Good evening, everyone! How are you doing on this warm and cloudy night of Sunday, March 28, 2021? I'm doing well, as I finished my homework for the weekend a few hours ago, and I figured I'd work on the 4th chapter of this story. Afterwards, I'll work on the 2nd chapter of my original Jedi Odyssey Epilogue, as I owe that to myself and my friends. I don't want to get too bogged down in this story to forget the other work. So, I'm currently looking for a beta reader for my work, as I feel that while I have improved in many regards, I could stand to improve in several other ways. So, if anyone's interested, feel free to shoot me a PM and we can discuss this. In other news, I'm going to read more of Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Vortex tomorrow, as I'll devote what's left of my time tonight for writing. So, with only two hours left, I'd best get started. Wish me luck, and May the Lord be with the people and this world, as I fear both are slipping deeper and deeper into darkness.
(Monday, March 29, 2021 Addendum) Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm night? I'm all right, but I am a little worried about one of my college professors, as they're a little under the weather right now, so they had to cancel class today. And I did a little homework today, and I plan to do more tomorrow. Oh, and I've read a little of Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Vortex today, and I think I'll read a bit more before I go to bed in a few hours. And, I got my work schedule for the next few weeks, so I'll be a bit busy, as I'll be working over 10 hours over two days every week after next week. I hope you're all doing well, and I hope that you all stay safe in this difficult time for all. Well, I'd better go, as I want to get some reading done before I go to bed. God be with us all in these hard and scary times.
In Hyperspace
Aboard the MC80B Mon Adapyne's Bridge
Sixty-Five Minutes From the Honoghr System
"Even if this intel turns out to be valid, the enemy's going to have a head start on us, never mind their damned Sith bioweapon. I hope Rhal and your confederates can at least slow it down." Keyan Farlander, general of the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet and former Jedi Knight of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Order reminded the Mandalorian mole in the Neo Death Watch.
He was a man who, after his early brush with the Dark Side and straining of many old friendships, valued honesty, control, and compassion amongst his force's subordinates and soldiers. It had proven true time and time again as he remained loyal to the Jedi and Alliance, in that order ever since the Sith took over the latter twice in just four short years. And then, the Senate severed their ties with the Order out of idiotic pride and indignation, nearly dooming the galaxy to the armies of darkness.
Even after he left the Order to serve the Alliance at the height of the Dark Nest Crisis, he still maintained powerful ties with them. Those ties only grew stronger after his longtime friend and fellow resigned Jedi Madurrin before her capture and murder by war criminal and galactic tyrant Natasi Daala. He burned to go after her and finally bring her to absolute justice, but others were committed to ending her reign of terror on the galaxy. That left him to help the Alliance finally clean house and prepare itself for the true war against the Sith.
But this war crime the Sith and their Mandalorian dupes were willing to commit, just to tie up a loose end and protect their Galactic Senate turncoats, it truly set his set of teeth on edge and made his stomach churn. It was only sheer luck or the Will of the Force that the Neo Death Watch commander and his top-ranked officers and spies were ready to break away from the army of fanatics and give them a fighting chance against the genocide. And a final bit of irony was that the commander, Thornton Rhal, the son of mass murderer Belok Rhal, was willing to defect to the Jedi and their allies to atone for his father's sins.
That was what Thornton's leading mole and former captive, Mandalorian Protector blacksmith Medrit Vasur, was claiming to tell Keyan. And every one of the aging general's instincts, combat and Force-honed, were telling him that Medrit was being truthful with him. It certainly helped that he provided him with enough illegal transactions to arrest at least a dozen Galactic Alliance senators and their direct agents on charges of corruption. This could very well lead the loyalists to the rest of their conspirators and give the galaxy a fighting chance of purging itself of the One Sith's subverting influence.
Medrit forced him out of his reflection by immediately confirmed, "We'll do what we can. But your fleet needs to speed it up, because Thornton's flotilla will have to attack in just over an hour."
"We'll be right behind you, then. But if this is all some kind of Sith deception, then the full might of my fleet will be brought to bear against your superiors and the One Sith." Keyan viciously warned, closing the HoloNet Channel before the spy could utter a single retort.
Quickly pulling out a datacard from its slot, he prepared to hurry to the comm center. But before he did so, he ordered his XO, Kara Farkus a female Arkanian Offshoot and captain of the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet, "Have the fleet finalize its battle preparations in the next thirty minutes. I need to get this data to Chief Yimmon and the Jedi Council immediately."
"What about our ambassadors and our allies currently stationed at Honoghr? Should we not warn them of this new development?" Kara pointedly out.
"I'm going to trust you with that task, Captain Farkus. I trust you completely with this responsibility, and I don't want to risk handing the wrong person this information. This needs to be handled quietly and carefully." Keyan quickly delegated the responsibility before he continued to walk towards the bridge's turbolift.
The thirty-five-year-old woman knew his general carried secrets from time to time and carried a great deal of guilt over leaving the Jedi Order so many years ago in order to stay with the navy. After everything the Senate and public did to try and discredit them throughout the last twenty years, it took a terrible toll on him and often left him angry and withdrawn from much of his crew.
It was so hard for him to know who to trust with such anti-Jedi sentiment so widespread and accepted by so much of the general population, the burden he must have placed on himself would have crushed most leaders. But still, he carried on in his task, trusting a few brave souls to correct him when he made a mistake, and continued to lead by brave and compassionate example.
