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Into the Dark Side
Chapter 8
Grand Admiral Anton Reinhardt sat in his quarters, busy at his desk as he drew up a plan for battle. The Emperor had asked him to launch an assault on Bastion, the seat of power in the Imperial Remnant. The Second Imperium was a nation with only a few Deep Core worlds and Ziost to its roster and not enough resources existed beyond Darth Gorgon's wealth. But if the Second Imperium could take control of the Imperial Remnant with most of its fleet intact?
As Reinhardt examined a datapad, he tried to discern the most likely situation he could expect. He knew the Imperial Remnant had a much smaller fleet than the New Republic, a total of three thousand ships. The fleet of the Deep Core Empire, that had become the backbone of the Second Imperium, had been nearly decimated by Admiral Daala's offensive against the Republic a few years ago. It was thanks to her death that he was able to rise to his status, but the fleet he commanded was meager. Darth Gorgon had made promises, but they had been just that: promises.
The holonet transmitter on his desk began beeping, letting Reinhardt know he had an incoming message. He pressed a button and a hologram of an old man with white hair and black regal clothes appeared. His face was drawn and weathered, but his old eyes still contained the fire of youth.
"I have come to the understanding that you were promised men and a fleet," the man said.
"Men, yes," Reinhardt admitted. "A fleet, no."
"You will receive a delivery of fifty Battle Dragons, fully staffed," the man told him. "They will come with a complement of droid fighters, since I have no reliable pilots among my faction."
Reinhardt had little taste in droids as soldiers. Their very nature depended on the amount of credits paid on their battle programming, and even then, they lacked the reflexes and ability to improvise like living soldiers.
"You need not worry about the quality of the programming," the old man said, almost as if he could read Reinhardt's mind. "Artificial intelligence has grown by leaps and bounds since the Clone Wars if you follow the proper researchers."
"Let me guess," Reinhardt said. "Hapan researchers?"
The old man merely cracked a smirk. "The Battle Dragons will arrive at your location in one standard day. Be prepared."
The holotransmission closed on the other end, leaving Reinhardt to contemplate. Maybe he had a chance of winning a battle after all.
Ashgard was one of the horror stories that resulted from frequent galactic warfare. Before the Clone Wars, it had been a bustling trade center on one of the minor hyperspace routes that connected the Republic with the Hapes Cluster. However, greed had forced the leaders of Ashgard to secede from the Republic and join the Confederacy of Independent Systems after the Battle of Geonosis.
The planet would suffer greatly during the Clone Wars, most of her industry being destroyed. During the first years of the Empire, Palpatine took retaliatory measures on worlds that had been loyal to the Separatists and most of the planet's population was incinerated during one of Vader's purges. Ashgard had become a criminal haven after the Battle of Endor when the Empire pulled its presence from the planet, never able to regain the prosperity it had in past decades.
"What a dreary place," Doc said to Tenel Ka in the copilot's chair. She had changed into a gray flight suit and fixed her hair in a single braid so as to better conceal her identity.
"I stopped here once when I was smuggling bootleg whiskey." When the princess made a confused face, Doc continued, "You can't understand because you don't appreciate the lack of taxes that the Republic and the Consortium has on liquor. Back in the days of the Empire, the taxes were outrageous. Ever wondered why there are so many breweries throughout the galaxy? It's because a lot of distillers nearly went under paying the taxes."
Tenel Ka tried not to be disrespectful, but Doc's longwinded explanation was boring her. "Please get to the point, Master," she added flatly.
Doc stared at her, but then quickly recovered, "Point is I ran into a bunch of ruffians out here." He tried to count the years back in his head before coming up with, "Oh, about a year after Endor. The Empire was in a complete mess and I didn't realize that they had pulled their presence from here. I had some good customers here, but the new boss, a cyborg Bothan everyone called Hunt wanted a cut of my merchandise. That basically meant he confiscated my entire delivery. Since it wasn't the only stop…"
"Ah. So you are trying to tell me you have enemies on this world?" Tenel Ka pried, trying to urge him to stop talking.
"If Hunt is still around, yeah," Doc said. Changing the subject, he questioned, "How goes the progress on your lightsaber?"
"I have many of the chief components in place," Tenel Ka said. "I've been having to work around the focusing crystal, which is pretty tedious."
"Yeah, but not having to cut the crystal to the specifications for your lightsaber saves you some time," Doc argued, earning a nod from his apprentice.
"Unidentified cruiser," barked the space traffic controller of Ashgard, nearly making Doc want to laugh. Apparently they were losing their cocky edge. "Please state the nature of your business on Ashgard. If you do not comply within five standard minutes, we will be forced to destroy you."
