Jenica sighed as she tossed the datapad on to the bed. She could hear Newels snoring lightly on his side of the bed. The last planet had several allergens that he could not counter with the Force. For the last two months they had been searching to find the last trace of Jeri and his scout ship. The Force was telling them they were close, but it was time consuming as the whole area did not have very clear hyperspace routes. The Ebon Hawk was currently parked on an airless planet in orbit of a brown dwarf star. The gravity was high enough not to bounce around, but there was little to no air on the planet which was a good thing as the ship would have frozen.

From that mess in the Opoku System they had learned to stop well outside of any normal systems security range. Then we would use the Force to search the System for Jeri and every time it would give us a hint to get to the next system. On patrolled or known system we were able to stay only so long before being discovered. Not that we were hiding as the ship's sensors were fully active to get as much data as possible in the shortest amount of time. Several stops at Exploration depots improved the ships sensors and memory storage. When discovered it was some small outpost that just wanted to say hi or ask if we were their supply drop. Several had been weeks without new supplies and we told them to pack and go as no one was coming.

Most had a ship to leave with just in case of such a few didn't and so the Ebon Hawk was now home to six different spacers that rotated in or out each time we were in a system that had or didn't have a ship they could join to go somewhere else. Each little mining operation or scientific outpost donated expendables which kept us going a lot of it emergency rations and the like. Whomever this force was they remained silent and shot first. Luckily way out of range and with plenty of time to jump to the next system.

We had both felt the return call to the Jedi Temple, and the holocom call, but we also felt that Jeri was in trouble and for both of us, he was more important. He had not gotten very far to Nal Hutta or Nar Shaddaa. We were not sure that he got there as his presence jumped passed us going the other direction.

I perked up as I heard an argument out in the common room. It felt benign so I looked at my datapad again. The spacers really didn't get along and they were vulgar or down right rude at times. That was why Newels was sleeping in my bed. The first time a man had done so and it was driving me insane. With all their flirting an bluster neither one had done anything more than flirt. Newels was the most platonic man in the universe. Not that I was actively pursuing that it could be more, but he didn't try at all. We had several wake up moments where it could have lead to something, but he didn't even get embarrassed physically or mentally that I could feel through the Force. Would Jeri turn out to be the same? Were they both only flirts? The argument finally stopped which suddenly caused me to perk up. I felt something in the Force as there was a knock on the door.

"Come." Arnine took one step inside the cabin.

"Mistress passive sensors have picked up several ships entering the system."

"Transponder codes?"

Trade Federation, Techno Union, and Commerce Guild mostly. Several ship signals are showing as encrypted."

"Who would encrypt a transponder code?" Zerdy came up behind Arnine.

"Because the transponder was never given a code. Like they built it into the hyperdrive, but forgot to encode it."

"Isn't that part of the core programming? If it is not encoded the hyperdrive will not function?"

"Not all ships have their transponder linked to their hyperdrive. Could have been a pirate ship masking their signal and it never got switched back."

"Are they showing a vector coming to the planet?"

"They are but unless they are actively scanning for us I would doubt they will find us. Were we in orbit yes." I brought up the dozen of shots of the distant ships The largest was a Lucrehulk. The Techno Union ship was a Bulwark Mark I. The last identifiable ship was a Munificent class running a Commerce Guild tag instead of IBC. It wasn't until light illuminated one of the new ships that Newels suddenly gasped.

"What?"

"Not what, who is running that ship has to be Sith."

"Why?"

"If I am not mistaken that is a Lanvarok class warship."

"Lanvarok is that not a razor disc launcher from the Sith."

"Yes and you would like it as you are left handed?"

"So being left handed and having Sith genetic markers makes you think I would like the weapon?"

"It was a logical calculation, not a fact."

"What is not a fact?" I turned to see that several of the spacers had entered the room. Most just stared at the fleet projected on the holo viewer.

"That ship looks like a very old weapon in shape. A ship that should not exist anymore."

"You mean this one?" An old Bothan spacer pointed at the one ship.

"Yes."

"Seen plenty of those ships. Not with all those weapons but they are pirate ships mostly. Though that one does look odd. Odder still is the transponder code." The Bothan tapped away on the key board and then the code changed and Jenica let out a hiss in surprise.

