Approximately one year later
"Admiral."
"Yes, your majesty?" replied the old man with a military bow.
"I gave you an order to find the Jedi and get rid of them! Half a year has passed and you do not even have one!" Her eyes burned with fury, and Admiral Ranash nearly smiled. Those eyes were the pride of his engineers and the undoing of the foes and underlings of the Empire.
"Give me more time, you greatness. I will-" his comm beeped. "What is it? He asked agitatedly. His face paled. "What?" This would not be good for his reputation.
"What is it, Ranash?" the Empress asked, her eyes narrowed.
"A-a Jedi, your majesty. She wants to see you," His stomach twisted in fear. He braced himself for her response.
"I will deal with you later," she icily replied after a moment's thought. "Let her in. Bring her to me. Here."
Ranash quickly left the room. This was no time to argue with Azulana, but his light, swirling head and twisting stomach told him that the Empress had just made her first mistake. Or perhaps he had. He desperately hoped that they would both live to apologize.
Jessi walked quickly through the halls, her sharp gray-blue eyes on the lookout for trouble, her improved yet far from perfected Force powers ready to alter a mind or render a guard unconscious. That was one skill that she had not overlooked in her self-training. She wore black pants, high boots, a black shirt, and black tunic like her old master's. Her blond hair was tied in a ponytail as always, a few loose strands brushing her face. There was sureness in her step that she wished she felt in her heart. There was no way of knowing what she was up against. Pausing to use a few Jedi calming techniques Luke had taught her she felt his spirit touch her mind with reassurance. A memory flashed through her head of the time in the cantina where she had knocked over the alien. Strengthened, she walked on.
At the end of the long hallway was a portal. It opened in front of her and she walked into the cavernous room. With awe she gazed at the elegance and beauty. In the center of the room were a table and a chair. In the chair sat the beautiful and regal Empress Azulana, ruler of the imperial planets and their people. Jessi stepped forward.
"I have been expecting you, Jedi."
"I know."
"You are foolish to just walk in here. I don't think you quite understand what makes me powerful. By killing you like this, I will display my power. No one will oppose." She stood up and walked to the front of the table. She slipped a blaster out of her gown with a gloved hand and raised it. Jessi felt through the Force the absence of blood and life in the hand and realized it was cybernetic. Well, at least I know I'm in the right place, she thought as she pulled out her lightsaber and ignited it. She easily deflected the bolt. Azulana shot again and again, each time the bolt ending up in the marble floor. Now her temper started to rise.
"All right. Enough games. Now see my true power!"
Suddenly the air around Jessi tightened, crushing her like a cold hand. She pushed back with the Force and found that she was pitting it against itself. The Empress had control over the dark side! There was not much power in her so the dark side had little hold on her will and soul, but it was sufficient to use in combat. Jessi ducked and rolled away from her, pushing out with the Force, temporarily throwing off the empress's concentration. The ruler's eyes blazed with cold fury, but beneath that Jessi sensed something else. Uncertainty, and a hint of inexperience. This was not the true Azulana, what was seen here. There was something more to her, somewhere deep down inside...
The empress then did something totally unexpected. She took a round, flat object out of a pocket in her gown and threw it at Jessi's head. Jessi ducked, confused at the inelegant, completely useless gesture. This action proved foolish. That moment of confusion was all Azulana needed. She called the lightsaber to her, breaking Jessi's grip while her mind was somewhere else. With a cry she ran at Jessi, who was startled at this all-out attack. Jessi was back at the cantina, protecting herself from the alien. With a Force blast she drove Azulana back, hard. The lightsaber flew out of her hand as the back of her head caught the edge of the table just above her neck with a sickening thud. Jessi called her lightsaber back to her hand. Azulana lay still, her back against the table and her head dropping over. Then her whole body seemed to flicker. Jessi blinked, thinking it was fatigue, but it flickered again, then blinked out. There, where a regal empress had laid just second before, was the figure of a young girl with reddish-black hair and a pale face. The eyes flicked open and the mouth curled into a scornful smile.
"You fool! You could have killed me while I was down! But now you have lost your chance. I shall call the guards and they will kill you. What are you gaping at?"
Jessi could scarcely breath. "Sal-Salmina?" she choked, not believing her senses.
"What are you talking about, fool Jedi? I am Azulana, empress of this extensive empire. Who do you think you are talking to?"
"N-no!"
Azulana frowned. "What?"
Jessi collected her thoughts. "No! You are Salmina. a Kimiro. My friend."
"You lie."