As if to make good on his claim that they would attempt to destroy the Dragon Heart, three Uglies flew out of Ashgard's atmosphere and approached the borrowed ship.
Doc resisted the urge to ask if Hunt would pay him back and very seriously replied, "Ah, we're here on an errand for Gorgon."
Tenel Ka glanced at Doc, knowing he was taking a major gamble.
After a pause, the space traffic controller replied, "Um…keep your voice down about that. Get to Platform 7 on the double."
The princess exhaled a sigh of relief before she immediately grew tense.
"I copy," Doc said. "Sorry about the blurt. Over and out."
"What will happen when they find out we're not here on an errand from Gorgon?" Tenel questioned, never in her life considering that a Jedi Knight would act so recklessly.
"Just relax," Doc told her. "Just follow my lead. One of my old contacts was still around here last time I came."
"But it has been nearly twenty years," Tenel Ka argued.
"Tenel Ka, you're going to learn how to trust the Force," he scolded, trying not to come off as too harsh. "What you may perceive as reckless behavior may the will of the Force. Sometimes, you just have to let go."
Tenel looked away and droned, "Yes Master."
"Now turn that frown upside down," Doc said, his choice of words nearly earning a grin from his apprentice. "But remember, down there you have to look tough." He took a glance at her and said, "You'll do, but don't act so stiff. Just act natural like you do in your exercises. And for Force sake, use some contractions in your speech. Everybody and his brother will know you are upper crust talking so formally."
"I will…I'll try," she corrected herself.
The Dragon Heart landed on Platform 7 a few minutes later. When Doc and Tenel Ka descended the boarding ramp, they had to conceal their astonishment at the presence of Imperial Stormtroopers flanking an old man in a black Imperial officer's uniform.
"Captain," Doc said firmly as he approached the group of Imperials.
The Imperial Captain narrowed his blue eyes before smiling. "Doc!" he said. "I didn't expect to ever see you here again!" He held out his right hand, which Doc shook firmly.
"Me either, Garrett," Doc said to his old business partner. "I didn't see you the last time I was here."
"That's because I had to pull out, but after Admiral Pellaeon signed the treaty, I decided to return to my homeworld," Captain Garrett said. "I'm now the governor here." The officer then looked to Tenel Ka and asked, "Who are you?"
"Lara," the princess lied, grateful that he didn't recognize her.
Looking back to Doc, Garrett questioned, "So you work for Gorgon now?"
Doc just responded with a wicked grin, which made him look surprisingly handsome since he had removed his beard a few hours ago.
"Well, let's head back to my office, shall we?" Garrett offered before he led Doc and Tenel Ka to a speeder.
Brakiss rubbed his chin as he observed Korderan working with Lowbacca from one of the many security feeds throughout the station that connected directly to his office. Like Jacen, the Wookiee had been progressing in his powers, but he also showed a similar restraint that the male Solo twin did.
The Wookiee howled as he fought his way out of a mass of green gel through use of his anger alone before collapsing onto the durasteel floor. Brakiss noted Korderan's smirk as he lifted his comlink to his face and issued orders for the Wookiee to be taken to the infirmary. It had been an unreasonably cruel test of Lowbacca's abilities to knock him unconscious with the Force and place most of his body in a green suspension. The Wookiee had a lot of anger in him, something Korderan had wanted to test.
Brakiss sighed before shutting off the feed at his desk. His charges had gone throughout the galaxy in search of recruits. While Garowyn and Korderan had remained on the base, Tamith Kai had decided to take a trip into the Unknown Regions, claiming she had a vision from the Force that would lead to an eager follower of their cause. Vonda Ra had gone with the Dathomirian male Vilas back to her homeworld in an attempt to recruit potential Nightsisters.
Three fully trained Dark Jedi having to manage a crop of ambitious new recruits unnerved him. But it was Fenrir's wish that a Shadow Academy be established. Brakiss would have preferred becoming his apprentice to learn the ways of the Sith, but the Dark Lord of the Sith had other plans, many of which he held no knowledge.
Brakiss had contemplated moving against Darth Gorgon, but he had witnessed that her power dwarfed his on more than one occasion. Not only was her mastery of the Force surpassed by none save her master, she had mastered Form VII, the most difficult form of lightsaber combat. Darth Gorgon was the most fearsome warrior in the universe and Brakiss knew he didn't stand a chance against her in combat.
Brakiss knew one thing. His true strength lay in subtlety. Jacen Solo was beginning his slippery slope down the dark path thanks to it. The Dark Jedi had given him the proper nudges, even imprinting the knowledge of lightsaber technology into the young man's mind. His vision would come true. Jacen would turn and prove to be more powerful than even he could contain.
"At last, the Skywalker line will redeemed," Brakiss proclaimed. "At last, the blood of Vader will be immersed in the Dark Side of the Force."