Even so, the darkness within him made her and her fellow captains worry that one day, he would take a truly foolhardy risk in an effort to single-handedly redeem the Jedi Order's reputation. If he did so, he would likely do more damage than good for all those that relied on him.
That was why she had to take on a difficult task on behalf of the fleet and Alliance to ensure her trusted leader did not lose his way. She just hoped that her duty would not force her to such extremes one day.
Banishing such dangerous thoughts from her mind, she ordered the comms officer, "I need a secured transmission to the Intrepid and Millennium Falcon at once."
Five Minutes Later
On Honoghr
Within the Town of Nystao
Outside the Millennium Falcon
"Just when one thinks the Sith and their flunkies can't sink any lower." Allana forlornly muttered after Captain Farkus finished warning the Noghri and their off-world allies of the Neo Death Watch's full arsenal.
How could anyone want to destroy such a beautiful, healthy and lush world after all it had suffered through? It was a repeat of the Gahenna incident during the Clone War all over again, only there would not be a third chance for the Noghri people!
Then again, these were glory hounding Mandalorians that despised all things related to the Yuuzhan Vong, and they didterraform this world to fuel their war machine. But still, there were over ten million innocents on this world, and the race had already done so much to fight the extragalactic invaders and defend the entire galaxy.
Even so, at least she took comfort in that there were at least some Mandalorians that had true honor in this mad galaxy, and they were going to help save this world and fight the Sith. Even if her grandparents and the Dorvans were skeptical of their sincerity.
Han took the initiative and asked Wynn, "You think Rhal Jr. is playing it straight with Keyan?"
"I think so. Daala never dealt with Thornton and his company. She deemed them 'too squeamish' for her violent policies and suppression. But I can't say if the intel they provided General Farlander is accurate."
"We should leave that for Chief Yimmon and Garik to decide. Right now, we have a planet about to come under attack in less than an hour, and we only have a company of GAS soldiers, two Jedi, and two shuttles to defend an entire system." Desha factually warned everyone.
"I wouldn't say that, Desha." Leia knowingly smirked. "About fifteen hours before we arrived, I received a transmission from another one of Fett's moles in Neo Death Watch. She reported that she called one of her fellow former rebels to assemble an army and assist us."
"You didn't tell us any of this. None of you did." Maitrakh Rakhark glared at the two Solo generations and their allies, with Han and Allana glaring at Leia alongside the Dorvans and Noghri.
"I didn't tell anyone because Commander Wren was insistent on keeping her friend's force a secret until the time was right. But now that the battle's almost upon us, an old and long-disappeared species can make their big return to the galaxy."
"Wren…" Han remembered those names from the highlight of his smuggler days, and figured out Leia's message, "You called in more of your old Alliance friends, didn't you?"
"No. She and her oldest friends took the initiative on their own. Sabine and always was a productive and proactive woman." Leia sadly answered, knowing the rest of the intelligence Sabine had provided her about her fallen Jedi lover and his actions in throwing Edaan into a coma.
Personal opinions on Kitai aside, she respected the Jedi Knight's unbreakable spirit, loyalty to the Jedi and his loved ones, and compassion for all. She knew that he would prove to be a fulcrum in the war against the One Sith. That was why once Honoghr was secured, she would journey to Falleen to help protect him. And she also knew that her husband and granddaughter would join her.
Of course, the chance to stop Kitai, Gev and their fleet in their rampage would be an added bonus to her. They had to be stopped before they could kill anymore innocents, and they had wasted any chance they could have to attain redemption. And Kitai had betrayed her nephew's trust and broken his heart one too many times. That was completely unforgiveable.
She just had to trust in the Force that the Noghri and their world would be protected from the Sith and their Mandalorian flunkies until they can reinforce them.
But first, she had to inform Luke and Kyle about their new allies. They would still need every advantage they could get, for the odds were still stacked against them.
Ten Minutes Later
Within the Mytaranor Sector
Just Outside the Mytaranor System
Aboard the Keldabe-class battleship Ursa
Within the Captain's Quarters
"You sure you want to do your meditation here, especially this close to your Sith war vessel?" Ezra Wren, captain in his mother's Vindicator Brigade, disbelievingly asked Kitai after she entered her guest cabin, courtesy of the old rebel and double agent.
The typical captain's quarters aboard the Mandalorian warship was a marvel of technological advancement and artistic expression. From old spray paintings of historical figures throughout the last century, to the latest in HoloNet and tactical monitors, this cabin was a true work of art. She was sure that Parja and Bralo would be amazed at this fusion of old and new art if they were here, even if the technology was shut down and disconnected as a precaution from the Sith Lady.
"And how exactly do you plan to keep Ship and the other Sith fooled? If they're even half as smart as you-" Hera Wren, Sabine's daughter, reminded the Sith Lady before she reassured brother and sister,
"Relax. I have a plan." Kitai assured her as she pulled an amulet out from her desk, and Mirta instantly recognized it from her mother's bounty hunting lessons if she ever had to hunt a Jedi.
"A Taozin skin nodule? I don't recall you ever getting one of those." Mirta recalled.
"Lord Krayt gave it to me just before he deployed me to join your cause, and I've held off on using it until a vital occasion arose."
