Darth Raize had been sure of only a few things in her life when she was younger. The Force was awesome. She wanted to do what Sith and Jedi could do. And she loved her parents. A cute girl with her hair tied into an adorable bun that had lived on Tattooine, she'd yearned to do what Force users could.

Darth Furiosa had lived a fairly normal enough life…for a child of the Sith. Her people were from a different galaxy where the Sith reigned, or at least, an offshoot of them who had developed a slightly more "liberal" view on what it meant to be a Sith. It was in essence, more about hedonism and feelings and freely enjoying oneself without tying yourself down to strict rules and moral codes.

Everything went wrong with their parents, though. That was a shared trauma they could speak up. For Raize, she'd found her parents had taken off, because in order to pay for the home she had, they had taken on immense amounts of debt. But now it had come time to collect, and they had to run. They left behind a datapad for Raize to find when she came back home from a day at the local community school, urging her to meet them on the outskirts of the territory, just grab what she could and run, and destroy the datapad too so nobody knew where they'd gone.

Unfortunately, that was when the debtors hired muscle had shown up. Raize had only just smashed the pad across the room and had raced for her room to grab a pack when hired goons with guns had smashed their way into her home. The good news was she'd learned that day she HAD force powers. She COULD do what they did. Truly, the force WAS awesome.

But she never saw her parents again, and all the love she'd had for them turned into hate for not telling her about the danger they'd been in, for not WAITING for her, for just taking off and assuming that she'd find them.

Furiosa's mother and grandmother had taken her to the galaxy that Raize had called home, and they'd gone right to Coruscant upon hearing it was the "hub" of commerce and industry and politics, the center world of the galaxy, where the government ruled. What they hadn't counted on was having Jedi there.

Luke Skywalker may have been more willing to go easy on them had Furiosa's mother not casually tried to use a powerful Jedi mind trick to force the assembled senate to leap from their balconies to their deaths when they'd refused to give her a position of power. It also hadn't helped that Leia was there too, and though she was still learning how to be a full Jedi, she was surprisingly a good match for Furiosa.

Furiosa couldn't believe a newbie who'd barely swung a lightsaber was matching her skills as Luke fought off her grandmother and mother. And the more Furiosa fought, the more angrier and more furious she got, and unfortunately, she got sloppy. Leia had told her to give up, she was only making it worse, her and her family were going to prison for what they'd just tried to do. Yelling furiously at Leia to shut up, Furiosa had swung her saber, only for Leia to slash at just the right angle, breaking Furiosa's saber apart just as Luke blew Furiosa's mother up against a wall with a Force push, guards rushing to pin her down as he turned on Furiosa's grandmother.

He'd ordered her to stand down. It was over. Come quietly and peacefully, and you wouldn't be harmed any more. Leia had been grateful to see such compassion from her brother even now, after all, this was the same person who'd tried to talk down not only Jabba the Hutt, but Darth Vader himself, even the Emperor to an extent. Furiosa's grandmother had not taken this well. She'd spat at him, and lunged at him, lightning crackling from her fingers.

This had not ended well, because that had been when Han had appeared, having come back from the bathroom, and his blast shot soared through the air, striking the side of the woman's head, and she'd slumped to the floor, dead. Furiosa's mother had screamed, sending guards flying, Leia had dived for several, using the Force to keep them from cascading down, down the large abyss below as the Coruscant senate decided they should take action too.

Those who had weapons began firing them at Furiosa's mother, Han joining in, Furiosa trying to keep a Force shield up, but she was being steadily knocked back, further and further towards the edge. Luke had called out for them to stop, she was about to topple over, but too late. She fell back. NOW the shooting stopped.

Luke raced forward, arm stretched out. He reached out with the Force, trying to pull Furiosa's mother up…and she'd slashed at his hand with her saber, angrily snapping at him, and he'd lost his concentration. This time she fell…and nobody caught her as she finally hit the far-off floor below with a sickening, wet CRUNCHING noise that echoed through the air as Furiosa screamed, and barreled out of the room as fast as she could before anyone could stop her.

She had forcibly taken over a ship in the dockyard, killing the guards who were on duty, and headed to its pre-programmed destination…Nar Shadaa. A place known for lawlessness. A place where she could build herself up.

But she wasn't the only one going. Raize had decided to go there as well. She'd read from her parents datapad that they'd once LIVED on Nar Shadaa. They'd even left behind a little keycard to their old home but they'd moved to avoid debtors and to give birth to Raize in a slightly safer place. If anything was still there though…Raize would take it.

In a matter of months, the two would find each other. Raize had taken a new identity, she'd set up home in her parents old, tiny apartment and had met Furiosa when she'd tried to steal her credits from her pocket. She'd taken her fellow teenager home, and they'd struck up a conversation…and then she'd been staying over.

