The Force's Shepherds
Chapter 80
Insidious
Validar's long fingernails tapped against the armrest of his throne. Court had ended. Various noblemen and military generals streamed out of the throne room in the Plegian royal palace. Today had been another day of tedious business. Plegia remained unstable thanks to a variety of factors that Validar himself helped perpetuate during King Gangrel's reign. Such factors included roving bandit gangs not under his influence, rogue mages that decided to spurn the Grimleal in favor of worldly pleasures and plunder, rebuilding ruined villages and settlements, rebuilding a shattered military, and juggling his duties to the nation and his duties to his master.
Now he was tasked with undoing the chaos he helped sow. Creating chaos always seemed to be much easier than restoring order. He did have some experience in such matters. When he became High Priest of the Grimleal, the religious order had been in shambles as well. Broke financially. Leaderless, gutless, and lacking in political power. That changed thanks to his leadership. His tenacity, cunning, and ruthlessness got results. And those characteristics had worked in his favor once again.
King Validar had finally consolidated all of his power. No one stood against him in Plegia. General Mustafa had been exiled to the barren coast in the northwest. Where the desert sands met the salty sea. He knew better than to kill the traitorous general outright. He was still beloved by a good deal of the common folk. And while Validar's grip strengthened, he still was not keen on the idea of a rebellion so soon into his rule.
He had managed to refill the royal coffers as well. The treasury burst with gold as he ordered mining operations to double their production. Gangrel left such vast resources untouched, such tasks derelict, for too long. If Plegia were to become the strongest nation in Archanea, it would need gold. And a lot of it. Despite having to pay reparations to both Regna Ferox and Ylisse for the war (thanks to that infernal treaty Mustafa signed), he finagled his way into keeping as much coin within Plegia as he could.
The military rebuild went slower than the financial one. Many generals had to be purged as their loyalties either lay with Mustafa or with themselves. The old guard did not want to see Validar on the throne. They resisted in their own petty ways. Some even threatened civil war.
But Validar had his master backing him. The Hierophant seized control of the Grimleal upon his ascent to the Plegian Throne. That terrifying entity stamped order back into the Order's ranks. Once the Grimleal returned to their full strength, the Hierophant crushed all resistance to Validar. Political assassinations were rampant during the first year of Validar's reign. The Hierophant destroyed all opposition to Validar's rule in a bloody, shadowy conquest of the kingdom. And as long as Validar served his master well, he would remain the ruler of this Kingdom for many years to come.
But ruling came with its own drawbacks. Such as tedious sessions of court where he had to hear the grievances of nobles and common folk alike. Such tripe. It irritated him on many occasions. He did pine for the days when he had just been the Grimleal's high priest. He did not have to worry about such foolish matters as bandits striking a village, or a well running dry out in the desert. Now, as ruler of Plegia, he had to put on the appearance of a good king. The Hierophant required the people's loyalty for his plans. And the best way to earn loyalty was not through fear or suppression, but through honor and kindness.
At first Validar questioned such methods. The Hierophant swiftly pointed out that Ylisse never had a problem with loyalty under the rule of Exalt Emmeryn. If they were to succeed, then they needed to learn from their enemies. And they needed to learn from their mistakes.
Validar let out a sigh as his fingers stopped tapping. Another long day finished. He could retire to his own chambers now. There would still be various forms and paperwork he would have to look over before having some time to himself. But he did not find such tasks as laborious as holding court.
The thin man rose from his throne. As he did, a young soldier marched towards him. Validar frowned.
"What is it?" He asked, startling the young soldier with his cold tone.
"Y-your grace, a spy just sent in a report from Port Ferox. The Valmese attempted a land invasion of the city."
Oh! Validar looked at the soldier with surprise, That is very interesting.
"The Feroxi and their Ylissean allies managed to repel the invaders. From what our spy reports, it was a resounding victory for them."
Validar hummed to himself. His master would want to hear about this.
"Thank you, soldier. Be on your way." Validar dismissed.
The young soldier saluted and marched out of the throne room. Validar watched the soldier leave, turned, and marched towards a corridor to his right. The small corridor led to a flight of stairs that ascended into the palace's personal living space. Validar exhaled as he entered the much more relaxed setting.
He still felt tense though. And he knew why. Once again, he had to go before his master and relay news.
It still felt strange for Validar. Normally, the Hierophant delivered intelligence to him. But ever since a certain incident in Ylisstol, the Hierophant had remained very quiet. Had practically gone underground. Meanwhile, the Deadlord he created to hunt down his enemies had become a bodyguard for Validar.
Validar noticed the masked Deadlord standing in front of the Hierophant's door. The undead creature knew he was coming. And he waited for him.