"So, you're going to use a Sith tool to cloak your presence in the Force from everyone altogether in order to do a potentially treasonous act? Clever, but won't you basically run into the same problem we just mentioned?" Hera pointed out.
"I've already got that covered. I told Ship and the rest of the Sith that Mirta and I were going to use the nodule to do help Sabine in her investigation."
"And you really think that'll fool them for long?"
"No. But my anger at their constant spying on me really was getting on my nerves, and I'm sure they ordered Mirta to keep an eye on me. But it'll work just long enough for me to see what the Jedi and their visions have in store for me."
"Palpatine and Skywalker really didn't pull any punches against you, did they?" Hera insightfully asked.
"Yes." She despondently sighed. She did not wish to do this, but she was out of options. She had to decide now what path she could take in life, if she could truly atone for her crimes and be with Ben, or if she was doomed to live and die all alone in darkness. "But I won't run the risk of anyone figuring out what's really going on in here. My friends will die if I slip up in this plan. That's why I needed your mother's help."
Kitai's face softened as she advised her escorts, "Go. Be with your mother and your friends. I'll handle my own inner battle; you do what you have to in order to protect your own."
"Thanks, Vestara. If we don't see you again, die well." Ezra nodded to the tattooed Sith as brother and sister went to check on their other guests' quarters.
"Yeah, you too."
As soon as the cabin doors slid shut, Kitai sat in a meditative position, and repulsively thought, I can't believe I'm gonna give Ben and that smug Palpatine this kind of satisfaction. When this is over, there will be a reckoning with both of them.
But first, she had to figure out how to reach the memories Edaan implanted inside her, and that would be a hard-fought battle. She had immersed herself in the Dark Side for so long, she feared she would be unable to see past its icy tendrils.
Wait. Icy tendrils. She remembered those words from her first journey to Korriban when she was helping the Jedi fight Abeloth while struggling in her loyalty to the Lost Tribe of the Sith. She remembered her joy at feeling the Dark Side swirl all around her, but she could not fully enjoy it because of her new perspective she gained fighting alongside the Skywalkers, and their shared mission.
And from those memories, had her answer. She remembered what Ben told her, and realized what he really meant: she needed to find something to remind her of the pull of the Light Side, and she instinctively knew that she needed to hold onto that symbol like an anchor in a hurricane in order to fully access the memories.
Okay. Find my center and open myself up to the Force like a damned Jedi would. Just like Ben told me. No matter how long it takes. Kitai breathed as she reminded herself, eager to finally rid herself of Edaan's softening influence.
Her love of Ben was the first thing that came to her mind, and she remembered everything that came with it, especially how they both broke each other's hearts with her fateful departure. But that love was mixed with pain and misery, which had only further enabled her descent into darkness.
This would not be sufficient for her travels, but what else could she think of? The only other person to show her even an iota of kindness that still survived was Edaan, and he was currently indisposed. What could work?
Then, as she was thinking of Edaan, a memory suddenly clicked into place, one that she had pushed aside into the deepest recesses of her mind for over fifteen years, at least, until the first of Edaan's memory implants activated, and she found herself slipping out of consciousness.
Within Edaan's Mental Landscape
Sixteen Years Ago
Melona 23rd, 44 ABY
On Coruscant
Within the Jedi Temple's Meditation Gardens
Adari couldn't help but feel an odd sense of wonder and peace course through her, seeing herself walking in the Coruscant Jedi Temple's gardens, basking in the serenity of this tranquil place.
This couldn't have been long after the Jedi recruited Edaan into their ranks. But what significance could it hold for Adari and her quest to save her Jedi fiancé?
Suddenly, her reflections were interrupted by her hearing a young boy cry, and she reached out to sense a terrified presence through the Force. She instantly knew the Force signature, as untrained and scared as he was. And grew worried that he sensed something she did not. Hurrying to his position, she saw him huddled underneath a tree when she saw an image of a person she absolutely loathed: Darth Kitai, but without her orange eyes and the pall of the Dark Side over her.
She realized that she must be seeing when Edaan and Vestara first met, and the violet-skinned woman knew that this was a pivotal moment in his formative years. So she silently watched, putting aside her disgust for the older woman as the Vestara-apparition knelt down and tenderly asked the boy, "Hey. What's wrong, young one?"
In between sobs, the boy looked up to Vestara, kneeling in front of him with a gentle expression, and a warm smile, and he tearfully admitted, "I'm scared."
"What could you be scared of? This is the Jedi Temple, a bastion of light and safety. And besides: You're a young boy, so, at your age, shouldn't you be carefree and energetic? I might be a girl, but I know I was happy when I was your age." Vestara gently chuckled.
"You must be new here, so you don't know." The boy mused before he took a few deep breaths and admitted, "My name is Edaan. Edaan Palpatine. I'm a great-great-grandson of Emperor Palpatine, better known as Darth Sidious. And, to make matters worse, I think I'm sometimes haunted by his ghost when I sleep."
From the surprised glean in her eyes, Adari knew that seeing a living descendant of the most infamous Sith Lord in recent memory was not something that Vestara had expected for her first day in the Jedi Temple. It was a reaction she knew all too well when she first met Edaan when the Jedi were well into invading her homeworld.