Jaina Solo held her head in her hands as she dreaded her lesson with Garowyn. She had no clue what had come over Jacen. Clearly, the younger twin was giving into the lure of the Dark Side in an almost uncharacteristic show of bravado. But after a moment, she corrected herself. Jacen was just as headstrong as she, only he was a very calculating person. However, his calculations were proving to be a danger to everyone.
She reached out for her brother through their twin bond. Jaina could feel the cold calculation as Jacen faced yet another enemy in a simulation. Jacen quickly slammed his mental shields, breaking his connection with his sister, once again shocking her.
"He's never done that before," she whined. "Well, almost never." There were those times where privacy was obviously required, but they had always looked to each other for reassurance. Now Jacen was asking her to trust him despite her better judgment instead of listening to reason.
Jaina had always been strong, so she would have to continue that trend despite the fact that Jacen was losing himself to the Dark Side.
Don't worry about me, her brother sent. He had apparently finished his battle. I've learned quite a bit about this place after I learned how I could use the Force to do without sleep.
I hope you know what you're doing, brother, Jaina replied. If you screw up, I'll have to drag you back kicking and screaming if you must.
Jacen mentally snickered at her remarks. Now I have a reason to fear turning to the Dark Side, he jested lightly.
Suddenly, the door to Jaina's quarters opened, the halves sliding into the wall. Jaina quickly slammed her mental shields, remembering what Master Skywalker told her. Your feelings will serve you well, but keep them guarded. They could be made to serve evil.
"It is time for your lesson, Solo," Garowyn said, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Brakiss may be a good teacher, but I will show you what the Dark Side is really capable of doing."
Dread filled the pit of her stomach, but Jaina quickly suppressed it with a Jedi calming technique. She wouldn't give Garowyn the pleasure of intimidating her.
Jedi Master Leia Organa Solo was alone in her quarters, seated in a lotus position on the floor as she meditated in the Force, taking the dangerous journey of probing the Dark Side of the Force. It was something only recommended to Masters who had never known the Dark Side's passionate embrace. Even her brother couldn't do it without fear of being consumed. Master Solo was the only one who could.
Without negativity to fuel it, the Dark Side was pure emptiness, the antithesis of the Light Side. The emptiness was almost palpable as she expanded her consciousness, becoming a beacon of light in a sea of darkness. She was no longer on Yavin 4. She was within the Force itself, but not in the way Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda or even her father had been after death. She was a living being, not some ghost. The limitations of flesh made it difficult for Leia to make a complete probe of the Dark Side, but she didn't think she'd want to be completely open to its emptiness the way a ghost would.
Leia and her brother had frequently butted heads on the nature of the Force. While Luke felt focused on the moment, the Living Force, Leia argued that the Dark Side and Light Side were unified as one Force, a Unifying Force. The Dark Side was only much easier to access because the wielder was willing to take the risks. Luke would agree with her on the last point, but insisted that his students could believe the teaching of a Unifying Force to mean that there really was no Dark Side. It was something Leia would never hypothesize.
Not when she knew that such an assumption was foolish.
Leia focused on the dark tendrils that gathered around her, radiating just enough light so that they did not hook into her, but still not repelling them. She had to probe for images. Leia opened her eyes just as white light flared in front of her body.
The Jedi Master found herself looking down one of the many canyons of Dathomir. Kirana Ti and Zekk were busy facing a muscular woman in black armor, a being Leia assumed was a Nightsister. Three lightsabers blazed in the dusk, Kirana's violet, Zekk's blue and the Nightsister's blue blade.
Leia stood, watching as the master-apprentice pair worked in perfect harmony. But what she couldn't comprehend was why the Dark Side had shown her this.
"The Dark Side is a dangerous place, Leia," said a man.
Turning to face the ghostly presence that materialized by her side, she said, "I know, father."
Anakin Skywalker, formerly known as Darth Vader, frowned. Leia couldn't help but marvel at the youthful appearance of her father. He didn't look more than twenty-three years old, handsome and clean-shaven. His hair was still shoulder length, despite the fact that he had died a bald man. The Force's Chosen One was still a presence of mystery.
"The Dark Side doesn't always show us what we want to see, Leia," Anakin told her, taking on the paternal role with her that his years as a Sith Lord had denied him. It still made Leia uneasy to think of anyone but Bail Organa as her father, but the years had tempered her resistance to the concept. "It nearly ensnared my son and it is doing the same to one of your children."
"Which one?" Leia questioned, trying to suppress the stabbing pain at her heart.
"But don't worry about him," Anakin said. "Jacen Solo must learn the ways of the Dark Side if he is to become stronger."
