Title: Children of the Sith
Author: ewan's girl
Author's notes: Thank you to everyone that reviewed. I am sorry that the last chapter was a blatant rip off of FotR. . .I'm not all that proud of that chapter and I may go back and rework it. Also let me know if the name of my new character is too distracting, I gave him that name before I even thought up that last chapter. I really hope this story keeps going well. Keep the reviews coming. . .Oh and where is that stake dinner as a reward for a new chapter? *wink*
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Chapter 9:
"Search. . .Black market. . .Courascant." Jedi Master Dooku keyed in his search at one of the many computer terminals in the massive Jedi archives. He paused for a moment and waited for the results, taking a sip of tea. "1,207 missions involving black market?" He stared at the screen in awe. "How can the Republic let something this illegal happen right under it's very nose?" He sighed in disgust. 'Because the Senators probably gain a hefty kickback from turning a blind eye, leaving us to clean up their messes.' He thought to himself.
He looked around the room, he noticed a young padawan sitting across from him. The boy was about 14 years old and was deep in study of whatever his master had assigned him. Dooku studied the boy, he felt a strange pang in his heart. 'That boy like all the others have no clue, they are blinded by tradition. They would follow the Republic and the arrogance of the council to their doom.' Dooku shook off the feeling, he suddenly wondered where that thought came from.
The old master cleared his throat and concentrated on the task at hand. Although he had never met the apprentice he was diligently looking for, he knew of Obi Wan Kenobi. Who hadn't heard of the boy that held Yoda's admiration? So much so that even though the boy had left the order for a short time he was still held in the highest regard in the 800 year old Jedi's mind. 'Would he be so kind to all who leave the order?' Dooku wondered.
Dooku erased his screen and tried a new approach. "Lusians." He thought it was too simple, but one of his worst faults was not seeing that the simplest things are usually the answer to ones question. He took another sip of his tea as he waited for the new results. He hoped he would find something on the case before Qui Gon's return. He had suggested that his old apprentice get some rest, but of course the suggestion was turned on a deaf ear. He knew his Padawan all too well, and knew he was pacing in his quarters trying to find some missing piece of the puzzle.
The computer beeped when it reached the end of it's search. Dooku scrolled past history of the animal, origin, and other things he knew weren't necessary. Suddenly he came across something of interest. "Cholganna." Dooku read out loud. He leaned back on his chair and pondered for a moment. His thoughts were interrupted by a woman about his age coming up behind him. "Jocasta Nu." He said with warm regard.
"Master Dooku," The white haired woman replied with a smile. "It has been a while since I have seen you in here." She looked at him. "Is there anything I can be of service for you?"
Dooku eyed the woman and smiled. "Yes Jocasta, if you would be kind enough to find any archives that involve the planet Cholganna."
The woman bowed. "But of course." And she scuttled about her business.
Dooku watched her and shook his head. He then pulled out his comlink. "Qui Gon, I have found something."
****************************
Kia silently snuck behind her companion. She was nervous as to what he was hunting, but she found herself strangely fascinated by the man. She watched as he leapt into a tree with ease, not even shaking the branch. She wondered if the Rangers had returned, she knew it had been the Rangers who had kidnapped the Jedi in the first place, and knew how relentless they were.
She then found herself wondering why the Elders were going along with the experiment and why they were going to such extremes to study the Force. Her mind began to race with unanswered questions when she heard the sounds of hoofs walking in the grass below her. He strained to see the rider, she also kept Viggo in her line of vision. She noticed the dark haired man pull out a bow caster, and begin to aim it.
Kia healed her breath as he rose the bow caster towards the unsuspecting victim. She then glanced down and noticed a very familiar form riding a small, thin, brown Lusian. Her eyes widened with realization. 'Bryns!'
She found herself running down the rocky slope towards her brother, she tried to warn him of his danger. She glanced up and saw Viggo ready to shoot.
"NO!" She shouted as loud as she could and both men turned towards her in confusion.
Bryns rode up to meet her, but stopped short when he saw a dark man drop from the tree behind her. "Kia! Get down!" He commanded while taking out his blaster. Viggo in turn aimed his bow caster back at Bryns.
Kia found herself standing between two weapons, her heart was racing and she was breathing hard. She looked at her new friend. "Viggo, this is my brother." She said between breaths, holding her hand up to stop him from shooting. "Bryns, this is Viggo, he saved us from the Rangers."
The two men stared at each other, not sure if they trusted one another. Both were about the same age, and therefore thought they knew what the other was thinking. Viggo was the first to lower his weapon. "I'm sorry, I have been on the run for so long, I can no longer tell who I can trust."
