I don't own Star Wars but I do own most of the characters. Some of the characters from the New Jedi Order will show up but the rest are mine D. Most of the alien species belong to George as well.
Chapter 2
The doors to the council chamber closed with an ominous boom that resounded down the hall as the master and apprentice exited the room. The meeting had gone well if you consider the fact that the pair had just returned from a failed mission. Master Skywalker had questioned him on the makeup of Gnave's forces. Focusing on whether or not he could identify the manufacturer of some of his equipment. Even with just a cursory glance at the cargo crates littering the landing platform the two Jedi had been able to confirm that Gnave was being supplied by Windscar Industries. The manufacturing company had come into being shortly after the Killik War. They specialized in arms manufacturing, mainly heavy weapons and assault droids.
The two Jedi were dismissed and they went their separate ways for the evening. The master Jedi retired to his room for the evening and spent most of his time in meditation.
The next morning Sarick met Elydyn at his master's room. The pair was in turn met by an old friend of the master's as he stepped into the corridor. The shorter man was a blue skinned Chiss, a civilization long know for their isolationist tendencies. The Killik war had done much to change that long time condition and the two governments had begun to work together and a new era of peace had descended upon the known galaxy.
"Ah Kyp'sio'nuruodo!" Elydyn said rushing forward to embrace his friend. The Chiss flinched at the butchering of his name but smiled none the less.
"I have told you that my core name of Psion will suffice my friend." He shrugged free of the bear hug. "Your rendition of the whole is awful."
"Whatever." Taalar sighed, he would get it right one of these days.
"Besides Elydyn keep this up and I'll be able to order you to call me by that name." He clasped his hands behind his back. "At one point you were next in line to be on the advisory council at least until your three failures with Gnave. It seems that you still have a soft spot for our former friend." Elydyn winced at his remarks. "If we all didn't know better we would assume you are working for him. You should have let me finish him when we had the chance, maybe then your old apprentice would still be alive."
Sarick growled deep in his throat when he heard that remark. "This one thinkz you should watch your wordz more carefully." The Barabel answered for his master, his anger evident in his voice and posture. "Master Taa-" he stopped mid sentence as Elydyn shot him a disapproving glance.
"It is not the apprentices place to question a master." He stated flatly "Or a Knight." He added after considering his words for a moment. "No matter what. Though you are not one to lecture me on losing an apprentice Psion, you lost one to simple pirates." The knight snapped back.
A hurt look flashed across Psion's features as the comment wounded his pride. "I laid out a solid battle plan. If he would have followed it he would not have died." Psion's gaze hardened. "Anyways, I came down here to tell you your next mission has been assigned." A large avian stepped up next to Psion, Elydyn recognized him as the Chiss' apprentice Rusti. "The four of us have been ordered to put an end to Lord Windscar's manufacturing abilities. It seems that he has been harassing the Chiss and you know how well that goes over with my people."
"Why doesn't the Ascendancy just destroy hit them themselves?" Taalar asked.
"The Ascendancy has some more important matters to attend to at the moment." The blue skinned Jedi answered. "The rest of the mission data will be presented via secure holopad once we are en route."
"All right." Elydyn commented as he turned to leave. "I'll see you in the hanger in an hour. May the Force be with you." He added as his long legs propelled him down the hall. He had a few things to do before he could leave the temple again.
The empty hallways of the ancient temple stretched forward into nothingness. The only thing that could be seen in the blackness was the flickering, dancing flames of the torches that lined the walls. They tried to spread their warmth to the surrounding are but the oppressive darkness rose up and choked it before it could accomplish its mission. A worn stone path marked the direction most traveled. Several corridors branched off from the main path and a faint musty odor wafted from rooms unused for hundreds of years. The inner sanctum was so shrouded in the inky blackness that one had to concentrate as they tried to walk forward so that they would not lose track of the door from which they entered. The darkness radiated from the center of the room where a blinding shaft of light descended from the ceiling, illuminating a large stone sarcophagus. Even this light did not go far, any trace of it died after only a few inches, plunging the room back into complete darkness. It was in this room that the group preferred to meet. Only one man had ever seen all of them in the light of day. He thought it best to keep the identities of each member secret, that way they could attend to their missions without worrying about being identified. If you could see any of them you would have noted twenty beings of various shapes each with a red cloak and hood hiding their features. They had formed a circle around the man that had united them all. Silence was broken as metallic claws clicked against the ancient stone floor. The sound came closer until a green hooded profile appeared in front of the shaft of light.
"Ah General Gnave," The man in the center spoke, his melodic voice grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. "We've been expecting you."
A soft click could be heard as Gnave's infrared lenses dropped into place, he had already tried night vision but still he could see nothing except the illuminated casket.
"I should be insulted." The leader continued. "I should think that you would know by now that we of the Crimson River can easily hide from such ancient tools."
"Which one of you alerted the Jedi?" Gnave bellowed. He was growing tired of playing this group's game.
"Come now General, why would we want our operations hindered. The sooner you collect our energy the sooner we meet our goals."
A coldness could be felt in the back of Gnave's mind. It spread to the rest of his brain as he realized he was being played just as he though he was playing them.
"One more planet is all we need. We care not which, but since the Jedi have posed such a threat to us I am sending Ragni with you. He should be most adequate to handle any problems you run into."
"A most generous offer, but I have my own troops." The cyborg responded.
"Pitiful men with out matched weapons, you may as well be fighting a Star Destroyer with a butter knife, but of course your life is in your own hands. Have it your way though. Leave us." Silence resumed until the clicking of Gnave's talons faded into nothingness.
"Of course you have other plans than letting him disobey your orders." One of them men commented.
"Indeed," Added the tallest of the group. "Ragni has already boarded his ship, Lord of the Crimson Water. He will remain out of sight until needed."
"Soon the Jedi will move against Lord Windscar. Is our little surprise in place Lord of the Crimson Rock?" The man in the center replied.
"Yes master." The tall one answered. "Everything has been prepared." The silence resumed as each of the wraiths slipped from the room.
