The Empress's Child

Meanwhile on Dromuund Kaas.
Riesha walked between the group of children that she was currently teaching which consisted of Sakzi, Drezdi, Xidiush, Bearzae, Khitka, Kyzan and Avadsia. Currently, they were learning a new combat style which was causing tempers to raise high amongst the boys whilst the youngest, Avadsia would hide behind Sakzi who was the only other girl in the group as well as she was the eldest at the age of seven years old.
"Kyzan, control yourself and don't focus on what everyone else is doing," Riesha scolded the four-year-old for what felt like the millionth time that morning.
Kyzan pouted sourly but such a face was wiped off when Xidiush poked his tongue at the younger boy, "My Lord, Xidiush just poked his tongue at me," the young boy whined as he dobbed on his peer with a pointing accusatory finger.
Riesha groaned as she rolled her eyes before turning back around to face the young boy as she tried to remind herself why Jaira allowed the children to get away with such behaviour, "Xidiush, go sit down and face the wall. I will talk to you once the lesson is over."
The five-year-old boy scowled as he folded his arms across his chest and glared at Riesha with his dark green eyes that pierced through his jet-black hair.
Sakzi rolled her dark brown eyes in annoyance, "Just do what you're told Xidiush," she groaned as she tucked a strand of platinum blonde hair behind her ear.
"No, I only follow the Empress's orders," Xidiush growled.
"I admire your loyalty to the Empress Xidiush but unless you would like to pay a visit to her and explain yourself why you are there rather than here in class then I am sure she will have a serious word with you about your behaviour," Riesha stated firmly and waited for the boy to make his decision, "So what will it be?"
Xidiush then proceeded to stomp his way over to the back wall and sat down, facing it, still sulking about missing out on the lesson which continued without him. Barriss entered the room to find the boys quarrelling with each other, the two girls standing off to the side and Xidiush still sitting facing the back wall.
"I have the next group for you Riesha," Barriss announced, "Come along children, it's time for your walk through the city," she added as she started to gather the seven children together.
"You might want to keep a close eye on Xidiush, you know how bad his tantrums can get," Riesha warned as she put in a mental note to talk to Jaira about the boy's behaviour.


