Chapter 21: Dark Revelations

"You've returned."

Siri swallowed down her fear and knelt on the ground in the middle of the Coruscant Compound's meditation chamber. "Yes, Master."

"You failed in your missions," said Sidious slowly, dangerously, "I watched the Queen and her escort land earlier today."

She can already feel him drawing on the Dark Side, see the beginnings of sparks in his hands. "It's a bit difficult to complete a mission when there's double the Jedi you expect to encounter!"

Sidious paused. "Explain."

Siri carefully, so carefully, danced around her failure and slip ups, pulling out her datapad of her probe droid readouts and handing them to Sidious. "There were three Jedi there, Quinlan Vos, Aayla Secura, and Qui-Gon Jinn. Where Jinn goes, Kenobi follows, so a fourth one at an unknown location."

She had stupidly not even looked at the third Jedi's identity from the readout, but like hell was she going to admit that to Sidious. "I did not know if the pairs of Jedi were working together, or apart, or who had the queen, or where the ship was. I am confidant of my skill, but taking four Jedi at once is foolish, especially if it were to scare off the queen into hiding or offplanet. I bid my time until the Probe droids narrowed it down and then immediately took off after Jinn. We fought, but he escaped, leaping onto the ships ramp as it took off."

Sidious stared at her silently, molten eyes narrowing. "You are hiding something, apprentice."

She tensed a bit, she could not, would not, say it was her hesitation that let Qui-Gon get away, so she went without something else that, while it would anger him, wouldn't be the same, "The Jedi... know my identity now."

Sidious frowned briefly before folding his hands back into his robes. "I've anticipated the possibility ever since we began leading Dooku around by his nose. It is of no true consequence."

Sidious slowly began to circle her. "You are fortunate I believe this situation is still salvageable. I have come up with another use of the Queen, and I doubt this will be your only confrontation with Master Jinn and his padawan. We will wait until they make their next move, and when they do, you are to kill them both with a priority over the Queen. Jinn must die as the final push to spurn Dooku from the Jedi Order..."

He stopped in front of her. "And Kenobi is to be your Sacrifice."

Siri locked down her emotions tightly. "I understand, my Master."

"Pray you do my blue-eyed apprentice," said Sidious thinly, "I am growing far to disgusted that you still bear those eyes eight years into your apprenticeship."

Sidious shifted focus, an irritated scowl on his face. "For the time being, I have use of you until your primary targets leave the sanctuary of the Temple and the Senate. One of my assets is being... difficult. I want you to go and remind him of his place."

"Who and where?" she asked.

"I have a laboratory and mechanical workshop secreted deep in the lower levels," said Sidious, "My chief engineer, Talesan Fry, is being rather stubborn at the moment."

Siri blanked for a moment, that name... "Tally?"

Sidious slowly smiled. "That's right, I acquired both of your services on that same mission, didn't I? I have a project I wish him to complete, but he has been dragging his feet. Perhaps you can remind your 'old friend' the price of defying me. I'll send you the coordinates, I expect him to be compliant by the time you leave."

Siri left in a minor stupor. Talesan Fry... was a name she hadn't heard or thought of since she had been abducted and forced into her own Sith Apprenticeship. Never even spared him a second thought. She was rather surprised to hear he was still alive after all this time, and apparently Sidious's 'chief engineer', though it sounded it was a reluctant position. She recalled, vaguely, that he had been a child genius. Sidious, she supposed, would have cultivated and enslaved that kind of potential tool, bending it to his will.

She can't help but wonder just what kind of project Sidious has him working on, she supposed she'd see soon enough...

"...and it was on my way back to the Queen's ship," said Qui-Gon Jinn, "That I was ambushed."

If Obi-Wan were in a better mood, he might have been entertained by the collective headache the Council seemed to get after Qui-Gon detailed betting their entire chance to get offplanet on a podrace. He really wasn't, especially with what came next.

"Ambushed, you say?" inquired Yoda.

"The Hutts, or the Trade Federation?" inquired Master Windu.

