(Author's Note: Sorry if the chapter starts out slow. I really, really hate writer's block. Special thanks to my dad the English teacher for helping me over it. :D On with the show!)

Chapter 9

The room was packed. It looked a little like a courtroom, with people in the pews of all different genders and species. There was a beautiful young woman with tentacle-like things hanging out of the back of her head. A red creature that looked almost exactly human…except for the many horns protruding from his head. A small alien in a brown hood, his yellow eyes glowing.

"He looks like an evil munchkin," Buttercup murmured. "Hey," she whispered to Blossom, sitting next to her. "am I the only one who feels like I'm watching Star Trek?"

"Shut up," Blossom muttered.

"What? I was just making a joke!"

"Yeah, you think they're weird?" Blossom demanded. "How about three teenage genetically engineered clones with pink, blue and green eyes who have superpowers and come from an invaded planet?"

Buttercup rolled her eyes like she didn't care, but said almost nothing for the rest of the meeting.

After several minutes, a man with brown scales, an enormous head and fishlike yellow eyes, came into the center podium. Buttercup had desperately wanted to say she swore she'd seen him in a tuna commercial when she was ten but decided against it, not wanting to anger Blossom.

It's not like I'm not going through the same things she is, Buttercup thought to herself. Then she looked into Blossom's eyes, icy and fearful. She felt cold all over. What the hell is happening? I just don't have any god damn idea anymore…

At once, the moment the fish-guy got onto the podium, he began to speak in a strange, gravely voice.

"Men and women of the Alliance…" the creature paused for a moment to breath. It actually seemed to be aquatic. "…we have a dilemma."

"Duh," Buttercup murmured under her breath to prevent Blossom from hearing.

"I am Admiral Ackbar, for those of you who do not know me. I now call Kyle Katarn and Jan Orrs to the podium." Ackbar finished, gesturing to the two.

"Thank you," Jan said politely. "Two days ago, the twenty-second, we received a transmission. At approximately 14:00 hours," she added hastily.

"Of what sort?" Ackbar inquired.

"It was an audio transmission," Kyle picked up the tale. "It simply told us our mission. At least, what we thought was our mission."

"We have a copy of the said transmission. Miss Adi-Mundi, would you mind playing it?"

A young woman stepped forth, holding what looked like a cross between a radio and a computer. She switched it on.

"Ksstch…Kyle…Jan…do you read me?"

"Clear," came Kyle's voice. "Enter your access code."

A painful combination of beeping noises, fuzz and screeches came from the message recorder.

"Security cleared. What's on you mind?" Kyle said casually.

"Two girls are being held captive, by the name of Blossom and Buttercup. Rescue mission."

"Don't worry about it. Do you know how many rescue missions I've done?" came Kyle's voice, cocky as ever.

"Shut up, Kyle," Jan murmured.

"Be careful. They have maximum security in the prison ship. I'm uploading it's coordinates right now. Oh, and by the way…"

"Yeah?" Jan said.

"May the Force be with you."

The recorder shut down.

"No one," Ackbar began. "…in the entire Alliance, sent that message to you. No, we did not think you had turned traitor." Kyle looked relieved. "However, it is now obvious that someone has."

There were whispers of excitement and fear.

"If this traitor confesses at this second who he is, the punishment will be much lighter than planned."

There was a long silence.

"Meeting adjourned," Ackbar hissed with incredible disdain.

As everyone began to leave, Blossom had a somewhat puzzled look on her face.

"Why?" she muttered.

"Why what?" Buttercup answered.

"Why transmit that? I mean, what could they possibly gain by separating us?"

"I have no idea," Buttercup admitted. "Let's hit the sack. C'mon…" Buttercup yawned. "We need some rest."

"Yeah. I guess so."

But she couldn't let herself sleep. Neither of them could. There was more to this than it seemed. There just had to be…

---

Bubbles Utonium heard the door slam shut behind her with a quiet rumble. Wherever she was now, it was the darkest place she had ever been. And this time there was no way to see.

A series of cracking noises broke the silence as the ceiling erupted into light. She could see she was in a hallway, cold steel still surrounding her.

She dared herself to walk, and began to move forward.

Suck…hiss

"W…what?"

Suck…hiss

"Who's there?"

The only things she could here was her own footsteps and the sound of some monster breathing.

Suck…hiss

A shiver ran down her spine. She needed to run—now…but.

She couldn't. Something compelled her to walk forth.

Or run.

She began to sprint, but her own footsteps became louder as did the breathing. She stopped, now in a dark chamber, like a throne-room. The breathing noises were louder than ever.

"Who's…there?" she whimpered. "Don't kill me."

She could make out the form of a man. He stood there, facing her. He held out an arm, and a small cylindrical object rolled out of his hand. Bubbles immediately grabbed it. It seemed simple enough, just a handle with a switch.

The silhouette pulled an cylinder of his own from his belt. There was an explosion of red light and a low humming sound.

The light revealed a terror unlike any she'd seen. It was not a man, but some nightmarish machine. The head was like some horrific skull mask, with wide metallic eyes and a breathing vent where the mouth would be. The rest of the machine was all black, with a dark cape extending to the ankles. The handle had ignited a beam of energy the color of blood, like a sword.

"Draw your saber," the figure said, it's precise and deep voice echoing through the cavernous chamber.

Bubbles grasped the cylinder…the 'saber'…even harder. Something occurred to her: The switch. She pulled it down, and a red blade of her own escaped from the lightsaber. At that moment the shadowy figure leapt, slicing down with his sword. Instinct kicked in, and Bubbles blocked it instantly.

"Good…listen to your instincts!"

The sabers disconnected, and the shadow attempted a direct stab at Bubbles. She leapt backwards and rolled to the right. Not the best idea in the world. The shadow now had the higher ground and attempted a slash at the stomach, which was once again blocked, this time in a lock between the swords.

Why…is he so strong?

Bubbles barely broke the lock and jumped up to the platform with the throne where her opponent waited. She attempted a hack of her own, trying to cut from the shoulder down. The shadow blocked with ease, then sliced across the stomach.

The most horrible dizziness came to her. She coughed a little, and a red liquid began to drip from her mouth. Everything blurred, but he could distinctly see the shadow speaking with…Palpatine?

"My master. She is strong in the Force, although she does not know it," the shadow said.

"Yes…I sensed it too. She is most powerful of the project, obviously. Bring her to the medical center…I need to speak to Lord Vader alone."

White shapes moved towards her, pushing her onto a medical cot.

Vader.

She was awake as the doctors brought her to the medical center, but the urge to sleep finally overtook her, and she rested.

---

"Vader."

"Yes, Master…"

Emperor Palpatine sat on his throne of iron, glaring down at Darth Vader.

"I assign you the mission of training the girl. You must report to me after every session, describing everything that happened with the utmost detail. I am…quite curious about this child's abilities."

"Of course, Master."

"You may leave."

Vader rose from his kneel, and walked off, through the throne room.

He has grown weak. My apprentices…all failures. But a child…a child could be trained to hate from such a young age. Honed into the ultimate weapon. There is already enough rage within her. If she can wield it…

A chilling laugh filled the empty throne room.

…the Empire shall rule all.

End Chapter 9