Bodyguard? Validar thought to himself, More like watchdog. A way to eliminate me if I ever manage to infuriate my master.
Validar took a deep, calming breath. He knocked on the Hierophant's door.
"Enter."
Validar pushed the ornate doors open.
The Hierophant lounged on a small, wicker sofa. A cup of tea in one hand, a book in the other. His yellow eyes studied the text carefully. Validar glanced at the book's cover. A simple red, leather bound book. Nothing spectacular. Perhaps his master was brushing up on his spell craft.
The Hierophant sipped his tea.
"It is not a spell book." The Hierophant uttered a small sigh as the warm tea ran down his throat, "This happens to be one of my favorites. Wyvern Wars: Terror at High Noon, such a thrilling read. It has been many years since I flicked through these pages."
Validar looked at his master with some surprise. He did not see the man as someone who enjoyed such simple pleasures. Reading novels seemed beneath him for some reason.
The Hierophant uttered another sigh. He set his book face down on his thigh. That way he would not lose the page he was on.
"You are here for a reason?"
Validar gulped, "Er- yes. I just received a message from one of our spies in Regna Ferox. The Valmese-"
"Have launched an invasion against Archanea." The Hierophant interrupted. He sipped his tea again, "The Ylisseans and Feroxi countered, drove those foolish Valmese back into the sea, and stand victorious over a ruined city?" He noticed Validar's stunned look, "Am I missing any details?"
Validar blinked, "N-no, my lord. It appears you are already aware of the situation."
The Hierophant set his teacup on the small table beside the sofa, "Of course I am. I am the one who ordered such an action." He folded his hands in his lap, "Excellus took a little longer than I would have liked. But he still managed to prod Walhart into war with Archanea."
Validar appeared confused, "This is a good thing?"
"Most certainly." The Hierophant smirked, "Everything is happening much faster in this timeline. But that is by my design. Events are still on course thanks to Excellus's success. When I see that sniveling worm again, I shall have to reward him. Perhaps I will actually spare his life after all. That seems like a fitting reward. Yes, I shall do that."
Validar inhaled, "Well, I am happy to hear you are pleased, my lord." He cleared his throat, "May I ask what you wish for me to do about these events? Surely war between Valm, Regna Ferox, and Ylisse will impact us as well."
"Oh it will." The Hierophant sent his book face down on the table beside his teacup. He rose from his lounging position and sat upright. His yellow eyes burned holes into Validar, "But we shall control the impact."
Validar arched an eyebrow, "How are we going to do that?"
The Hierophant smirked. His eyes glanced over at his desk. A sheet of paper, an inkwell, and a quill floated in the air over to Validar. Validar hesitated before taking the quill and paper.
"We shall invite the Ylissean Prince and his allies for a little get together."
Validar gave his master a shocked look, "But- but that would mean we are going to involve ourselves in this conflict. Do we not want to stay out of it while the Valmese, Feroxi, and Ylisseans wipe each other out?"
"The only way the Valmese will be wiped out is if war comes to their soil, not ours." The Hierophant noted, "The Feroxi and Ylisseans will need help getting across the sea in order to bring the war to Walhart's doorstep. Help that we can provide. And while we look like generous benefactors, in reality, we shall be sowing the first seeds of their destruction. Their armies are newly rebuilt. They shall suffer harsh losses in the war to come. And those losses will work to our advantage." He nodded at Validar, "Invite them to your summer home on Carrion Isle. I believe a more informal setting will ease their nerves about meeting with you."
Validar nodded, "And what about you, my lord? Do you plan on coming as well?"
The Hierophant hummed to himself, "I am not certain. I am weighing the risks and rewards of such a move currently." He chuckled darkly, "Although, the Naga-spawn's reaction to me would be a reward that far outweighs the risk." He gave Validar a dismissive wave of his hand, "Get to work. Be ready to meet the Ylisseans and Feroxi in three days time. Regardless of if I am there or not."
Validar gulped and bowed low to his master.
"As you command, my lord."
Validar spun on his heel and marched out of the Hierophant's chambers. The Hierophant's glowing eyes did not leave him as he exited. Once the door clicked closed, the Hierophant sighed and reached for his teacup.
"To go or not to go?" He sipped his tea, "What an intriguing question."
If he went to this summit, he risked exposing himself to the Naga-spawn far too early. Such a risk could put his plans in jeopardy. At the same time, Excellus's successful manipulation of Walhart's ambition made his plans nearly unstoppable now. The Naga-spawn would have no choice but to meet Walhart's armies full force. They would kill each other. Choke the lands with blood to the point where no one could muster the strength to face him in battle. Perhaps, his plans were not in as great of jeopardy as he thought.