Soon they were eating meals together, and sharing one another's secrets, and showing off how they could use the Force, and Furiosa had taught Raize the Sith Code.

"Peace is a lie. There is only Passion. Through Passion I gain Strength. Through Strength I gain Power. Through Power I gain Victory. Through Victory my chains are Broken. The Force shall free me."

"I dunno…I think you'd look good in chains…and maybe a ball gag?"

"Oh, you naughty girl!" THWUMPH. And a pillow right to the face!

Yes, it had been a pretty good life, but they'd wanted more. And that was when they found…perhaps even created…what led them doing so well.

The apartment complex was the largest building in Nar Shadaa's capitol, and Raize had been looking out the window, talking about how much she yearned for a more beautiful, better place for them to live. That had been when they'd both felt a strange tugging sensation, pulling them to the top of the building, to the roof. They'd gone to the top of Nar Shadaa's tallest tower, and had reached out with the Force, and had stepped through what appeared, to them…to be a rip in the very air before them, and they'd vanished for what seemed like only a day.

When they'd returned, they'd aged a year. But they'd brought back quite a lot, backpacks filled with items from far, far away indeed. Items they intended to make use of…and to reverse engineer, and to exploit. And the best item of all…

Was a slightly dusty black binder filled with discs. Discs loaded up with music. Hundreds, if not thousands of songs and they intended to hear what was on them. It was hard to find a disc player that worked on those particularly odd, alien ones, but Raize was skilled in the tech department, she'd been tinkering for years, she had a keen mind for engineering and her efforts bore fruit as they heard the music of another world. Clearly what they had found was a rip in space. The Force had given them a way to go to another realm just by stepping through this rip, and as long as nobody else found it…they could exploit it.

Exploit it they did. They passed the music off as their own. Nobody could call up the artists themselves and disprove that the two weren't making their own music. They sold the songs to the masses of Nar Shadaa, then across the Outer Rim. Soon it was spreading through the galaxy, song after song stolen by Raize and Furiosa. They were quickly becoming insanely rich, and within just a month, they'd bought the entire apartment complex, forced everyone else out, and had ordered renovations to make it into what they REALLY wanted.

More and more money flowing in meant more power. They set up meetings with the Hutts, who were very, very interested in the relaxing jazzy music they'd uncovered. They liked the slow, methodical beatworks and rhythm, the deep, soulful singing. The two women spent weeks cozying up to the Hutts and learning the inner workings of Nar Shadaa, and soon, they'd gained contacts…powerful contacts. Criminal contacts.

It was amazing, really, what money could buy. Including, perhaps, an election. The Galactic Republic still had representatives on the planet who were TECHNICALLY in charge, even though the Hutts were the ones who really ran everything. The Representatives were more figureheads, it wasn't like the laws they tried to pass really got followed. But Raize and Furiosa had decided they wanted to kick them off the planet. They had the money to buy advertisements and support in various media stations, they could astroturf supporters for rallies, they'd even begun buying their own fleet now, a fact that people were becoming increasingly aware of because all of a sudden a LOT more ships with the "Dyad's" logo on them were soaring around Nar Shadda's skies.

All of it was a show of soft power. And it appeared to work. The Galactic Republic were forced to leave Nar Shadaa, exiting the race for Representatives, and the women held a triumphant press conference.

"We are really looking forward to making sure Nar Shadaa is represented by actual Nar Shadaans." Raize had insisted. "My own parents were from here, and they had to leave because the system just didn't do enough to protect them. Now we ARE the system, and that changes. It ALL changes."

Reporters murmured and whispered, others shouting out questions, photos being taken of the women as holo-vid cameras recorded their every movement and word from their lips as Furiosa spoke up.

"We're going to be improving the docking yards for ships, for one thing. And we're going to completely get rid of the current police department and put in some more competent cops, and we're going to do the same to the military if it won't adhere to our stricter rules. No more slacking off. No more messing up. No more listening to rules shackled in red tape! Without the Galactic Republic holding us back, Nar Shadaa will be more bright and beautiful than ever!" Furiosa said.

They began calling on reporters, who asked various questions, including very easy softballs, like the fact the reporters noticed a wedding ring, one of them asking "when did you get that"?. There was a lovely "Awww" moment as the couple kissed, explaining how they'd finally gotten engaged, and were going to have their wedding soon. But then another reporter spoke up, a Trandoshan in a soft white suit, wearing thick goggles and looking disturbed.

"You've dismantled the police department, the army, AND you've begun developing an increasingly large fleet. You own most of the media companies here on the planet, and you've kicked off the only outside influence the planet had, meaning all that's left in terms of people in power, are you and the Hutts, who run the Underworld, and you've made it no secret that you're on good terms with them. How is what you've done not just replaced one type of authoritarian rule with another that's even more fascistic? What exactly is to stop you from deciding "You all don't get to vote because you don't vote the way we like", or to create a standing army that'll stomp out any opposition to you, or from passing laws that say criticizing you is punishable by death? Why should the people trust you to do the right thing when it doesn't appear that anyone could stand up to you if you chose to cross the line?"