Realizing that she truly didn't remember, Jessi looked around for a piece of reflective metal. A piece of the plating on the bottom of the table did fine. She held it in front of the empress's face.
"Look!" she shouted pleadingly. "Remember! You, me... and Luke."
Salmina looked, shock filling her face. Jessi sensed a ray of memory pierce her darkened mind.
"I-I..."
"You worked against the empire, remember?" We were happy. We were..." tears threatened to appear and her voice wavered. "...inseparable."
This time remembrance came like a wave, but it was pushed away as Salmina fought back fear and doubt within herself. Her struggle was apparent on her face. She took a deep breath and got expression under control to an icy stare focused at the makeshift mirror. Jessi could sense many other emotions hidden behind it.
"Leave," she whispered.
"Salmina, remember..."
"Leave," she said, her voice rising.
"Remember... Luke-"
"Get out!" she screamed, throwing the truth-revealing object at Jessi's figure running out the portal entrance.
As soon as Jessi was out of sight, the once-regal empress collapsed in the middle of the great room and cried.
Ranash nervously paced back and forth. What if... His thought was interrupted by him comm.
"Ranash." Azulana's voice. At least she wasn't dead, but there were worse things.
"Yes?"
"See me-right away." Her voice was soft. "Bring Admiral Kelkish." Ranash groaned inwardly. Kelkish was a powerful man in more ways then one. He had no loyalty to the old emperor and therefore would sooner die than betray Azulana. Then again, perhaps he was just being paranoid. He called for Kelkish and they walked to the great room.
The moment he opened the portal, Ranash's fears were confirmed. There stood the true body of the empress. Her eyes were red and her look was determined. Kelkish drew a sharp breath.
"Ranash," she said sternly, "you are a liar and an evil man. You are hereby removed from office."
Ranash could almost physically feel his power slipping away. He made a desperate grab. "You can't do that, they won't listen to you."
"I hate to burst your considerable bubble, but I got rid of a good deal of the Palpatine-loyal officers when I became the ruler. Most are loyal to me. The ones who aren't shall quickly be removed."
"B-but..."
"Grand Admiral Kelkish, see that he is removed from office, as are all his friends." She took out a blaster and held the point to Ranash's head.
"Now, tell me everything."
Jessi had not gone far from the palace when she felt Salmina call her back through the Force. She found her in a much better condition than before.
"Jessi... I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"I know. It's okay."
She clenched her fists, her voice saturated with anger. "They brain-washed me, fed me fake memories, and installed a holographic projector in the back of my head. It generated a somewhat tangible holofield around by body that responded to my every move and mood. My maimed-or non-existent-hands couldn't tell the difference. Then Ranash explained everything in lies, and I believed him. He had it all worked out perfectly so he could do anything he wanted and I would be none the wiser."
Jessi looked around at the numerous star systems. "What are you going to do now?"
"I don't have a choice. I'll stay in office. This way I have the power to really make a few changes around here. Besides, if I leave they'll find someone worse. But I need your help. Would you please stay here a while? You can train any apprentices you may find in-well, in this room." She gestured to the cavernous space around them. "It's big enough."
"I could train you."
"No. My place is as a ruler. Besides," she smiled weakly, "My powers are too weak and I'd turn to the Dark Side in the span of a day anyway. Just help me guide the galaxy."
"Yes, Empress," Jessi replied jokingly.
"Not empress, it's so... awkward and unfriendly. It is going to be 'queen' now."
"It's a pity Luke couldn't be here."
A pause.
"I know, I was there. I saw the whole thing."
"Oh." Another pause.
"Jessi, this is a new beginning. We can get the galaxy back on its feet, I know it. It won't be easy, but we'll do it."
Jessi nodded. They both sat quietly, gazing at the stars. "Do you mind if I go get the Solos?" Jessi finally asked.
"So he found his wife then. That's good. Just hurry back."
"Of course." Jessi walked toward the portal, sharing Salmina's feeling of relief and triumph. There was a little joy in the young Queen, however, just a feeling of a weight on her shoulders. She did not want to rule, but they both knew that it was her destiny. Remembering something, Jessi turned around.
"Salmina?"
"Yes?"
"There's just one more thing I have to ask. Why did they want you?"
Salmina just stared at the stars for a long moment, her back towards Jessi. "Promise you won't hate me or judge me."
"I promise. You've proved yourself."
Another long pause. Just as Jessi had given up hope of ever getting a reply, Salmina took a deep breath and answered in a hushed voice. Her matter-of-fact response made Jessi turn pale as everything fell into place.
"I am the only grandchild of Emperor Palpatine."