Leia backed away from Anakin Skywalker. "You are not my father!" she bellowed.
"Anakin" laughed maniacally as his form faded into a black blob. "Of course not, Master Solo," he said. "I am sorry that I had to make you a widow, but your husband was always too headstrong for his own good."
"Damn you, Kyp," Leia muttered angrily. Kyp Durron was the only man who could get under her skin and test her resolve as a Jedi. Han Solo had given him his freedom and Kyp repaid him by murdering him.
"I can feel your anger," Kyp taunted, his voice cold and inviting. "You can free your children and their friend if you avenge your husband by killing me here. The body cannot live without the mind."
A cool blue lightsaber ignited beside Kyp Durron as the ghostly form of the real Anakin Skywalker appeared. "Leave my daughter alone," Anakin warned. "Though I am no longer a servant of the Dark Side, I still hold more power over you in this realm."
"Vader," Kyp said, mocking Anakin's alter ego. "I would think you would show a little respect for your successor."
"You killed Lumiya to become the heir to the Sith tradition," Anakin responded, showing no signs of backing down. "You just took the Darth name for yourself."
Kyp growled before extending his hands to fire blasts of Force lightning at Anakin Skywalker, pouring all his Sith knowledge into the exercise. Anakin held out his left hand, calling on his ability to absorb and repel energy to deflect the purple bolts. Leia could feel the power radiating from her father as he became an almost physical manifestation of the Light Side of the Force.
Taken aback, Kyp backed away. "You'll regret this, Skywalker," Durron told him. "Mark my words. I shall purge your stain on the Force." With those last words, the inky blackness of Kyp Durron's Dark Side manifestation withered.
Leia smiled as she saw the physical form of her father and rushed into his arms. "Father!" she exclaimed.
Anakin shut down his lightsaber and pulled his daughter into his embrace. "Leia," he said. "You remind me so much of your mother."
Leia smiled briefly before pulling away from Anakin Skywalker. "During your confrontation with Kyp, my mind touched his," she said. "I saw part of his plan before he slammed his mental shields."
Anakin Skywalker began to fade back into his ghostly form. "This place is too dangerous for any Jedi," he warned. "Kyp could have killed you here much easier than he could have in the material universe. I shall maintain my vigil here to make sure Darth Fenrir's fangs don't sink any deeper."
Shuddering at the mention of Kyp's Sith name, Leia acknowledged her father's wishes. "Until next time," she said. "Hopefully on the Light Side."
Chuckling, Anakin said, "Not hopefully. I don't want to see you again for a very long time." The ghostly vision of the great Jedi Knight disappeared and Leia felt herself being dragged back to the Great Temple on Yavin 4.
Leia slowly stood, trying to maintain her calm. She had to contact her brother because the fate of the galaxy once again hung in the balance.
Doc and Tenel Ka had a seat in Garrett's drab governor's office. Still, Doc had to note that it was luxurious by Ashgard's standards. The Imperial officer a governor on a world not affiliated with the New Republic or the Imperial Remnant was not something Doc had expected, but he figured that he had some connection to Gorgon.
"Okay, let's cut to the chase," Garrett said as he lit a cigar. "I know you're not working for Gorgon."
"We're not?" Doc asked, trying to play stupid.
"If you were working with her, I would have had the Remnant forces stationed here vape you before you had a chance to land," Garrett said between puffs on his cigar. "I know you much better than that."
"Wait a minute, what happened here and why are there Remnant forces in this sector?" Doc questioned.
Garrett leaned back in his leather seat and explained, "Seems the Sith witch decided to have a massacre of Black Sun officials on this world. I asked Admiral Pellaeon as an old friend for a bit of muscle on this world to prevent something like this from happening again."
"Sith?" Tenel Ka asked.
"This is worse than we thought," Doc said. Feeling he could trust his friend, he explained, "Tenel Ka and I are Jedi searching for this Gorgon."
Garrett smirked. "Jedi huh?" the governor thought aloud. "And the princess of Hapes?"
"Any clue where she might have gone?" Doc pressed.
"One of the Black Sun members rushed into jail, confessed to his crimes and asked to be arrested without question," Garrett told him. "We kept him hidden from her, so feel free to question him. He should be able to tell you everything."
"Thank you for your time," Doc said as he began to stand, Tenel Ka following his lead.
"Wait a minute," Garrett said before opening the cigar box on his desk. He took out a cigar and handed it to Doc. "For old time's sake."
Doc graciously took the cigar, not intending to smoke it, but out of the intention to be polite. "Thanks," he said to the governor before leading his apprentice out of the office.
A Sith? Tenel Ka asked Doc through their bond.
Doc winced. Well, we know it's not Kyp.
Fact, she replied. But that isn't very comforting.