"Do not get ahead of yourself. Kenobi and Equus remain among our enemies."
"I shall feast on the traitor's flesh when I see him again."
The Hierophant's face darkened. Yes, there were those two snags in his plans. Ben Kenobi was far different in this timeline than the one he came from. In his future, it took Kenobi years to finally unleash his abilities against the forces of darkness. Years for Kenobi to finally rise to meet him in battle. His own caution and reluctance had been his undoing. It helped seal the fate of the Naga-spawn in the future.
This Ben Kenobi did not act with the same caution. The Hierophant still struggled to understand why. Were the rippling effects of the time portal impacting this timeline that much? He grit his teeth. Did that loose cannon Maul shake Kenobi so badly that he felt he had to take a more active role now? If so, then Validar made a grave error in judgement trusting that fell creature.
"You are forgetting about the little Princess."
"You believe she has already confronted Kenobi?" The Hierophant wondered out loud.
That was a disturbing notion. One that caused him great unease. If Kenobi already knew about the future and the fate of the Naga-spawn, then his plans were hanging in the balance. Kenobi was a force of nature on the battlefield. It took his deadlords and his own intervention to finally defeat the Jedi Master in the future. If that man returned to the prominence he once held, both as a commander and as a Jedi, then he would have a worthy opponent standing against him. An opponent that he would not so easily overwhelm this time.
The beast growled inside of him. It could sense his unease.
"Perhaps we should wait to show ourselves?"
"Destroy them. Kill them. We will surprise them with our power."
"Equus and Kenobi together would be a bit much to handle at the moment." The Hierophant breathed, "As tempting as it is to slaughter them all now and be done with it, that risks our vessel in this timeline. A vessel we need in order to be whole again. Do not forget that."
"Fair point."
"Unfair point. I want to feed."
The Hierophant sighed. He would have to gauge the enemy personally. Validar would not know what to look for. His servant would be focused on Prince Chrom and his Shepherds. His focus would not be on the true threats in Ben Kenobi and Equus.
"How do you two feel about a three day vacation to a lovely little island?"
"What is the island called?"
"Carrion Isle."
"Heh heh, Carrion. Delicious."
"Indeed."
Yes, he will gauge the enemy himself. Validar did not need to know about his plans at the moment. It would be a fun little surprise for all parties involved.
His eyes flicked over to the mindless deadlord, Draco.
"You can't come."
Ben brushed his fingers along Tharja's arm as she slept on a cot. The dark mage succumbed to exhaustion not long ago. Now she rested in one of the few buildings that was semi-intact. A large warehouse that rested next to the harbor. A makeshift infirmary had been set up by Libra, Maribelle, and Lissa inside of the spacious place. The three healers worked with the Feroxi healers on any wounded men they had. Which was minimal. Their attack had taken the Valmese by complete surprise. That surprise helped mitigate the amount of casualties. But the savagery with which the Valmese fought still left a mark. Ben could see those marks on Tharja. The bandages wrapped around her waist and arm made him struggle to catch his breath every time he saw them.
Tharja poured every ounce of magic she had into the battle. Ben recalled seeing the destruction she wrought after rushing back to her once the Valmese were entirely defeated.
He barely recognized the square. The cobblestone roads that crisscrossed the area had been blasted to bits by fire and dark magic. Many of the surrounding buildings had walls blown out of them. The magical fury unleashed in that small area boggled the mind.
Among the rubble were swords, spears, bows, and arrows that lay scattered around the bodies. Many of the bodies were mangled beyond recognition. If Ben had not seen it so many times before, he would have felt sick.
He knew the others felt ill after the battle. Basilio and Dooku were the only other people hardened to such horrors of war. But the aftermath still stunned all three of them. Not a single Valmese soldier surrendered. Not one. Every single enemy soldier fought to the death. Some of the Shepherds tried to stop fighting. But then the enemy attacked them. And they were forced to strike those soldiers down.
Ben sighed and hung his head. So much death and destruction. Over what? He still did not understand why the Valmese wanted to invade Archanea. It was a losing battle for them. They could not possibly sustain such an invasion. Not with the limited technology on this planet.
If they had not invaded, then all of that death would not have happened. He would still be at his little cottage south of Ylisstol. Tharja would be with him. Likely berating Ricken for messing up on a dark spell casting. He chuckled a little to himself and glanced up at Tharja's peaceful face.
His chuckling died in his throat. He had come so close to losing her too. If he had not arrived when he did, Tharja would have died. He would have been mourning her instead of sitting with her while she recovered. Ben could feel his free hand trembling at the thought.