Bryns finally lowered his weapon. "I know you, you're Viggo Yulende." He said with surprise in his voice. "You escaped."
Viggo's eyes widened. He then bowed his head. "Yes I was able to get away, not before much suffering." He said in a low voice. He then looked at Kia, who stared at him in wonder. "How did you find me?" He suddenly asked both of them.
"I was trying to save the Jedi, you found me." Kia reminded him.
"I use to play in this cave when I was a boy, I told Kia to meet me here, I didn't know you were even still alive yet alone lived here." Bryns explained.
"Oh I'm not dead." Viggo answered. "Not yet."
Kia continued to stare at the man, she wasn't sure what to think of him. She suddenly felt the eyes of her brother on her, she looked at him then lowered her gaze.
Viggo looked between brother and sister and then broke the silence. "Come, time is something your Jedi does not have." He said, leading them back to his hovel.
The three entered into the small home and Viggo put his weapons next to the door. Bryns looked around the room in awe. "How did you come to live out here?" He asked.
"This is a great vantage point of the forest. I can see most things that happen here. Everything I have here are things I was able to go back for, they are from my old life." He answered, gesturing around the small room.
"How did you escape?" Bryns asked.
Viggo sighed. "I was the first, I was her mistake."
Bryns stared at the man, he felt he had seen him before. "How old were you? I should remember you."
"I was 16." Viggo answered. "I didn't always go by the name Viggo." He admitted.
"Yulende?" Bryns asked with sudden realization. "As in Elder Yulende?"
Viggo nodded. "My grandfather." He looked at the floor. "My parents were killed, I came to live with my grandfather." He looked at Kia. "Kia you know where I put the other Lusians, would you put your brother's there as well?" He asked. Kia hesitated then noticed the look in his eyes. She nodded and left the room. Viggo looked at Bryns. "My grandfather hired Zan Arbor when he heard about her experiments. He thought she could cure me." He said with pain in his voice. "He said to use the force was an abomination, unless I was willing to be a Sith." Viggo hung his head. "Needless to say I was not willing."
Bryns looked at the other young man for a moment, he suddenly felt the guilt rise inside of him again. He put a hand on his shoulder. He was about to speak when they heard violent coughing coming from the back room. Bryns and Viggo turned their attention towards the sound.
"There's little hope." Viggo admitted. "He's very ill."
Bryns nodded. "I know, he's been fighting off the poison longer than expected even without the Force, it's as if something else is keeping him alive."
They entered the room that was housing the sleeping Jedi. They walked on opposite sides of the bed and looked at the Padawan. "The poison isn't just affecting his health, it's affecting the Force in him." Viggo told Bryns. "I know because he was much stronger in the Force when I first saw him, I don't know if it will be a permanent loss."
The Jedi ceased his coughing fit and Bryns noticed a small bit of blood trailing down the Jedi's chin from his mouth. "He needs more help then any of us can give him." Bryns used his sleeve to wipe up the blood.
"He needs the Jedi." Viggo stated, and Bryns felt a shiver run up his spine.
******************************************
Qui Gon rushed into the archives, almost knocking over a padawan. He found his former teacher sitting in a corner terminal reading the screen and sipping tea. He raced up to him.
"Master Dooku?" He inquired.
"Qui Gon, sit, have some tea." Dooku calmly stated.
The tall Jedi master took a seat, but shook his head to the tea. "No thank you," He looked at the white haired Jedi. "What did you find?" He asked.
"Patience, have patience." Dooku commanded slowly. "Do not let your emotions carry you away Qui Gon, it will not help the boy."
Qui Gon sighed and resolved to have some tea to appease his master. "Yes master." He took a sip of the soothing liquid. "Now, will you tell me?"
"It appears that my observation on Honavar was given to me from the Force." Dooku began to explain. Qui Gon looked at him in wonder. "Remember my comment about the Nexu?"
Qui Gon thought for a moment, reliving in his mind his experience on the forest planet. "You observed that the Nexu weren't native to that planet." Qui Gon remembered.
Dooku nodded. "Apparently there was a trade some 20 years ago." Dooku stopped to take another sip of his tea. "A group of settlers tried to start a zoo of some sort I would imagine on Honavar, they traded with a family on the planet of Cholganna. . .two Nexus for two Lusians." Dooku leaned forward, leaning on the table. "The lusians were bred and sold to the black market, and possibly to other buyers."
Qui Gon put down his cup. "So our next stop is Cholganna." He said with a sigh. "I just hope it's a closer step to finding Obi Wan." He said under his breath.
