Jade and Ren through the tight alleyway of the undercity. The Knights of Ren were in charge of putting a tracker on Skywalker or any other of his companions if they are seen, and having the perfect disguise to blend in with the crowd, teenagers. Having been taught how to put a tracking beacon without gaining suspicion by Mara herself, they waited near the senatorial building on the upper level. Back to Ragnos, Mara and Zyon, the three were walking towards a large building in the lower levels of Coruscant. "Who are we going to see?", Zyon spoke up as the three walked inside the building. "I don't know. He changes his name every millennia, but I knew him as a child. I trained him", Ragnos spoke. Mara stayed silent, not wanting another scene like the one aboard the Oubliette-class transport. "We have arrived", Ragnos said as he smiled and opened the door to a large room.

The three entered, acknowledging the lack of furniture or color in the room. Pure black, but in the middle was a single chair. The chair had a round base, with a red cushion set between. Zyon noted it was the same style as the chairs in the old jedi chamber in the temple. "I thought I have felt a great disturbance", a voice suddenly said. Ragnos turned to the source of the sound, there at the corner of the room, was a silhouette of an alien. "It is you", Ragnos responded to the creature. The alien slowly came out of the shadow, revealing himself. The alien was tall, almost six feet by Mara's estimation. And he was slim, very slim. The skeletal hands leading to a golden robe, perhaps double his size. And despite all that, the alien was handsome, he looked almost human, but bald. He had a clear set of cold blue eyes. "Long, have I waited for you, my old master", the alien spoke.

"Who are you?", Mara said speaking up. She's been on Coruscant many times as a child during Palpatine's career as Emperor, even made a few friends with the locals, despite of hating the Empire. She's been with the Empire destined to become an inquisitor, before that wing of the military collapsed, she's been the Emperor's right hand for years. And not once, has she seen this alien before. "I said, who are you?", Mara asked again as if the alien had no ears. The alien simply smiled,

"I am... Snoke".