"What is wrong?"

"That is a Sith ship."

"Come on there is no way that can be a Sith ship. The Sith died out a thousand years ago."

Mace Windu, Yoda, Kenobi, and Anakin stood off to the side looking down at the chaos that was the Senate Rotunda. Mas Amedda was hammering way at the pad that his staff struck loudly. Hundreds of Senators were screaming all at once in their native tongues. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine not only had ignored the accusations against him but had Sate Pestage introduce the Sector Governance Decree. The decree was only applauded by about half of the Senators, but it had infuriate dozens as they read through it. Then suddenly there was silence as one voice rang out.

"I call for a vote of no confidence is Chancellor Palpatine." Padme looked determined and infuriated beyond he anger at the Trade Federation.

"I second the motion." A unified gasp of surprise filled the Senate as Lott Dod agreed with Senator Amidala for the first time ever. The silence filled the Rotunda again as Palpatine stood.

"Do you really think that you spineless sycophants can get rid of me that easily?"

"Get rid of you we will." Senator Grebleips from Brodo Asogi declared.

Perhaps you should have looked a bit closer to the emergency powers you so readily gave to me. You could try to remove me, but any action will be sent to the courts. Once they see the argument and the the counter argument they will side with the powers that you gave me as legally binding." The chamber filled with confused murmuring and nearly all the Senators were reading the Emergency Powers Act. It was filled with dozens of links to other bills and many of the droids that aided the Senators found what not a single Senator could find in time.

"Chancellor Palpatine I must clarify my call." Padme pressed a button and the holo of every senator lit up. To show Count Dooku sitting at his desk as he tapped a button.

"Is your end secure?" The voice barely contained his fury.

"As always." He resisted the need to sigh.

"Why have you not reported apprentice?"

"What is there to report? Two Jedi and a Senator were on Geonosis and then escaped. Your Jedi and clones never arrived before the three found help and escaped."

"You let them escape. The one dying would have drawn the other to me. How did they escape?"

"A third Jedi helped them. One who has control of the old art of a Jedi Sage mixed with the skill of a Shadow. I failed to see her until Nute Gunray died."

"What? He was critical in keeping the Trade Federation in line. Rune Haako will have difficulty gaining the Viceroyship."

"That is no longer my problem."

"What do you mean Darth Tyranus?"

"The Jedi Order is changing. They somehow prevented your clones from attacking Geonosis. Even with Kenobi and Skywalker escaping were you not sure that the Jedi Council would take the clones and use them? So eager to test them out in battle like a youngling with a new toy."

"Are you mocking me?"

"Oh no, Master Sidious, I mean Darth Palpatine. Oh dear I guess I am."

"Then die." Dooku felt his skin tighten around his neck as he drew on the Force to strengthen his body. A growl came out of Palpatine's throat before he gave up.

"That was short."

"Do not forget that I am far more powerful than you are and you will not be able to resist the next time we meet."

"The next we meet Sith will be as a Jedi Master versus a Sith. I will pursue you until Justice has been delivered. Goodbye Sith." The view changed to a still image as dozens of red lines linked over what could be seen of the hooded face.

"Image analysis is complete. Exposed facial recognition is consistent with Sheev Palpatine." The stunned Senate radiated complete shock and made the four Jedi reel from their reaction, but even more so as the center of the dais that Palpatine was on darkened.

"There is no law against being a member of the Sith religion and up until the Ruusan Reformations the Senate was filled with Jedi Senators. Even if what the traitor Count Dooku has made up."

"No Palpatine he did not make up any of it. He sent my office every recording he ever made of you and him together. Laws you helped create, systems you subverted, systems that you had the Jedi go to and fail, assassinations you ordered, the creation of the clone army paid for by Hego Damask and over seen by Count Dooku for the last ten years. Holovid recordings of you training the Sith Assassin Darth Maul. No Palpatine I handed this over to the Judicial Corps once the vote is complete you will be charged with treason and sedition against the Galactic Republic."