*********************************
Kia took off the bridle of her brother's steed. She then patted it on it's long neck. She looked around the deep cave and wondered how one man was able to live like a hermit. She found herself returning her thoughts back to the stranger that had come so suddenly into her life. She still felt fear as she thought back to what he did to the Ranger. She had never witnessed someone kill before.
Even if the Rangers had caught her and the Jedi, she knew that they wouldn't have killed them. She wondered if she really could indeed trust Viggo. Yet she felt a strange connection to him.
"There you are." She heard a man's voice calling to her. "We wondered if you had gotten lost." Viggo walked towards her, a strange smile on his face. She made sure she kept the Lusian between them.
"I was just about to come back." She said, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.
Viggo went to a corner of the cave and returned with a blanket. Kia gave him a curious look. "Oh, I keep my winter belongings back here." He said, motioning to the blanket. "Your Jedi boyfriend is very cold."
Kia felt her cheeks grow hot. "He's not my boyfriend, why do you keep saying that?"
"I feel that you really care for him." Viggo explained. "I just thought. . ."
"I don't even know him." Kia cut him off. "I just. . ." She looked at him. "I feel a connection to him somehow." She admitted.
"You hear him inside your head?" He asked her, she looked at him in shock then slowly nodded. "It can happen when you're in the presence of a strong Force user."
"So he was using a Jedi mind trick."
"I don't know anything about any Jedi mind trick." Viggo admitted. //Unless you are somehow doing the same thing to me right now.// Viggo thought and Kia clearly heard.
Kia looked at him, her confusion evident in her eyes. He walked up towards her, she backed up against the wall. "I don't understand." She felt tears coming to her eyes, she was incredibly frightened by the situation.
Viggo took her hands in his. "I don't either, but I know what you are going through." He said in almost a whisper. "You can sense things before they happen, you can sometimes read people's thoughts." Kia nodded with each speculation, she looked down to the ground. Viggo lifted her chin. "You are not alone." He told her.
Kia could feel herself crying. "But if the Jedi dies, I won't have any answers to my questions." She cried.
"I have been waiting my whole life for someone to answer my questions, the Force has now brought someone that could do just that." He looked her in the eyes. "I will not lose this chance, I will do everything in my power to keep that Jedi alive." He promised her.
She found herself wrapping her arms around him. "What do we do?" She asked after a moment.
"We need to contact the Jedi."
TBC
Author: ewan's girl
Author's notes: Thank you to everyone that reviewed. I am sorry that the last chapter was a blatant rip off of FotR. . .I'm not all that proud of that chapter and I may go back and rework it. Also let me know if the name of my new character is too distracting, I gave him that name before I even thought up that last chapter. I really hope this story keeps going well. Keep the reviews coming. . .Oh and where is that stake dinner as a reward for a new chapter? *wink*
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Chapter 9:
"Search. . .Black market. . .Courascant." Jedi Master Dooku keyed in his search at one of the many computer terminals in the massive Jedi archives. He paused for a moment and waited for the results, taking a sip of tea. "1,207 missions involving black market?" He stared at the screen in awe. "How can the Republic let something this illegal happen right under it's very nose?" He sighed in disgust. 'Because the Senators probably gain a hefty kickback from turning a blind eye, leaving us to clean up their messes.' He thought to himself.
He looked around the room, he noticed a young padawan sitting across from him. The boy was about 14 years old and was deep in study of whatever his master had assigned him. Dooku studied the boy, he felt a strange pang in his heart. 'That boy like all the others have no clue, they are blinded by tradition. They would follow the Republic and the arrogance of the council to their doom.' Dooku shook off the feeling, he suddenly wondered where that thought came from.
The old master cleared his throat and concentrated on the task at hand. Although he had never met the apprentice he was diligently looking for, he knew of Obi Wan Kenobi. Who hadn't heard of the boy that held Yoda's admiration? So much so that even though the boy had left the order for a short time he was still held in the highest regard in the 800 year old Jedi's mind. 'Would he be so kind to all who leave the order?' Dooku wondered.
Dooku erased his screen and tried a new approach. "Lusians." He thought it was too simple, but one of his worst faults was not seeing that the simplest things are usually the answer to ones question. He took another sip of his tea as he waited for the new results. He hoped he would find something on the case before Qui Gon's return. He had suggested that his old apprentice get some rest, but of course the suggestion was turned on a deaf ear. He knew his Padawan all too well, and knew he was pacing in his quarters trying to find some missing piece of the puzzle.
The computer beeped when it reached the end of it's search. Dooku scrolled past history of the animal, origin, and other things he knew weren't necessary. Suddenly he came across something of interest. "Cholganna." Dooku read out loud. He leaned back on his chair and pondered for a moment. His thoughts were interrupted by a woman about his age coming up behind him. "Jocasta Nu." He said with warm regard.