But then again, she had lived on a whole planet of Sith for most of her life, and just started dating a renowned Jedi Knight, so expecting the unexpected was a norm for her. Clearly, Vestara felt the same way when she admitted, "Oh. Well, I can see why that would scare you. But let me tell you a little about myself, Edaan. My name is Vestara Khai, and I once was a Sith Apprentice for the Lost Tribe of the Sith." Vestara admitted in order to try and comfort the young boy.
Unfortunately, such a revelation filled him with obvious shock and fear as his eyes bulged wide open and he tried to crawl away from her. But Vestara wouldn't let him run away in fear and quickly blocked his path by gently putting a hand on his shoulder, and tenderly reassuring him, "It's okay, Edaan, I'm not here to hurt you. Believe it or not, I'm here to join the Jedi Order, just like you."
"I- I heard about this new Sith order, and I can sense that you're telling the truth. But, if being a Sith is all that you know, then why would you switch sides?" Edaan hesitatingly said as he looked up to face Vestara's patient and tender smile.
"Because of love, Edaan." Vestara honestly admitted, "I assume that you know of Ben Skywalker?" Upon seeing Edaan nod in affirmation, she continued, saying, "Well, over the last year, I slowly fell in love with him, and just a few days ago we shared our first kiss, became a couple, and now I'm here to train as a Jedi. So, if I can try to exceed the legacy of my tainted family, then surely you can at least try to use your gifts that the Force gave you for good."
"I... I guess." Edaan hesitatingly said before he suddenly felt a strange warmth fill him, a warmth that helped him calm down, a warmth that made Vestara wonder just what it was.
Suddenly, he spontaneously asked Vestara, "Will you be there to help me train so that one day, when I'm grown up and we're Jedi Knights, we can fight side by side together?"
"Of course, Edaan. You have my word." Vestara sincerely said before adding, "And maybe when all's said and done, you can tell me more about my family. Who knows, maybe I can meet them one day."
Edaan perked up even more at that, and nodded, "I'd like that."
"Good. Now, I'd better get you to Knight Korr for the evacuation shuttles." She offered her hand to the Jedi Youngling, who eagerly took it, and she escorted him to Jaden, vowing to help Edaan on his journey to become a Jedi Knight once the Lost Tribe of the Sith and Abeloth were defeated for good.
Adari could not help but tenderly smile at the innocence and hope the eight-year-old Edaan held, even in the presence of a woman she hated so fiercely. This helped her understand why he was so determined to save Vestara, and she loved him all the more for his loving and noble heart.
But she remembered how Vestara would soon betray the Jedi many times over the next two months, and she dreaded seeing how badly Edaan would take such a betrayal. Suddenly, the image of the Temple changed, and Adari wondered just where the next set of memories would take her.
Within Kitai's Subconsciousness
Two Months Later
On Relona 12th On Shedu Maad
Within the Jedi Academy
"Steady your breathing, Edaan. Feel the Force flow through you and extend your senses." Master Tionne Solusar kindly instructed the struggling Jedi Initiate.
Focusing his mind, he could feel the serenity of the other Initiates, as well as the worries of the Jedi overseers. The Knights and Masters could feel Edaan's turmoil, and they could venture a good guess as to what it was. They all felt it coming from Coruscant and the devastation Abeloth created on the capitol world as she escaped through creating ground quakes and underground volcanoes to cover her departure, capturing Ben Skywalker alongside her Sith accomplice, Vestara Khai.
As Edaan tried to bring his emotions back under control, he felt eight strong and familiar presences abruptly be severed from this plane of existence. Each being screeched his name through the Force as they died from the devastation that covered the entire planet.
"MOM! DAD! GUYS! NO!" He screamed, their agony echoing through the deepest recesses of his soul, and he felt the pain overwhelm him, knocking him unconscious in a handful of moments.
As he slipped out of consciousness, he heard Tionne scream in her comlink for a healer for Edaan.
From there, the memory faded, and Kitai had a sinking feeling she would know what would come next. She was about to see how Edaan learnt of her betrayal and heartbreak of Ben, and it would rip her heart out once again, seeing the anger and despair from the man she loved, and the heartbreak on the innocent Edaan.
Eighteen Days Later
On Relona 30th
Within the Medical Wing
As Edaan slowly fought his way back to consciousness from a coma, Kitai could not help but wonder how strongly he felt the destruction on Coruscant, and felt a pang of worry run through her, one she did not stop this time.
Suddenly, a Chandra-Fan she recognized as Jedi healer Tekli, appeared, watching over Edaan from a respectable distance, along with a young and injured Ben observing him with a cautious expression. Seeing him so broken and emotionally wounded broke Kitai's heart, and she wished she didn't have to leave him all those years ago on Abeloth's planet.
"Ah. I see that the young Edaan Palpatine has awakened from his coma. Excellent." Tekli clinically said as she examined the results of the brain scan on a datapad.
"Wh- who are you? And, where am I?" Edaan groggily said as he tried to sit up, only to be held down by the firm hand of Ben, who had a gentle but pained look on his face as he held him down.
"Thank you, Ben." Tekli gratefully said before she turned her attention to the bedridden Edaan, and then politely said, "My name is Tekli, and this is Ben Skywalker. We are both Jedi Knights, and the two of us have been caring for you ever since you passed out during a meditation session two weeks ago, and Ben arrived three days ago. Are you all right?"