Qui-Gon took a breath in, and slowly let it out. "Neither. It was Iris, though I assume she was after the Queen.."

The Council's attention was instant, and sharp; Ki-Adi-Mundi leaned forward. "The Dark Jedi is involved in the blockade?"

"It would appear so," said Qui-Gon, folding his hands into his robes, "During my battle with the fallen padawan, I managed to dislodge her hood, and identify her."

"Hmph, jealous, Dooku will be," said Yoda with false lightness, staring at Qui-Gon, "Know Iris, did you, when Jedi she was?"

Qui-Gon closed his eyes and sighed softly. "Yes, but... my padawan knew her better."

Obi-Wan stepped forward. "Iris is Siri Tachi."

The ripple of shock, surprise, and disbelief from the council is frankly surprising to Obi-Wan.

"Master Gallia's padawan?" exclaimed Even Piell, "Surely you are mistaken."

Other masters clamored agreement, but Obi-Wan merely shook his head.

"No, it was her," said Obi-Wan softly, "I saw her face, as did my Master."

"This would have broken Adi's heart were she still alive," mused Plo Koon with an air of sad resignation.

Yoda's ears were flickering in rapid motions, eyes narrowed at Obi-Wan, and then Qui-Gon. "Something more to say on this, feel that I do."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "Yes. We were not... entirely truthful, on that mission report eight years ago."

Mace Windu's reaction was instant and hard. "You lied to the Council? Did you know she lived?"

"No, not on that," said Obi-Wan, "Its... I asked my master to lie, out of respect for Siri. We had felt her fall to the Dark Side after her Master had been killed, shortly before we thought she was killed. I didn't want her name and reputation spited and ruined when she had already suffered and supposedly died."

Windu's scowl didn't budge. "Yet had you, that might have stuck out in our searches of potential padawans that 'Iris' could have been."

"I know," said Obi-Wan, with regret, "Believe me, I've thought of every failing that occurred in and from that mission and our choices after it ever since I saw Siri."

"Mmm," sounded out Master Yaddle, "With this information, what would the Council have done, hmm? Iris or Padawan Tachi, her identity, change the circumstances does not."

Obi-Wan would have gotten involved. Even if he had to leave the Order to chase her down and bring her back, he would have. He doesn't say this outloud, though, judging by the quick look Qui-Gon sent him, he felt the general gist of it. It's nothing Qui-Gon hadn't done himself, when going after Tahl's killer. If Obi-Wan was being honest, Qui-Gon probably would have helped him go after her.

"It does change something though," said Obi-Wan, "Siri is... conflicted, I felt it."

"Conflicted, you say?" said Yoda with interest.

"Not conflicted enough," said Saesee Tinn firmly, "When we have her suspected in the murder of many a Jedi, civilian, and Service Corp member."

There is a flash of pain through Obi-Wan's heart at that, he does his best to keep his expression schooled. "The way of the Jedi is compassion and understanding. She was tortured into this way of life. If we can capture her, and keep her away from her dark master, from his influence and control, I believe we can pull her free."

Master Windu didn't seem impressed with the notion. "There was a chance for her years ago to do this. Perhaps then something could have been done for her, and saw her walk away into a better life. Now? In as deep of a darkness as she has fallen into? Even IF she could turn away from it, which no one has successfully done when they have fallen so far, she is complicit in enough murders to warrant the death penalty many times over in the Republic."

"Force Sensitives fall under the jurisdiction of the Jedi Order," pointed out Obi-Wan, earning a deeper scowl from Master Windu.

"Are your thoughts on this matter clear, Padawan Kenobi?" asked Master Piell, "I feel an unusual amount of desire to safeguard the fallen padawan and help her."

"Is it not the way of the Jedi to help those in need?" inquired Obi-Wan, falling into his master's pose, earning an air of amusement and pride down the bond from him, "And she needs our help. She is lost, so very lost, she needs our help finding her way back."

"Hrmph," said Yoda, pointing his stick at Obi-Wan, "Fool me, you do not."

Obi-Wan didn't reply.