There was dead silence reigning. Nobody said a word. They slowly turned to look at the reporter, then at Furiosa and Raize. The two women stared back at the Trandoshan, looking faintly as though they'd been whacked in the face.

"Look dipshit, you got a real shallow view of "the line" if you ask me, a real shallow way of thinking indeed. I don't care about "looking like the good guy" to sheltered people. Grow up." Raize remarked.

"You didn't actually answer my question." The reporter said. "What's to stop you from doing any of the stuff I just mentioned?"

"Next question? Any other questions?" Furiosa inquired, ignoring him. But none of the other reporters said anything, all of them were beginning to look uncomfortable as Furiosa gave the reporter an irritated look. "What is WITH you? You don't care about the people of Nar Shadaa? You only care about the stupid assholes from the Galactic Republic being kicked out, is that it? The only reason they got their position is because they're from wealthy families. Why do you only care about rich people? What about the common man that deserves to have a say in how things are run, the people who actually live here, are FROM here, having a say?"

"But you weren't even born here. You've said as much." The reporter remarked, looking stunned. "And YOU'RE both rich. What are you talking about?"

"That'll be all for today. Thank you for coming." Furiosa said as Raize gave the reporter a very dirty look, the Trandoshan blinking back at her as they walked off.

Slowly but surely, things began to change. Very wealthy people on Nar Shadaa who hadn't pledged loyalty to the Hutts or to the Dyad began to die. A very mysterious string of suicides. All of them conveniently leaping out the windows, them AND their families to boot. And then, there'd been the incident on Coruscant. As Nar Shadaa's representatives to the Senate now, they'd been invited to join in on sessions there when it came to passing galactic law. At first, people found it slightly odd…they dressed rather darkly, they were clear Force users, but nobody objected openly to the two, or really cared that they were often more busy making out in their senate seats, or whispering amongst each other, or reading books rather than listening to other Congressmen and women.

But then IT happened. Raize had been complaining about the influence of the rich on Coruscant. "It's disgusting, really. It's almost like they've bought the police and treat them as their own private security force. Look at how much money they give to the police authorities here, it's blatant what they're doing, buying preferential treatment!" She'd been telling a gaggle of reporters as Furiosa nodded.

"But you have your own enormous fleet YOU bought, and your own private army and everything, isn't that hypocr-" One of the reporters began to say as Luke Skywalker, now in his thirties, took notice of a guard who was angrily accosting a small group of twi'lek refugees who'd set up a tent.

"You can't stay here, there's strict regulations that say no domiciles are to be set up within one mile of the Galactic senate. Where are your papers? Show me your papers right now!" The guard demanded.

Furiosa frowned over at this. Luke was about to walk on over, he was taking a few steps towards the guard when Raize angrily grunted, and then the guard's neck twisted, and he flopped down dead.

"Good lord!" The reporter who'd spoken up gasped as people shrieked, others staring on in horror at this cold-blooded murder.

"I'm surprised you didn't torture him first." Furiosa chuckled as Luke gaped in astonishment and shock and horror before he angrily turned, wheeling towards Raize.

"Raize, you shouldn't have done that!"

"What?! What was I supposed to do? Just let him harass that innocent refugee?!" Raize angrily inquired. "Maybe if your stupid planet didn't have so lousy a system, this sort of thing wouldn't happen!"

"It's not up to YOU to decide who lives and who dies!" Luke told her. "If you don't like how something gets done, you change it from within. You force the system to be held to account, that's how Democracy works."

"Your senate's proof Democracy DOESN'T work, how well did they do in stopping Darth Vader from coming to power, or the Empire itself?" Furiosa snorted. "If you've got more power than the other side, that's really all that matters. Laws mean nothing if they're not good enough."

"You murdered that man. It doesn't matter if you think it was justified, you murdered him, and you're going to stand trial." Luke told her.

"Yeah, good luck with all the paperwork arranging that. Furiosa and I are sick of this place. We're not coming back. Bye bye." She said with a sneer at Luke, she and Furiosa leaving the reporters behind as they shouted questions at the women's backs, Luke shaking his head, going over to the refugees, trying to calm them down as they clung to each other in terror.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-You're not g-gonna snap our necks, are you?" The oldest of them asked.

"Why would I do…" Luke said at first. But then he trailed off, realizing why. No wonder they were so scared of Force users. People like them could do anything they felt like. It was probably terrifying to non-users to see the Force used like that, and so…casually. How many people probably walked on egghsells around Furiosa and Raize out of fear THEY'D get the same treatment? How many walked on eggshells around him out of the same type of fear?