"VOTE NOW!" It shook the very Rotunda with how many Senators spoke in unison. Palpatine was not only removed as Chancellor, but Mas Amedda was removed as Vice Chair. The dark side started to grow in the Senate chamber as dozens of Senators started to choke on nothing. Sly Moore's fancy robe flew up in the air one way as suddenly Palpatine went up and over the edge of the podium. The choking suddenly stopped as Palpatine flipped over and landed on his feet.

Masters Windu and Yoda came out of one exit of the lowest ring while Master Kenobi, and Knight Anakin came out of the other side. Completely trapped and revealed Sidious snapped as the entire bottom of the Senate Rotunda was engulfed in Sith Lightning.

Mas Amedda and Sly Moore high above on the podium jerked and screamed as the lightning seemed to originate from the podium itself. The four Jedi held up their lightsabers and absorbed the many different strands. Panicked Senators fled the Rotunda as Senate Security helped guide them.

"You will never defeat me I am the dark side incarnate!"

"You will not escape this. You will be tried for treason and sedition."

"Have a way out you do not."

"Anakin what are you doing."

"Balancing the Force." Anakin held a small white sphere in his hand of pure Force power. Sidious began to cackle as he saw this and created his own dark sphere. Anakin just smiled just before he pushed all his love for Padme into his sphere as he let it go. Palpatine's sphere grew as large as he was but was not powerful enough to counter Anakin's as it exploded on contact flattening into a disk and then a ring as the white sphere burst through and consumed Darth Sidious. The sphere hit the angled walls below the first row and disintegrated a hole thirty feet deep.

The podium sunk down and stopped at the bottom. Mas Amedda was a burnt and smoking corpse while Sly Moore had just barely survived to fall over the side and be caught by Master Windu. Several hours later Sate Pestage was arrested along with Janus Greejatus, and Sim Aloo. The rest of Palpatine's personal advisors escaped.

A hooded figure smiled as she walked away through the chaos created by the former Sith Chancellor. She had felt him and his power and it really scared her and excited her at the same time. She had been following him for weeks and now that he was more than dead she smiled as she got into he speeder. One that Palpatine had used to travel to the Works and his hidden sanctuary. There was a horde of Sith Holocrons and other data to collect. Data she already had the codes to reveal the former Banite Sith. With this knowledge she was sure she would be able to rise to the top. Either to take the position of Grand Lord or Grand Consort.

On a hundred thousand planets, Jedi masters, knights, Padawans and Jedi of the Service Corps looked to the sky as the Force shifted. The same happened on dozens of worlds with Sith Lords, Masters, Sabers, and Tyro also looking to the sky as well. They felt the dark side shroud that covered most of the galaxy shifted, weakened, and disappeared. The balance of the Force had shifted.

The light side bubble burst blowing away the mists of the dark side shroud leaving behind a mixture of both. No longer was the dark side hiding and suppressing the light side. No longer was the light denying the dark side. Millions of Force sensitives that were Jedi, Sith, or somewhere in between could no longer hide in this moment as the Force sang in harmony.

End of book one Prelude to book Two

After two weeks of chaotic voting in the Senate, Bail Organa was voted in as Supreme Chancellor. His job would not be an easy one as dozens of abuse of power accusations rose up against dozens of corrupt Senators. At the same time a committee was formed to go over every bill that had been passed in the last thirty years since Palpatine had joined the Senate. As much as this thrilled the members of the CIS that the Republic was changing its ways it did not thrill others in the CIS. It was the call to reverse the Act that allowed corporations to have representative authority in the Senate that strangely started the war. The reason that was used was the corporations treated their employees no better than slaves.

Darth Maul looked out on the vast plain from the balcony of the resort he had enjoyed for the last several days. It was a rare moment that he actually enjoyed the peace and quiet of the off season resort. His hate had tempered down to a more cool calculation of revenge though for some reason it really didn't matter to him unless he faced Kenobi or that little minx of a girl. Jinn would be an easy fight as he was sure if they ever faced each other alone it would have been easy to take him down.

It was strange to have traveled to so many different places and to suddenly be on a planet that was part of a Sith Empire was surreal. They had stopped his ship captured it and brought it into their hanger bay. They called him out and Maul was more than willing to cut them all down. He moved down the ramp as it lowered with his saberstaff in his hand. A dozen soldiers pointing blaster at him. With a flick of the Force both his blades ignited as he used one hand to lower his hood. Instead of fear or shock they just backed rapidly up as the one female remained with gray blue skin. Then again most of them had gray blue skin. A lightsaber ignited in here while she suddenly grinned.