"Master Dooku," The white haired woman replied with a smile. "It has been a while since I have seen you in here." She looked at him. "Is there anything I can be of service for you?"
Dooku eyed the woman and smiled. "Yes Jocasta, if you would be kind enough to find any archives that involve the planet Cholganna."
The woman bowed. "But of course." And she scuttled about her business.
Dooku watched her and shook his head. He then pulled out his comlink. "Qui Gon, I have found something."
****************************
Kia silently snuck behind her companion. She was nervous as to what he was hunting, but she found herself strangely fascinated by the man. She watched as he leapt into a tree with ease, not even shaking the branch. She wondered if the Rangers had returned, she knew it had been the Rangers who had kidnapped the Jedi in the first place, and knew how relentless they were.
She then found herself wondering why the Elders were going along with the experiment and why they were going to such extremes to study the Force. Her mind began to race with unanswered questions when she heard the sounds of hoofs walking in the grass below her. He strained to see the rider, she also kept Viggo in her line of vision. She noticed the dark haired man pull out a bow caster, and begin to aim it.
Kia healed her breath as he rose the bow caster towards the unsuspecting victim. She then glanced down and noticed a very familiar form riding a small, thin, brown Lusian. Her eyes widened with realization. 'Bryns!'
She found herself running down the rocky slope towards her brother, she tried to warn him of his danger. She glanced up and saw Viggo ready to shoot.
"NO!" She shouted as loud as she could and both men turned towards her in confusion.
Bryns rode up to meet her, but stopped short when he saw a dark man drop from the tree behind her. "Kia! Get down!" He commanded while taking out his blaster. Viggo in turn aimed his bow caster back at Bryns.
Kia found herself standing between two weapons, her heart was racing and she was breathing hard. She looked at her new friend. "Viggo, this is my brother." She said between breaths, holding her hand up to stop him from shooting. "Bryns, this is Viggo, he saved us from the Rangers."
The two men stared at each other, not sure if they trusted one another. Both were about the same age, and therefore thought they knew what the other was thinking. Viggo was the first to lower his weapon. "I'm sorry, I have been on the run for so long, I can no longer tell who I can trust."
Bryns finally lowered his weapon. "I know you, you're Viggo Yulende." He said with surprise in his voice. "You escaped."
Viggo's eyes widened. He then bowed his head. "Yes I was able to get away, not before much suffering." He said in a low voice. He then looked at Kia, who stared at him in wonder. "How did you find me?" He suddenly asked both of them.
"I was trying to save the Jedi, you found me." Kia reminded him.
"I use to play in this cave when I was a boy, I told Kia to meet me here, I didn't know you were even still alive yet alone lived here." Bryns explained.
"Oh I'm not dead." Viggo answered. "Not yet."
Kia continued to stare at the man, she wasn't sure what to think of him. She suddenly felt the eyes of her brother on her, she looked at him then lowered her gaze.
Viggo looked between brother and sister and then broke the silence. "Come, time is something your Jedi does not have." He said, leading them back to his hovel.
The three entered into the small home and Viggo put his weapons next to the door. Bryns looked around the room in awe. "How did you come to live out here?" He asked.
"This is a great vantage point of the forest. I can see most things that happen here. Everything I have here are things I was able to go back for, they are from my old life." He answered, gesturing around the small room.
"How did you escape?" Bryns asked.
Viggo sighed. "I was the first, I was her mistake."
Bryns stared at the man, he felt he had seen him before. "How old were you? I should remember you."
"I was 16." Viggo answered. "I didn't always go by the name Viggo." He admitted.
"Yulende?" Bryns asked with sudden realization. "As in Elder Yulende?"
Viggo nodded. "My grandfather." He looked at the floor. "My parents were killed, I came to live with my grandfather." He looked at Kia. "Kia you know where I put the other Lusians, would you put your brother's there as well?" He asked. Kia hesitated then noticed the look in his eyes. She nodded and left the room. Viggo looked at Bryns. "My grandfather hired Zan Arbor when he heard about her experiments. He thought she could cure me." He said with pain in his voice. "He said to use the force was an abomination, unless I was willing to be a Sith." Viggo hung his head. "Needless to say I was not willing."
Bryns looked at the other young man for a moment, he suddenly felt the guilt rise inside of him again. He put a hand on his shoulder. He was about to speak when they heard violent coughing coming from the back room. Bryns and Viggo turned their attention towards the sound.
"There's little hope." Viggo admitted. "He's very ill."