"…why don't I buy you all lunch?" He asked comfortingly. "And we can talk things over. And find you a better house than a tent in the street."

Well, with that incident, Nar Shadaa was kicked off the Senate. Raize and Furiosa were condemned by the Galactic Republic, but they couldn't openly make a move. The Dyad's fleet was now positively enormous, and any attempt to bring them in to face justice would mean open warfare. People whispered on the streets of Nar Shadaa about the power of the planet's new, de-facto rulers…the Dyad…

Darth Raize and Darth Furiosa. Who could possibly stand up to them?

Well…the only one who had come closest had now been found passed out in an alley, some random schmuck with a marginal grip on the Force whom Leia was helping into her and Han's vehicle as they headed to the room they would be staying in. Kendall awoke, yawning a bit, then gasping in surprise. He was in the backseat with Leia as she smiled at him, whilst a very clearly infuriated, bound-tightly-by-electromagnetic-ropes 8t88 the robot sat next to her. On top of that, his head was in his lap. He was still conscious, clearly, they'd removed the head but had ensured he didn't shut off to make it clear he wasn't going to try anything funny, but it was quite an odd sight.

"Whatever were you doing in that alleyway? You're lucky I sensed you." Leia told him as she looked him up and down. "Though I almost couldn't, your grip on the Force is very…" She hesitated.

"I know, I know." Kendall sighed as he covered his face with his hands, bending over a bit, groaning. "I'm not very good. What were you going to say? Minimal? Minor? Peripheral? Insignificant, maybe?"

"I would actually call it…sectional. Maybe…narrow." Leia admitted. "All life has the faintest of connections to the force. Yours isn't that faint compared to the average person in the street. It's only a…small torch light compared to the larger flame that my own powers represent. It'd be like comparing a candle to a flashlight, then that flashlight to a flood light. It's not bad, really, it just isn't quite enough."

"I figured that out quick." Kendall muttered. "Still, I'm very glad to meet you. I recognize your faces, you're Leia and Han. I've heard so much about you."

"Once we get out of this car, we'll need to change those faces." Han held up a small pen-like thing. "This'll cast a holographic image over us to change our looks. Nobody will know the difference." He said with a grin. "They're very handy. Perhaps we should make one for you."

"We actually saw your assault on the building. For a first time, and…for such a young Jedi, it wasn't half bad." Leia offered.

"I appreciate those kind words but…" Kendall trailed off.

"I don't even need the Force to read your mind, I can tell you may be at your lowest point." Leia spoke softly. "But we're here to try and investigate what the Dyad is doing, and you can help us. And we can help you." Leia added. "You have real potential. I'd be happy to try and bring it out."

Kendall glanced back at her, biting his lip before he sat up. "You know what?…okay. I'm willing to try anything." He said with a nod. "Teach me. Teach me in the ways of the Force."

"The first thing you should know is the mantra." Leia said with a smile. "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force."

Kendall quietly blinked, looking at Leia, then he took out his lightsaber, staring at it. Those were nice words. There was a comfort to them. But at the same time, it reminded him of the type of dogma he'd had to recite in Church. He thought of what Leia had said, and a new code came to mind, the words springing from his lips as if they'd always been buried inside him.

"…Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force."

Leia looked surprised. Her eyes went wide before she smiled softly. "Interesting. Do you come from any type of family with Force powers?"

"I don't know. But…" He trailed off. "…well, my Dad never told me who my mother was. He always said I was a gift from God. Well, I don't believe in God, but I sure believe in the Force now. Maybe…maybe I was a gift somehow from the Force. If only I could talk to him again, make him…wait."

His blue eyes went bulging wide. The legends about the Jedi…he'd heard whispers and possibilities. What if…?

"Is it true that the Jedi can talk to the dead?" Kendall asked, eyes wide, turning to Leia as she looked upon Kendall with clear pity in her eyes. "I heard how Jedi can…can become ghosts that linger on and talk to people, can…can they talk to the dead?"

Leia quietly sighed. It was good he wasn't asking if they could bring back the dead. That was often a very common request but the path down that was often one leading to the Dark Side. This was more understandable. It was natural to want to just talk to the ones you love just one more time.

"Yes…we can. Death means becoming one with the Force. Most sentients lose their ability to speak to the living, but if you master certain techniques, you can…get around this." Leia confessed quietly. "I'm able to talk to the Force, to hear what it says. I may be able to help you learn this technique, and perhaps, if you continue down this path, you'll be able to reach out to your Father. If he was a Force sensitive, it'll be far easier to speak to him."

For the first time in a long time, real, genuine hope swelled in Kendall's frame. A gleaming, bright smile came to his features. "…thank you." He whispered, taking Leia's hand, bowing his hand. "Thank you, thank you, THANK you. You've no idea how much it means to me."

"Believe me. I do." She murmured quietly. "I really, really do."