Yoda chewed on his stick for a moment as the Council waited for him to speak, "Believe you do, that save Padawan Tachi, you can?"

"I do," said Obi-Wan, thinking of that whirlwind of emotions from her, that speck of light, and perhaps, even love. He wants to say, that he thinks he might be the last one who can help her back. But he doubts the Council would react well to an open admission of attachment, especially after eight years of her being assumed dead, and discovered to be a darksider.

Yoda closed his eyes, reaching out into the Force, asking it for guidance. Not that Obi-Wan himself hadn't done so during his meditations, but the Force as a whole had been murky for a long time now, and the best he could truly do at the moment was follow his gut, and his heart. So he watched Yoda, and he hoped, he prayed, that the Grandmaster would allow the attempt.

Finally, Yoda opened his eyes, troubled. "Hmm... feel I do that succeed you may..."

Obi-Wan felt relief...

"Yet feel I do, that fail, you may as well," said Yoda, "And if fail you do, far worse will things become."

Obi-Wan frowned. "Worse?"

"Understand it, I do not," admitted Yoda, "But if kill you, she does, dire will things become, adamant the Force is on this."

Obi-Wan is not the only one who looked a bit confused on that statement. Why would her killing him over any other Jedi or person she's killed matter that much? He has the sensation that there is more going on than he is aware of. It leaves him distinctly uncomfortable to be walking into this particular confrontation without all the necessary facts.

"Perhaps if more Jedi are sent...," began Plo Koon.

Ki-Adi-Mundi shook his head. "If more are sent into this matter than the two of them, I doubt she will return to confront them."

MAster Windu still looked rather irritated by the whole thing, but turned his head towards Qui-Gon. "Do you believe the two of you could subdue her and return her to the temple? She is known to be dangerous, ruthless."

"I am confident of our skills," said Qui-Gon firmly, "Though, if Master Dooku could be contacted to give any details he noted about her preferred style and abilities, it would be appreciated. I didn't particularly note any favored form during our brief confrontation."

"Mmm, silent Master Dooku has run, last few months," said Master Yoda, "Tracking her movements, through the underworld he has been. Contact him we cannot until contact us, he does."

Yoda sighed and then stared hard at the pair. "Agree with you the Council does," typical of him really to speak for the entire council, especially when Master Windu especially does not agree, but Obi-Wan isn't complaining, "A chance, you will be given, to bring our fallen Padawan home. The last chance, will this be."

Obi-Wan bowed to the Council. "It will be done."

Obi-Wan is more than aware he's getting of lightly for lying to the Council, that Yaddle and Yoda words and actions have silenced the matter for the time being. He supposes really, they are waiting and seeing what comes of this attempt. Obi-Wan is more than ready to make himself scarce and await Queen Amidala's next move, turning to go...

"Master Qui-Gon, more to say have you?"

Qui-Gon smiled a little before shifting into a neutral stance. "With your permission my master, I have encountered a vergence in the Force."

Oh, right, over twenty thousand midichlorians in the boy. Obi-Wan had forgotten about that in the middle of discovering Siri to be alive. Well, judging by how Qui-Gon was already steeling himself, Obi-Wan thought he better brace himself to be here for awhile...

Looks can be deceiving.

Its a thing Siri already knew well, yet somehow, a non-descript little warehouse with an elevator going below the surface of the area leading into a sprawling underground facility was... a bit surprising to her. Most of the guards don't even pay attention to her, they take one look at her robes and get out of her way. She's fine with that. She can practically smell Sidious's presence about them, the Dark Side coiling around their minds, dominating and bending them to his will. Its a skill she still needs to practice more of.

There are multiple sections of the building: A science department. A research department. An engineering department, ect... every little thing Sidious can get his grubby fingers into. She heads for engineering, and raises an eyebrow when she enters.

"Yeah yeah yeah, I know it's your baby Raith, I don't particularly care, they tasked me with figuring out how to make it a reality, so you can keep yer trap shut."