The End
"Admiral."
"Yes, your majesty?" replied the old man with a military bow.
"I gave you an order to find the Jedi and get rid of them! Half a year has passed and you do not even have one!" Her eyes burned with fury, and Admiral Ranash nearly smiled. Those eyes were the pride of his engineers and the undoing of the foes and underlings of the Empire.
"Give me more time, you greatness. I will-" his comm beeped. "What is it? He asked agitatedly. His face paled. "What?" This would not be good for his reputation.
"What is it, Ranash?" the Empress asked, her eyes narrowed.
"A-a Jedi, your majesty. She wants to see you," His stomach twisted in fear. He braced himself for her response.
"I will deal with you later," she icily replied after a moment's thought. "Let her in. Bring her to me. Here."
Ranash quickly left the room. This was no time to argue with Azulana, but his light, swirling head and twisting stomach told him that the Empress had just made her first mistake. Or perhaps he had. He desperately hoped that they would both live to apologize.
Jessi walked quickly through the halls, her sharp gray-blue eyes on the lookout for trouble, her improved yet far from perfected Force powers ready to alter a mind or render a guard unconscious. That was one skill that she had not overlooked in her self-training. She wore black pants, high boots, a black shirt, and black tunic like her old master's. Her blond hair was tied in a ponytail as always, a few loose strands brushing her face. There was sureness in her step that she wished she felt in her heart. There was no way of knowing what she was up against. Pausing to use a few Jedi calming techniques Luke had taught her she felt his spirit touch her mind with reassurance. A memory flashed through her head of the time in the cantina where she had knocked over the alien. Strengthened, she walked on.
At the end of the long hallway was a portal. It opened in front of her and she walked into the cavernous room. With awe she gazed at the elegance and beauty. In the center of the room were a table and a chair. In the chair sat the beautiful and regal Empress Azulana, ruler of the imperial planets and their people. Jessi stepped forward.
"I have been expecting you, Jedi."
"I know."
"You are foolish to just walk in here. I don't think you quite understand what makes me powerful. By killing you like this, I will display my power. No one will oppose." She stood up and walked to the front of the table. She slipped a blaster out of her gown with a gloved hand and raised it. Jessi felt through the Force the absence of blood and life in the hand and realized it was cybernetic. Well, at least I know I'm in the right place, she thought as she pulled out her lightsaber and ignited it. She easily deflected the bolt. Azulana shot again and again, each time the bolt ending up in the marble floor. Now her temper started to rise.
"All right. Enough games. Now see my true power!"
Suddenly the air around Jessi tightened, crushing her like a cold hand. She pushed back with the Force and found that she was pitting it against itself. The Empress had control over the dark side! There was not much power in her so the dark side had little hold on her will and soul, but it was sufficient to use in combat. Jessi ducked and rolled away from her, pushing out with the Force, temporarily throwing off the empress's concentration. The ruler's eyes blazed with cold fury, but beneath that Jessi sensed something else. Uncertainty, and a hint of inexperience. This was not the true Azulana, what was seen here. There was something more to her, somewhere deep down inside...
The empress then did something totally unexpected. She took a round, flat object out of a pocket in her gown and threw it at Jessi's head. Jessi ducked, confused at the inelegant, completely useless gesture. This action proved foolish. That moment of confusion was all Azulana needed. She called the lightsaber to her, breaking Jessi's grip while her mind was somewhere else. With a cry she ran at Jessi, who was startled at this all-out attack. Jessi was back at the cantina, protecting herself from the alien. With a Force blast she drove Azulana back, hard. The lightsaber flew out of her hand as the back of her head caught the edge of the table just above her neck with a sickening thud. Jessi called her lightsaber back to her hand. Azulana lay still, her back against the table and her head dropping over. Then her whole body seemed to flicker. Jessi blinked, thinking it was fatigue, but it flickered again, then blinked out. There, where a regal empress had laid just second before, was the figure of a young girl with reddish-black hair and a pale face. The eyes flicked open and the mouth curled into a scornful smile.
"You fool! You could have killed me while I was down! But now you have lost your chance. I shall call the guards and they will kill you. What are you gaping at?"
Jessi could scarcely breath. "Sal-Salmina?" she choked, not believing her senses.
"What are you talking about, fool Jedi? I am Azulana, empress of this extensive empire. Who do you think you are talking to?"
"N-no!"
Azulana frowned. "What?"
Jessi collected her thoughts. "No! You are Salmina. a Kimiro. My friend."
"You lie."