Bryns nodded. "I know, he's been fighting off the poison longer than expected even without the Force, it's as if something else is keeping him alive."
They entered the room that was housing the sleeping Jedi. They walked on opposite sides of the bed and looked at the Padawan. "The poison isn't just affecting his health, it's affecting the Force in him." Viggo told Bryns. "I know because he was much stronger in the Force when I first saw him, I don't know if it will be a permanent loss."
The Jedi ceased his coughing fit and Bryns noticed a small bit of blood trailing down the Jedi's chin from his mouth. "He needs more help then any of us can give him." Bryns used his sleeve to wipe up the blood.
"He needs the Jedi." Viggo stated, and Bryns felt a shiver run up his spine.
******************************************
Qui Gon rushed into the archives, almost knocking over a padawan. He found his former teacher sitting in a corner terminal reading the screen and sipping tea. He raced up to him.
"Master Dooku?" He inquired.
"Qui Gon, sit, have some tea." Dooku calmly stated.
The tall Jedi master took a seat, but shook his head to the tea. "No thank you," He looked at the white haired Jedi. "What did you find?" He asked.
"Patience, have patience." Dooku commanded slowly. "Do not let your emotions carry you away Qui Gon, it will not help the boy."
Qui Gon sighed and resolved to have some tea to appease his master. "Yes master." He took a sip of the soothing liquid. "Now, will you tell me?"
"It appears that my observation on Honavar was given to me from the Force." Dooku began to explain. Qui Gon looked at him in wonder. "Remember my comment about the Nexu?"
Qui Gon thought for a moment, reliving in his mind his experience on the forest planet. "You observed that the Nexu weren't native to that planet." Qui Gon remembered.
Dooku nodded. "Apparently there was a trade some 20 years ago." Dooku stopped to take another sip of his tea. "A group of settlers tried to start a zoo of some sort I would imagine on Honavar, they traded with a family on the planet of Cholganna. . .two Nexus for two Lusians." Dooku leaned forward, leaning on the table. "The lusians were bred and sold to the black market, and possibly to other buyers."
Qui Gon put down his cup. "So our next stop is Cholganna." He said with a sigh. "I just hope it's a closer step to finding Obi Wan." He said under his breath.
*********************************
Kia took off the bridle of her brother's steed. She then patted it on it's long neck. She looked around the deep cave and wondered how one man was able to live like a hermit. She found herself returning her thoughts back to the stranger that had come so suddenly into her life. She still felt fear as she thought back to what he did to the Ranger. She had never witnessed someone kill before.
Even if the Rangers had caught her and the Jedi, she knew that they wouldn't have killed them. She wondered if she really could indeed trust Viggo. Yet she felt a strange connection to him.
"There you are." She heard a man's voice calling to her. "We wondered if you had gotten lost." Viggo walked towards her, a strange smile on his face. She made sure she kept the Lusian between them.
"I was just about to come back." She said, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.
Viggo went to a corner of the cave and returned with a blanket. Kia gave him a curious look. "Oh, I keep my winter belongings back here." He said, motioning to the blanket. "Your Jedi boyfriend is very cold."
Kia felt her cheeks grow hot. "He's not my boyfriend, why do you keep saying that?"
"I feel that you really care for him." Viggo explained. "I just thought. . ."
"I don't even know him." Kia cut him off. "I just. . ." She looked at him. "I feel a connection to him somehow." She admitted.
"You hear him inside your head?" He asked her, she looked at him in shock then slowly nodded. "It can happen when you're in the presence of a strong Force user."
"So he was using a Jedi mind trick."
"I don't know anything about any Jedi mind trick." Viggo admitted. //Unless you are somehow doing the same thing to me right now.// Viggo thought and Kia clearly heard.
Kia looked at him, her confusion evident in her eyes. He walked up towards her, she backed up against the wall. "I don't understand." She felt tears coming to her eyes, she was incredibly frightened by the situation.
Viggo took her hands in his. "I don't either, but I know what you are going through." He said in almost a whisper. "You can sense things before they happen, you can sometimes read people's thoughts." Kia nodded with each speculation, she looked down to the ground. Viggo lifted her chin. "You are not alone." He told her.
Kia could feel herself crying. "But if the Jedi dies, I won't have any answers to my questions." She cried.
"I have been waiting my whole life for someone to answer my questions, the Force has now brought someone that could do just that." He looked her in the eyes. "I will not lose this chance, I will do everything in my power to keep that Jedi alive." He promised her.
She found herself wrapping her arms around him. "What do we do?" She asked after a moment.
"We need to contact the Jedi."
TBC