Outside the Citadel, the city was bustling as Barriss led the seven children through the streets for their daily outing. The ex-Jedi had suggested it to Jaira as some of the children were acting out from being cooped up inside all day and night which the Sith Empress had agreed to under strict rules. The twin boys, Bearzae and Khitka were identical down to the littlest of detail with their dark blonde hair, with the only difference being the first had light brown eyes while the second had dull green eyes. Avadsia had chocolate brown eyes and straight black hair that was kept at chin length, the reason for which was to stop her from developing a little habit that the Empress wanted to put a stop to before it progressed. The younger girl had started chewing on the ends of her hair which was not a socially acceptable behaviour for a member of the Force-Born. Drezdi was the second eldest member of this Force-Born group and his sharp light blue eyes stood out against his plain light brown hair. Kyzan was the youngest out of the boys and stood out amongst this group with his wild fiery red hair and extraordinary amber hazel eyes.
"Keep up children," Barriss called behind her.
Then she heard something that she knew was not going to end well before she saw it, Xidiush had started to throw a loud temper tantrum. The young boy had been at the back of the group and when a Sith Soldier had walked across his path without stopping for him he had started yelling at the top of his lungs at the man who was much older than him.
"I am an Empress's Child, you must always stop and allow us to walk before you do yourself!" Xidiush yelled.
The Sith Soldier shrugged his shoulders and was about to walk away when Xidiush ordered, "Don't walk away from me."
The man found himself rooted to the spot while his brain was telling his body to walk his body was not responding as a part of his brain was overriding the order, it was almost like he had no control over his own body.
"Xidiush, that is enough. Now calm down," Barriss ordered as she tried to deescalate the tantrum.
"I can't move," the Sith Soldier told the others that were waiting for him to catch up a few metres away.
"No, he should be punished for blocking me off," Xidiush growled aggressively and then the little boy felt a small idea tug at his mind, "Take your lightsaber and impale yourself on it," the five-year-old boy ordered.
"Can you control the little brat?" the Sith Soldier asked Barriss in an agitated tone.
"I am not a brat! Now do it!" Xidiush yelled at the top of his lungs as he pointed a finger at the man who started to suddenly get the strong sensation to grab his lightsaber and impale himself on its blade.
After a few minutes of fighting it, the Sith Soldier suddenly impaled himself right in front of everyone which shocked Barriss right to the core. However, she composed herself quickly as she gathered the children together and herded the group back to the Citadel, leaving the dead body in the middle of the street.
"Come along children, quickly," Barriss ordered as she took them straight to the meeting hall where she could sense was where Jaira was at that moment. Upon reaching the entrance to the meeting hall, Barriss grabbed Xidiush's hand and dragged him inside leaving the rest of the children outside with two servants.
Jaira looked up upon hearing the doors open and saw Barriss walking towards her with Xidiush, the woman looked quite worried while the boy looked disgruntled at being dragged somewhere.
"Barriss?" Jaira inquired curiously.
"I hope you can explain how Xidiush was able to order one of the members of the Sith Army to impale himself with his own lightsaber," Barriss stated in near panic.
The Sith Empress's eyebrows raised in surprise as she gestured for Xidiush to come closer, "What happened my child?" she asked in a soothing voice as she combed a hand through his hair which had an immediate calming effect on the boy.
"He walked in front of me, so I punished him," Xidiush answered, almost as if he was in some sort of trance.
"Oh, my little Prince, it is too early for you to know about this little power of yours," Jaira cooed softly as she continued to comb his jet-black locks. Then the little boy fell asleep and leaned against her heavily as his body went limp, and then Jaira looked back up at Barriss.
"Did any of the children see what occurred?" the Sith Empress asked in a serious tone now.
"Yes, they are just outside," Barriss answered quickly as the doors were opened and the other children were bought inside.
"Come, my children," Jaira ordered gently as picked Xidiush up and the group followed her into one of the side rooms after sending a slave to get Riesha.
Avadsia clung onto Sakzi's arm as they stood in the dimly lit room, shaking slightly as for some reason the room made her feel cold. Jaira had placed Xidiush into a chair and then turned to face them.
"Don't worry my children, everything will be fine," Jaira reassured them as the door opened to admit Riesha who herded the children into a smaller room for a few minutes before speaking.
"What happened Jaira?" Riesha asked in concern.
"We need to erase the last hour of each of these children's memories. Xidiush ordered a Sith Army member to impale himself on his own weapon and the Soldier followed the order. They are too young to know about this part of the mind manipulation," Jaira explained quickly.
"I told you we should have waited to implement that part of it or at least isolate it to the older Force Borns," Riesha snapped irritably.
"This doesn't change anything, it just means we will need to be more careful when the children go out for their walks," Jaira stated stubbornly, "If anything this proves that this part of the mind manipulation works which is exactly what I want to see."
They both stopped talking to each other as they began the ritual to erase the last hour of Xidiush's memory, once they were done Jaira woke the boy up.
"Xidiush, wake up my child," Jaira whispered softly as she combed his hair soothingly and the five-year-old boy awoke groggily, "What do you remember?" she asked.
"We went on our walk in the city," Xidiush answered tiredly as he rubbed his eyes with his fists.
"Did anything unusual happen?" Riesha asked, desperate for the answer she and Jaira were looking for.
"No, it was completely ordinary," Xidiush mumbled.
"Very good my child," Jaira cooed as she dismissed him from the room back out to Barriss and then Riesha opened the door to the smaller room, inviting Avadsia inside which took a few minutes of persuasion and reassuring on her part.
After an hour all seven of the children had been returned to Barriss so they could continue with their daily schedule. Riesha was still trying to convince Jaira that she should remove this side of the mind manipulation until the children were old enough to use it properly.
"There is no point in changing it which would take a long time as I would have to redo the manipulation ritual on every single member of the younger Force Borns as well as thousands of Sith Army members," Jaira stated clearly, "Besides this part of the mind manipulation is crucial to ensure the safety of the Force Born and that there is not an uprising against me," she added stubbornly as she swiftly left the room.


The next morning, Giles approached the Sith Empress who was sitting on her throne with some news that he was sure to please her immensely.
"My Empress," Giles greeted honourably.
"What have got for me, Giles?" Jaira inquired curiously.
Giles pulled a vial out of his pocket and then waited to be ordered to bring it to her for closer inspection.
Jaira's interest spiked and he could tell that she had become excited about the contents of the vial, "Is that what I think it is?"
"If you are referring to the request you gave me a few months ago Empress, then yes, it is what you are thinking it is," Giles replied and then moved closer when Jaira beckoned for him to do so.
"This serum when injected into the bloodstream of a Force user will scramble their Force signature, making it near impossible for other Force users to track it," Giles explained.
"Does it work?" Jaira asked eagerly in excitement.
"Yes, I have tested it on some of the Jedi prisoners but unfortunately there are some side effects and a single dose lasts only three hours," Giles pointed out.
"What are the side effects?"
"Any more than two doses in twenty-four hours can cause the individual to start losing their eyesight," Giles mentioned seriously, "Which could become problematic for what you plan on using it for," he added.
"You don't need to concern yourself with those details Giles," Jaira stated firmly as she scolded him slightly, "Please have a shipment of these serums sent to Lothal so that they are there and ready to be used when the need arises," she ordered.
The Scientist bowed slightly and then left the room, "As you wish Empress."


A/N: What do you think of this part of the mind control that Jaira placed on the Force Born and Sith Army? It is an interesting little tidbit.

Ashlyn Dubreas.