"I- I'm fine." Edaan said before asking, "How long was I out, and where's Vestara?" That was not a question either Jedi Knight expected, if the widened eyes were any indication for the eight-year old. Such innocence tore at Kitai's heart, as she knew what was coming next. Her next encounter with Ben at the Qrephs' monolith showed her how hateful and bitter the Jedi Knight had become so quickly.
"What did you say?" Ben gravely whispered, anger coming off the older human in powerful waves, sending shivers of fear over Kitai's spine at how hard his heart was becoming so quickly.
"I said, where is Vestara Khai? She's my friend, and I want to see if she's alright." Edaan honestly repeated.
After a moment that seemed to stretch on for eternity, Ben with such hate that even Kitai was stunned, spat out, "Thatkarking smooka was a Sith agent all along, and she tried to kill my Aunt Leia, Uncle Han, and adoptive cousin, Amelia. And, when I tried to bring her in to be held accountable for her betrayal, she blasted me with Force Lightning, and fled in, Ship, her personal Sith Meditation Sphere. We haven't seen her since, and that was two weeks ago. She's probably gone back to her people by now, and we have no idea where the remainder of them are."
"What?" Edaan said in disbelief, as he couldn't seem to comprehend the new information that he had just received. "No, no, that can't be true. She would never betray the Jedi. She was so set on becoming a Jedi, she- she promised me that she would be by my side while I train to become a Jedi." He said in denial.
"Well, I am sorry, young Edaan, but it appears that she was lying to you in order to integrate herself within the Jedi Order, where she could do the most damage to the free galaxy." Tekli sympathetically said.
"No, no, NO! YOU'RE LYING! SHE IS MY FRIEND! SHE-she's my friend. She would never..." Edaan intensely shouted as he struggled to get out of his bed, only to feel a sudden numbness come over him while he spoke as he slowly fell asleep due to the sedative that Tekli gave him in order to ease his frantic body and mind.
In Hyperspace
Aboard the Ursa
Within the Captain's Quarters
Approximately 100 Hours From the Falleen System
Kitai gasped for breath as she shocked herself out of the meditation, her mind reeling from what she just saw. She finally understood why Edaan began his mission to redeem himself, and it was both remarkable and absurd at the same time.
This Jedi Knight, when he was a mere Initiate, met her back when she was still naïve girl Vestara Khai, and held to the promise like an anchor in a storm of a hostile galaxy for him and his family. It drove him forward to do whatever it took to stop her descent into darkness. He even kept this faint and fleeting hope alive when all evidence and the entire galaxy was against him.
And now, against all odds, he had convinced Ben to resume his quest to 'redeem' her, and her last encounter with him helped to reignite the old conflict in her soul of what she was supposed to do.
Well, there was no sense brooding over what have been. She had to finish the meditation before the rest of the Sith caught onto her little scheme.
On Falleen
Within the Xoma Plains
Inside Resistance Safe House 145
Aboard the Rude Awakening
Within Edaan's Subconsciousness
Adari could not help but tear up at how broken Edaan sounded when he discovered Vestara's actions, and how horribly Ben was treating him for such an innocent question for a dear friend. At least Tekli was trying to be kind to the eight-year-old initiate when Ben couldn't seem to care less.
But even so, Adari could not help but note how this was when Ben started down his path of self-loathing and bitterness for the next fifteen years. It took his dead mother appearing to him to set him back on the righteous path.
And to think, the Skywalker and Solo families were supposed to be a symbol of redemption and hope for all, regardless of their backgrounds. And instead, they decided to eradicate all Sith from the galaxy instead of trying to defeat them through redemption.
For krething's sake, the Jedi redeemed an entire extragalactic and genocidal species from a path of self-extinction and saved countless lives over their thirty-five thousand years of service to the galaxy. They set the stage for countless evils to be destroyed, all the way from the Rakatan Infinite Empire to the latest incarnations of the Sith and megalomaniacs. They deserved better than to be treated as galactic pariahs, even if their methods may have been highly extreme in countless instances, or many of their members were too arrogant or dogmatic in their thinking.
And Ben and his family had been on the verge of throwing it all away for their obsessive drive to commit total genocide the Sith, dragging the rest of the Jedi along with them. It took one of the Order's apprentices, a Palpatine, of all things, to set some of them on the right path again, and he wasn't even done with his mission.
Well, if Kitai was saved and Vestara returned, she would have a lot of choice words to say to the Skywalkers and Solos for their hypocrisy.
Just then, the memory faded, and she saw another bright spark floating in the center of a pure white chamber. Although, this one was different in color. Whereas the first shard was blue in color, this one was a dark black. Perhaps it indicated Edaan's emotional state from each instance.
Grabbing the fragment, she felt herself being transported to the next fragment before she was abruptly halted.
Seeing herself cast in a foggy grey space, she wondered what was going on before she felt several familiar presences surround her.
Sighing, she saw Meetra and Kreia appear behind her. "You're appearing sooner than I thought. So, I take it Snoke and his Sith are catching onto us?"
"If not yet, then very soon. But quite perceptive of you, Adari. I am beginning to better see why Edaan is so beguiled by you beyond your beauty." Kreia nodded, a small smirk gracing her face.
"How long can you misdirect them from finding me?" Adari quickly said. Time was of the essence, and there was no time for small talk or banter.
"We will do everything we can. But Snoke is a cunning and ruthless one. He will not let up easily."