Maul had been doing nothing but practicing since his fight with Kenobi. He just sneered back at her waiting patiently for her to attack and she did perfectly for facing an unknown assailant. Maul toyed with her, circling around one way and then back around the other before he burst into a series of strikes that would kill her. She countered for a minute then two and on the third lost her lightsaber as Maul pulled it out of her hands just before shoving her away with the Force. A glass knife suddenly flew at him and his lightsaber deflected and destroyed the blade. He grabbed her with the Force and pulled her back to him until his hand was wrapped around her throat.

"Tu masilo nun, yunoks tsis." You intrigue me, little Sith. Her eyes went wide as his words were laced with the dark side. The sudden whine of blasters powering up made him shove her away. She instantly wheezed in as much air as she could get while flailing around with her arms as she tried to stand.

"Tu valia mrias xela nuyak xaari." Maul looked up sneering at the new threat. The humanoid was much larger than the slight girl. As he got closer they were pretty close to the same size.

"You use Sith'ari like a weak slave."

"I speak it as a first language, devil."

"Maybe you all need a lesson. One I learned, not knowing." Maul shot his hand out and sprayed all of them with Sith lightning. The dark blue skin Keshiri caught most of the chaotic lightning on his blade, but some of the strikes got through as they jumped off the others. He than jumped at the intruder making Maul suddenly smile as the other was fully enraged. Their blades flashed back and forth over the hanger deck and then suddenly ended as Maul slammed his staff into the others nose shattering it. He twirled his blade while holding the wrist of the Keshiri's weapon hand before driving the blade at his chest only to have him ripped out of his grasp.

"We are Sith there is no honor in killing each other." This came from another of these blue humans. Though this one felt at least as dangerous from the power she was radiating.

"What do you expect. You shot my engines, pulled me in here, and expect me to just roll over?"

"We didn't expect to find any Sith that were not Keshiri in the Galaxy."

"That is because there are only two ever allowed, a master and an apprentice."

"Then who are you?"

"Darth Maul."

"No I meant are you the apprentice or the master?"

"I was a tool, but now I am much more. I am sure my former teacher has some other tool as an apprentice."

"Interesting indeed. I like your aura and you have the rage of a master. Tell me are you in control or is your rage?"

"If I wasn't everyone in here would be dead, including you."

"I don't doubt you would be a challenge besting these two, but know this I am far more competent than a mere Tyro and a Sith Saber. I am Lady Nida Jutae and this is my ship the Flareburst. I think we have much to learn from each other. You about us and us about the rest of the galaxy."

That had been over a year ago and he felt no harm in teaching her and her crew about the rest of the galaxy and how to navigate the Holonet. She repaid him with abilities that Sidious had been way too afraid to teach him. She proved to be nearly an equal with the blade, but he knew that she was still weak compared to him but not by much. Several other Keshiri Sith had challenged him and he humored Nida in allowing them to live. Though not without wounds that would take a long time to heal.

His knowledge had taught them how better to trick other spacers into falling for whatever trap that was set. Even the gigantic ship captain would fall for their ruses. However, playing at being a pirate was no fun as he only found a thrill at facing a skilled Jedi. A treat that he had rarely encountered, but when he did it was delicious. Now the galaxy was on the brink of chaos. All because of one Sith's desire to rule it all came crashing down. Strange that the holovid of his last breath had been consumed by a blinding light. He could no longer hate Kenobi as much as he did before. He was just as critical in helping Anakin become strong enough to destroy Sidious.

However, he was still a Jedi and he was a Sith. When they crossed paths again they would fight and he will die. Though he was on the top of a very long list of Jedi he planned to kill. It would take much time, but in the end he would be High Lord of the Sith with Lady Nida at his side. Though a certain pebble fell into his lap that will bring a very concerned stone to come and collect the pebble, and when she does he will shatter her. Maul took a deep breath and let his anger fed into the dark side of the Force and show him that she was close.