Even with the age, now eighteen instead of ten, Siri can still see much of Tally in the young man he's become. Shortly trimmed red hair, a bit deeper than Obi-Wan's, with vivid green eyes. His face describes his interaction with most people: bored of them. He was in a black buttoned coat and pants with gloves on, spectacles resting firmly on his nose. His eyes are narrowed, glaring at a hologram of a middle aged man Siri doesn't recognize.

"Perhaps if you listened," countered the man in question, "You wouldn't be so far behind on your due date. Our benefactors wanted the rough draft of the schematics done a year ago."

"Well, if they have a problem with my genius, they can take it up with me," said Tally, thumbing his chest, "It takes time for these things."

Siri cleared her throat, making Tally turned towards her, as did the hologram. "Well, I think they just did. I bid you good day, perhaps we can discuss my theories of where the project is struggling another time."

It winked out, and Tally scrutinized her for a moment. "Well yer a new one."

Siri put a hand on her hip and pouted. "What, don't recognize me Tally?"

He froze for a moment. "How do you know that nickname?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess I'll have to reintroduce myself. I'm Siri Tachi."

That got a jolt out of him. "Wait-what? Aint that... I remember you, aint you a Jedi?"

"Was," was all Siri answered to that, walking over to squint over a large drawn diagram on a white board. "What is all this mush?"

"This 'mush'," said Tally with distaste, "Is the 'Expeditionary Battle Planetoid' platform, or well, my version of it. Raith's baby, my new and improved design."

"And Raith is...?" posed Siri.

"Raith Sienar," answered Tally.

She'd have to look up who that was later if she had a chance. "Right, well, whats the purpose of this 'platform'? Space battle?"

Tally scoffed. "That's what Raith thinks it'll be for. But he's a stupid git. Sidious wants him kept in the dark on that front, since Raith is a public face in the engineering world. It's got some massive hypermatter tech issues at the moment, nothing I can't figure out since Sidious kinda crammed this crap down my throat."

"Crammed it?"

Tally's face turned dark. "Learn this shit or die was basically his motto. Raith taught me some of this garbage, and I was tested monthly early on, punished if I was found lacking."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," mused Siri before refocusing, "If this is something you could figure out, why don't you?"

Tally thumbed the designs. "Why don't you tell me?"

She stared at the schematics, eyes washing over it. The general shape was circular, its pieces drawn out. A lot of the mathematical equations went over her head, way over. Some with terms attached to them however, like 'projected power output' were more easily understood. "What the kriff does Sidious need something with that much power for? That's absolutely ridiculous. I swear you could probably…"

"Blow up a planet with it?" said Tally snidely, "Because you can. That's the point. He wants me to make him a planetkiller."

Siri just stood there for a moment, in air of disbelief around her, before scowling. "That's stupid. Why the hell would you need to blow up an entire planet? That's a ridiculous waste of resources."

"And life," said Tally, eyes narrowed at her.

Siri slowly shook her head, staring at her old acquaintance. "What a waste Tally, you have such potential use, and he wastes it by having you work on a planetkiller. I could use you so much better."

Tally has gone very still, looking a bit skittish as his eyes flicker, focusing on her clothes. "So... I'm going to just get this out of the way and say: You're dressed like he is."

Siri smiled a mirthless smile. "He conscripted us both Tally, and neither of us particularly got a choice."

Tally went silent, and Siri returned to looking at the diagram. "Kyber crystals, huh. Where would he even get that many?"

"Jedha, Illumn, Mygetto, other places," murmured Tally.

Siri frowned thoughtfully, and then it really hits her. "Oh. He can make this. He will make this. He's going to waste all those resources…"

Tally crossed his arms. "If I wasn't purposefully going slowly, the schematics would be finished by now, and he'd be working on construction. I don't know where he plans to get all of the materials without drawing attention, I figured he'd do it slow like. So, ten, fifteen years tops before it's ready if I get him the plans within the year."

Siri swallows, thinking of the repercussions of this. That kind of power is enticing, but its absolute madness. You can't take back blowing up planet. This destroys an empire, it doesn't help make it. Rebellions would crop up to fight this, hell, portions of an empire would probably defect or mutiny in protest. This would kill billions, potentially trillions of lives both outright and via denying bloodlines, so many potential future resources wasted. Not just people, but a planet itself as well. Perhaps multiple planets.