"How many fragments are left to find before I can reach Edaan's central psyche? If I can't reach him in time-"
"No more than eight remain." Meetra answered. "But there is another development you need to be aware of. One equally pressing and can easily determine the fate of Edaan's mission and the galaxy. Kitai has accessed the memories Edaan implanted inside of her and is reliving the most vital aspects of his past."
Adari's jaw opened nearly as quickly as her heartbeat picked up. Kitai had already begun to take a major step towards redemption, just as Edaan said she would. And it was happening right when the Keshiri was working to save her love. If that did not have "the Will of the Force", or the Celestials, as Edaan would sometimes say, written all over it, she did not know what power ruled the cosmos.
"She's going to do it." Adari marveled. "Edaan's plan is actually gonna work, and Vestara and Ben are actually going to reunite."
"If only a man and woman's love was all that truly was at stake." Meetra smirked.
"Be very careful of prematurely declaring victory, Adari Thayn." Kreia cautioned the young woman. "The Force is always in motion, and you know very well better than either of us how a woman can be incredibly stubborn in anything. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart and soul."
"What? Are you saying that neither of you never fell in love before?"
"We were both too busy with three wars of rapid succession to worry about such trivial things. Rather like you and your efforts to make small talk when you should be working to save our student." Meetra reminded her.
Within the Horuset System
On Korriban
Deep Within the Planet's Catacombs
As the Voice and right hand of Darth Krayt, the Dread Lord of the One Sith, Darth Wyyrlok was in charge of leading the Sith Order until his master was fully recovered from his years entombed in stasis. And the report the man who once called himself Ezra Bridger was delivering was not a promising one.
"I believe the Jedi are trying to interfere with my efforts against Jedi Palpatine." Darth Snoke, fallen Jedi Padawan turned-Dark Lord of the Sith, and the principal agent that was responsible for Edaan Palpatine's current coma, quickly and grimly reported to Wyyrlok via holocall.
"How can you be sure of this? I thought that your efforts forced him to retreat into his very being to keep his mind intact."
"I can sense someone has placed themselves Edaan's fractured consciousness. And whoever it is, they're trying to reach the core of his psyche and heal his damaged mind."
"Then target the Force User that dares to interfere in your work and focus on recovering the boy's intelligence. The Master-"
"Lord Wyyrlok, let me make something very clear." Snoke heatedly interrupted him. "I have done my part and tried to subvert the Jedi's resolve for years, just as you ordered me. I gave you what intel I can get from him when his guard is down, allowing us to save several key agents and salvage what we could from our failed operations. But there is a new problem you need to be aware of, one that could very well derail all of our plans for Edaan Palpatine."
"I sensed six other presences within Edaan's mind. Six very old, and very powerful presences trying to cloud my senses and hide whoever is working to restore Edaan's mind. I believe his dead masters are trying to stall for time while the intruder saves the boy."
Before the Chagrian could consider these words, an Iktotchi Sith Lord, another former Jedi who once called himself Ferren Barr, appeared into focus before Wyyrlok and Snoke.
Wyyrlok was not pleased with yet another interruption in his work. He was already busy enough with preparing his master from awakening from his slumber. "Make it fast, Oculus."
"I believe Kitai is about to make a major play soon, and I fear it will be against the One Sith." The Sith Inquisitor quickly answered, shocking both elder Sith from such a bold and dangerous proclamation.
"What proof can you bring to us?" Wyyrlok gritted out.
"Her presence in the Force has vanished completely from Lady Sariss, Ship, and I. She claims to be working with Commander Wren to root out the traitors in their ranks."
"And you just let her go to Wren without so much as a fight?" Snoke heatedly reprimanded the younger Sith.
"She kept it a secret from the fleet until we couldn't stop her, and we couldn't do anything without tearing our loyalists apart. For all the good it'll give us. As far as we know, she could be doing anything to sabotage us, and we wouldn't know a whiff about it." Oculus elaborated.
Wyyrlok remembered how, in Kitai's early days with the One Sith, several acolytes had long suspected Kitai's lingering attachment to Ben Skywalker would undo her commitment to the One Sith and the Dark Side. But he forced them to defer to the Dread Lord's will and allow her to prove herself. Given this new information, perhaps he should have given those lower-ranking Sith more consideration.
If Kitai had indeed betrayed them, he would not allow this weak and lovesick fool to jeopardize the Grand Design his master had strived for.
Despite many setbacks facing the order, the galaxy was at the precipice of choosing between order and chaos, and the One Sith just had to give it just a few more pushes before it tipped towards the Dark Side for eternity. And they would certainly not let a Jedi Knight's incessant hounding of the entirety of their operations compromise their work anymore than he already had.
But how to stop Kitai before she tried to betray the Sith and help unravel the Grand Design even further? And what if she was not a traitorous schutta as Oculus believed? Perhaps it was time to take a peek into her mind, and see if she truly was a traitor, or just seeking a little solitude to prepare for the coming battle.
Deciding to prepare all possibilities, he ordered Oculus, "Reach out to Phasma and the Zygerrians. If Kitai betrays the One Sith, and has enticed Commander Gev to aid you, then you will destroy their fleet. But capture the leaders if you can. They may still prove to be a use for us as hostages, or subjects for our alchemists or sorcerers."