Realizing that she truly didn't remember, Jessi looked around for a piece of reflective metal. A piece of the plating on the bottom of the table did fine. She held it in front of the empress's face.
"Look!" she shouted pleadingly. "Remember! You, me... and Luke."
Salmina looked, shock filling her face. Jessi sensed a ray of memory pierce her darkened mind.
"I-I..."
"You worked against the empire, remember?" We were happy. We were..." tears threatened to appear and her voice wavered. "...inseparable."
This time remembrance came like a wave, but it was pushed away as Salmina fought back fear and doubt within herself. Her struggle was apparent on her face. She took a deep breath and got expression under control to an icy stare focused at the makeshift mirror. Jessi could sense many other emotions hidden behind it.
"Leave," she whispered.
"Salmina, remember..."
"Leave," she said, her voice rising.
"Remember... Luke-"
"Get out!" she screamed, throwing the truth-revealing object at Jessi's figure running out the portal entrance.
As soon as Jessi was out of sight, the once-regal empress collapsed in the middle of the great room and cried.
Ranash nervously paced back and forth. What if... His thought was interrupted by him comm.
"Ranash." Azulana's voice. At least she wasn't dead, but there were worse things.
"Yes?"
"See me-right away." Her voice was soft. "Bring Admiral Kelkish." Ranash groaned inwardly. Kelkish was a powerful man in more ways then one. He had no loyalty to the old emperor and therefore would sooner die than betray Azulana. Then again, perhaps he was just being paranoid. He called for Kelkish and they walked to the great room.
The moment he opened the portal, Ranash's fears were confirmed. There stood the true body of the empress. Her eyes were red and her look was determined. Kelkish drew a sharp breath.
"Ranash," she said sternly, "you are a liar and an evil man. You are hereby removed from office."
Ranash could almost physically feel his power slipping away. He made a desperate grab. "You can't do that, they won't listen to you."
"I hate to burst your considerable bubble, but I got rid of a good deal of the Palpatine-loyal officers when I became the ruler. Most are loyal to me. The ones who aren't shall quickly be removed."
"B-but..."
"Grand Admiral Kelkish, see that he is removed from office, as are all his friends." She took out a blaster and held the point to Ranash's head.
"Now, tell me everything."
Jessi had not gone far from the palace when she felt Salmina call her back through the Force. She found her in a much better condition than before.
"Jessi... I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"I know. It's okay."
She clenched her fists, her voice saturated with anger. "They brain-washed me, fed me fake memories, and installed a holographic projector in the back of my head. It generated a somewhat tangible holofield around by body that responded to my every move and mood. My maimed-or non-existent-hands couldn't tell the difference. Then Ranash explained everything in lies, and I believed him. He had it all worked out perfectly so he could do anything he wanted and I would be none the wiser."
Jessi looked around at the numerous star systems. "What are you going to do now?"
"I don't have a choice. I'll stay in office. This way I have the power to really make a few changes around here. Besides, if I leave they'll find someone worse. But I need your help. Would you please stay here a while? You can train any apprentices you may find in-well, in this room." She gestured to the cavernous space around them. "It's big enough."
"I could train you."
"No. My place is as a ruler. Besides," she smiled weakly, "My powers are too weak and I'd turn to the Dark Side in the span of a day anyway. Just help me guide the galaxy."
"Yes, Empress," Jessi replied jokingly.
"Not empress, it's so... awkward and unfriendly. It is going to be 'queen' now."
"It's a pity Luke couldn't be here."
A pause.
"I know, I was there. I saw the whole thing."
"Oh." Another pause.
"Jessi, this is a new beginning. We can get the galaxy back on its feet, I know it. It won't be easy, but we'll do it."
Jessi nodded. They both sat quietly, gazing at the stars. "Do you mind if I go get the Solos?" Jessi finally asked.
"So he found his wife then. That's good. Just hurry back."
"Of course." Jessi walked toward the portal, sharing Salmina's feeling of relief and triumph. There was a little joy in the young Queen, however, just a feeling of a weight on her shoulders. She did not want to rule, but they both knew that it was her destiny. Remembering something, Jessi turned around.
"Salmina?"
"Yes?"
"There's just one more thing I have to ask. Why did they want you?"
Salmina just stared at the stars for a long moment, her back towards Jessi. "Promise you won't hate me or judge me."
"I promise. You've proved yourself."
Another long pause. Just as Jessi had given up hope of ever getting a reply, Salmina took a deep breath and answered in a hushed voice. Her matter-of-fact response made Jessi turn pale as everything fell into place.
"I am the only grandchild of Emperor Palpatine."
The End