She sees this superweapon, and all she sees is a future threat to her empire.

Of course, she can't just destroy these plans or this facility (who knows what else Sidious is creating in here), Sidious would have her head. Time to take a page out of his book and be… subtle, perhaps put on a nice act for the camera incase that old bastard is watching or goes back to look later. "I suppose it's out of our hands, you'll do as you're ordered, as will I."

Tally gave a start. "You can't be serious! C'mon, you were a Jedi, weren't you? You can't..."

She reaches out and grabs the back of his head, squeezing tightly, and smashes his face into a desk, she speaks aloud, and then she projects directly into his head. "I am deadly serious."

'There are cameras watching, do you understand?'

Tally turns his head to look at her, blood going down his nose, but nods.

"You will continue work on this project, or the next time I come here, your punishment will be far worse than a light scolding."

'Finish the design, but sabotage it, I don't care what you do or how you do it, but sabotage this abomination.'

"Are we clear?"

Tally nods again, and Siri smiles, releasing him. "I'm glad we have an understanding. It was nice seeing you again Tally, perhaps we'll have a chance to talk again later. Maybe when this is said and done, I can take you someplace nice as a reward."

She gave him a fake-sly smile and slipped out: It was a promise that she'd use him better than Sidious would, when she had her empire. Honestly, a kriffing planetkiller. The Ancient Sith had their superweapons, so why wouldn't Sidious go for his own? It made sense, but it was stupid. Especially since that kind of weapon could also be used against Sidious. If she had control of such a weapon, she'd be sorely tempted to blow up a planet just to kill Sidious. She sighed and shook her head, leaving the warehouse, it was night now. Best to return to the compound and wait to see if the Queen had made her move yet...

"So," a deep, dark, and rasping voice sounded out, "He let you into the facility. I did not give him permission to do so."

Siri tensed, a dire shriek of danger from the Force ripping through her. She turned to see a darkly robed figure slowly approaching, seeming to appear out of the shadows themselves. She couldn't get a read of him in the Force. She had a brief moment to see an elongated face, that of a muun's if she saw correctly...

Then she saw the molten, burning eyes blazing out from under the hood, and every sense of warning she had screamed that she was prey before a predator. "Who are you?"

The Muun studied her silently for a moment. "Sidious is playing a dangerous game. I am not blind. You are no mere tool, and I do not recall giving him permission to train an actual apprentice."

Siri reaches for her lightsaber...

The muun held out a hand, and Siri was tossed back and flattened against a nearby wall with laughable ease with the Force. "As for your question: I am Plaguies."

He smiled with complete and utter malice. "Darth Plaguies."

Author's Notes:

So yeah, throwback to the premise and the other consequence of this story with Sidious getting a boy genius under his thumb to mold as he wishes: Death Star might be built a bit earlier this time around. Either end of clone wars or shortly after.

Also, Sith confrontation incoming.

Oh-shit.

Review Responses:

TheApatheticOne: :(, Siri does nasty and bad things. Even if it makes readers squeamish. I really wasn't sure if I should have included rape or not, but I decided in for a penny in for a pound, might as well have her damn herself as much as she could.

Sentinel951: This story will last long enough as it is, as will A Wound In Time. It will be some time before I go full on for another Star Wars fanfic (especially with all my other stories still to do). But I eventually may.

IAmOneWithTheForce: Qui-Gon's fate I won't reveal yet. But regardless of what happens, I have reasons for doing so.

Nerdman3000: It kind of makes sense, just... not as badly as massacring a bunch of younglings. Though she has already killed plenty of children under Sidious's tutalage. And yeah, I guess I'll change it to M-rated. She and Dooku are going to have much more fun later on, when Siri is no longer trying to hide her voice and actually goes at him. Dun Moch VS Dun Moch will be fun. They don't know shes a Sith, that's going to be its own unpleasent suprise for them.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have no idea what they are walking into.

None at all.