"No disrespect intended, my lord, but if our force is so busy dealing with traitors in our ranks, and Phasma and the royal family don't receive reinforcements, they may very well lose control of Falleen. You know the Jedi are preparing a force to break through the planet's blockade."
"I am more than well aware of those facts, Oculus. That is why I will deploy Lord Malleus and his band of marauders to aid Phasma. But before they arrive to Falleen, I want you and Lady Sariss to coordinate with Lord Snoke and Lady Haxar in keeping Palpatine in his coma, and to ascertain the truth of Kitai's allegiance to us."
"Then I assume I have permission to tell Sariss about my mission?"
Staring at the ex-Jedi Apprentice, Wyyrlok briefly nodded before slowly warning both fallen Jedi, "The four of you will have six hours to prepare your probe. Do not disappoint the Dread Lord, for the price for failure will be quite steep."
Five Minutes Later
On Honoghr
Within the Town of Nystao
Aboard the Millennium Falcon
"And here I thought the Jedi were supposed to have purged themselves of any remaining traitors." Han sighed after Leia told him and Allana what Grand Master Katarn had covertly relayed to her: A Sith-affiliated transmitter was found deep within the Jedi Temple, implicating a high-ranking Jedi as the ringleader of a Sith spy ring. And to make matters worse, the One Sith were creating Jedi clones to infiltrate and subvert the Jedi Order, and Jaden Korr could very well be one of them.
Once they were done securing Honoghr, they were ordered to convince the Noghri to spare a few members to help identify and capture the double-agent. They were already seeking aid from the Hapans and the Chiss, and even Han could see that they could not afford to take any chances. If the One Sith had infiltrated the Jedi Order all the way up to its highest levels, they would need all the help they could get to cleanse itself of such treachery.
"But if it's a clone that's behind all of this, is it really their fault? Maybe they could be saved if we can capture them?" Allana hopefully asked.
"If we can. I'll settle for capturing their lower-ranking accomplices." Leia firmly reminded her granddaughter. Her great intellect, strong heart, and noble compassion aside, Allana still had much to learn about the galaxy and how bitter and unforgiving it could be. But the last thing the elder Solos wanted for her was to be consumed by pain and be twisted into another Darth Caedus, like Jacen was before Jaina was forced to kill him eighteen years ago.
Privately, she feared for Jaina as well, for her sole surviving child had suffered through much in her fight as the Sword of the Jedi. And with the Empire in dire straits from Daala and the One Sith's sabotage, she worried that she would take on an unbearable burden to try and fix it for all the friends and the family she made there. Even if it cost her everything else that she ever held dear, and it tore at the elder Jedi's heart if she was forced between duty and love.
On Bastion
Within the Imperial Headquarters
Inside the Urgent Care Medical Center
Nothing but a deep blackness enveloped the consciousness of Releqy A'Kla. But then, an immeasurably bright light assaulted her eyes, temporarily blinding her as she was thawed out of the block of carbonite that held her in virtual stasis for the past eighteen years.
After she was carefully carried onto a medical bed, she was hooked up to a series life-support machine in case the hibernation sickness had any severe negative effects on her health.
"Where- where am I?" she moaned out as her body felt the full effects of hibernation sickness as she was uncontrollably shivering and felt as if her body was just pulled out of a frozen river or retrieved from the empty vacuum of space.
"Just try to relax, Senator A'Kla. You've been held in carbonite for about eighteen years, and you're suffering from an intense form of hibernation sickness." A firm but gentle male voice reassured her.
"Who are you?" she whispered out in pain.
"My name is Doctor Thalleus Tharn, and my assistants and I are going to be taking care of you until you recover." the voice said.
Despite her body wracked with shivers and pain, that name was familiar to the Caamasi.
After a few minutes of searching through her jumbled memories, she recalled the Bith was a master xenopsychiatric and a leading member of the Greater Coruscant University. What was he doing attending to her?
More importantly, what was Releqy A'Kla doing here as well? The last thing she remembered was being escorted by Galactic Alliance soldiers to-
Suddenly, as a new jolt of pain traveled throughout her nervous system, everything came coming back with vivid clarity. From her childhood, to her time serving the New Republic and the Galactic Alliance as an ambassador and eventual senator, to the Second Galactic Civil War and to her imprisonment in carbonite for being among the few to oppose Darth Caedus's brutal reign.
As her memories fully returned, she asked a series of questions. Did the Jedi and their allies win the war? What is the state of the Galactic Alliance now? What about the Sith?
"Calm yourself, Senator, or you're going to have an aneurism." Said a soothing voice that Releqy recognized all too well, even in its holographic form. That voice belonged to her father's longtime friend: Jedi Master Corran Horn.
"M-Master Horn? You're alive? So, is it safe to assume that the Second G-Galactic Civil War is over, and the C-Confederation rules the galaxy, then?" Releqy inquired.
"No, Senator. The Galactic Alliance is still in power, and Darth Caedus is dead. Jaina killed him shortly after you were placed in carbonite." Corran calmly explained.
After taking a moment to absorb this knowledge, Releqy asked, "How long have my comrades and I been encased in carbonite?"
She could tell, even with her temporary blindness, that Corran was debating whether or not to tell her this information. Suddenly, a strong female voice sadly said, "Eighteen years, and those years have not been kind to the galaxy."
"Jaina? Is that you? What has happened over all these years?" Even as she realized she had lost decades of serving the people, she could not help but be unconditionally kind to everyone, be they longtime friends or complete strangers.
"Far too much to explain in one sitting, I'm afraid. Right now, you need your rest. Daala kept you locked away for Force-knows how long, and we'll need you and the others at your best for the fight to come."
"I want you to share my memnii with you, so I can know what has transpired in my absence." Releqy suddenly said, shocking both Jedi Masters with such a bold request.
"Are you sure?" Corran said with concern lacing his voice.
"Yes. My mind and my faculties are stronger than an average human's, so I am confident I can withstand whatever it is that has transpired." Releqy assured her longtime friend.
"Very well." Jaina acquiesced after the Caamasi assumed she asked corran for permission.
As she placed her hands on Releqy's cheeks, she took a moment to establish the connection, and the flow of memories came rushing into the senator's mind: the end of the Second Galactic Civil War by Jaina killing her own twin brother; the threats of Natasi Daala as Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance for three years before the Jedi overthrew her for her draconian leadership, and her continued incarceration of her conspirators for her own narcissistic and despotic goals; Abeloth and the Lost Tribe of the Sith taking over Coruscant and devastating the planet; the majority of the Galactic Alliance turning its backs on the Jedi after all of their blood and effort spent in protecting it; and the fifteen years of chaos that transpired afterwards.
Finally, she saw a young Jedi Knight, Edaan Palpatine, the memories told her, setting in motion a plan to rebuild the Jedi's ties with the galaxy and save someone very close to him. She saw him leading an alliance of light with the Galactic Alliance, Hapan, Imperial, Confederation, Hutts, Mandalorians, and various planets' fleets and armies against a new Sith order that lurked in the shadows while being led by a Sith the galaxy only knew as "Darth Krayt."
Once the link between the two was broken, Releqy took a deep breath to center her thoughts and fully process everything she had learnt.
After contemplating the news for a minute, she abruptly said, "What do you need me to do to help your cause?"
"For now, rest, Senator. You're no good to anyone if you're fatigued and drained of all your strength." Corran said in an attempt to placate the Caamasi.
"That is unacceptable, Master Horn. Thanks to the memnii transference, I can see again, and my strength is returning. I wish to meet with the leaders of this war effort, as well as Edaan Palpatine when he awakens from his coma."
"If you're worried that Edaan is anything like his ancestor, don't worry. Everyone here can vouch for his commitment to the Jedi Order and the light side of the force, even if he went against the Council's wishes. He has a good heart, and is hell bent on-" Jaina said before being interrupted by the senator.
"Saving the former Grand Lady of the Lost Tribe of the Sith, Vestara Khai, in order to reunite her with her love, Jedi Master Ben Skywalker." Releqy abruptly interrupted. "Forgive me, Master Solo Fel, but I heard his subsequent meeting with the Jedi Council after he began his quest. He is quite proficient with daredevil-like risks."
"There is nothing to forgive, Senator." Jaina said, seeing that her arguments would only further strengthen the senator's resolve.
"Thank you for understanding, Master Solo Fel. But before I forget, how are the rest of my comrades faring from their thawing out?" Releqy asked, concerned for her comrades.
"Last I heard, the last of the prisoners were thawed out of carbonite one hour ago. Out of all of them, Admiral Vantai, General A'baht, and Senators Gavirsom and Ranth were showing the most promising signs of recovery. I wouldn't be surprised if they were to be able to lead again midway through next month. They're being cared for by dozens of the best medics in the galaxy." Jaina said, motioning to Thalleus and his assistant before she prepared to escort Releqy to her infirmary room.
"Thank you." Reelqy gratefully nodded, before turning to Corran, "The sooner I will be able to return to serving the people, the better. But I wish you my sympathies for what Natasi Daala wrought on you and your family. Be careful not to become like the one whom you seek to bring to justice."
"Thank you, Senator." Corran simply nodded before closing the HoloNet transmission.
Turning to Jaina, she tiredly told her, "I would wish to speak with you and Head of State Fel soon, after more of my strength had returned, and you both have rested and restored some semblance of hope for the Empire's citizens. I wish to better understand what convinced you two and your advisors to take such drastic actions to save the Empire."
Ah. I figured that much. Jaina ruefully thought before she promised, "Of course. I will bring this to Head of State Fel tomorrow, and we'll find a better time to discuss this with you. With everything so chaotic right now, we can't let the wrong people learn of this before we are ready to go public."
"I understand. Thank you for your time, Master Jedi." Releqy allowed herself to lie down on the medical gurney and rest. She just hoped the galaxy could avoid anarchy long enough for her to help put it right again.
Well, I think this is a good place to end the chapter! So, what did you all think, as I had a little difficulty with putting this chapter all together and figuring out what to include in it? I hope you all enjoyed. And I might not be able to write for a little while, as I have my vaccine shot to get tomorrow. That's not gonna be fun at all; and add that with school and homework over the weekend, I'll be a bit swamped. Anyway, how are you all doing on this warm night of Wednesday, March 31, 2021? I'm doing well, as I worked a little today, and had a class shortly after. And I think I'll finish Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Vortex tonight or tomorrow. Well, I'd better get this piece ready for my friends. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you all have a blessed night. May the Lord be with us all in these difficult times for many, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!