I don't think I could go through that again.
The door to the warehouse opened then closed. Ben did not look over there. He expected it was just another healer walking in to tend to the wounded.
"Kenobi."
He closed his eyes. A silent curse bounced around his head. Of course, he was not that lucky. Dooku had to be the one to come and speak to him.
Ben raised his gaze up to look at Dooku. The old man frowned a little at him. He glanced around.
"Do you have a moment to talk in private?"
Ben frowned. He did not want to leave Tharja's side at the moment. However, if Dooku wished to speak in private with him, then it had to be something important. The two made a point not to be around each other often. Otherwise, both of them would go insane with irritation and frustration.
Dooku rolled his eyes, "She is not going anywhere, Kenobi. You can leave her alone for a few minutes."
Ben uttered a long sigh. He let his hand fall from Tharja's side before he stood from his stool he sat on. He ran a hand through his hair and nodded at Dooku. The old man marched toward the warehouse's rear exit. Ben followed.
The exit led out to a small alley behind the warehouse. Dooku shut the door behind both of them as they entered the alley. The afternoon sun sat high overhead. Providing a little warmth to the cold land around them. A chilled wind still swept in from the sea. But the cold was bearable today.
"You look terrible." Dooku noted as the old man took a seat on a wood box outside of the warehouse, "Have you slept at all?"
Ben snorted, "Can't sleep." He leaned against the warehouse wall, "There is too much going on at the moment."
Dooku rubbed his beard, "I will grant you that. There is a lot going on at the moment. Although, that has not stopped the others from resting. Even Prince Chrom has slept since the end of the battle."
Ben stared down at his feet as Dooku spoke. A small smirk formed on Dooku's lips.
"Kenobi, are your feelings for the dark mage really that intense?"
Ben glanced up at Dooku, "What do you think?"
Dooku chuckled, "Oh, the Jedi Master really has forsaken his oaths. I never expected it to happen this way."
"I have not forsaken anything. I-"
"You even doubt your own words." Dooku interrupted, "I can sense as much." He folded his arms, "You have forsaken the Jedi way, Kenobi. Tharja is not the only reason I say that. Although she is perhaps the best reason."
Ben eyed Dooku.
"You gave into your rage last night." Dooku smirked.
Ben froze. He did? He… he did didn't he? He had nor realized such a thing until Dooku pointed it out. But when Tharja's life was threatened, he unleashed. Risked everything in order to save her. Even went so far as to brutally attack the enemy with his lightsaber. A weapon that very few had seen and that Chrom would certainly have questions about. Since it was technically the same type of weapon Maul used to kill his sister.
Force, he brutally slew the soldiers that attacked Tharja. He did not even give them the chance to run away. Ben let out a shuddering breath as he ran his hands ove rhis face.
Dooku hummed, "You realize it as well. Good, you know better than to deny it at least."
"I did not give in to the dark side." Ben argued back.
"Didn't you?" Dooku smirked as he watched Ben's mind struggle to form a solid argument, "Fear and anger, Kenobi. Those are the first two steps in the fall. You feared for Tharja. And you unleashed your fury upon seeing those fears nearly realized."
"But I never lost control." Ben breathed.
Dooku inclined his chin, "Rather arrogant of you to deny what happened."
Ben flashed Dooku an angry glance. Dooku chuckled some more.
"You don't even try to hide your anger with me anymore." Dooku nodded, "Good. You are finally recognizing the folly of the Jedi Order and their damnable code."
"I recognize nothing. I did what I had to in order to save her life. I did what I had to in order to prevent-" Ben choked, "To prevent losing another one."
Dooku's mirth faded as Ben sank down to the ground. Dooku furrowed his brow as he watched the Jedi sit still against the warehouse.
What in the world was wrong with Kenobi? The Jedi Master had been a bastion of strength for the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars. One of the few that Dooku gave up hope on possibly turning. Even properly defeating. Nothing had broken him during that war. Not his many battles against him, Ventress, or Grevious. The bloody battles on worlds like Geonosis and Christophsis did not break Kenobi. Not even the deadly Blue Shadow Virus shook the Jedi Master. But events on this world seemed to shatter him without any effort at all.
His mind lingered on one phrase. Kenobi prevented the loss of another one. Did the losses he suffered during the war and Jedi purge finally crush Kenobi? Dooku let his fingers tap against his arm as he stared down at the Jedi Master.
"You live in fear now, Kenobi." Dooku shook his head, "You fear losing those you care about."
Ben snorted, "Of course I do." He stared hard at Dooku, "Do you have any idea what it is-"
"Yes, I do." Dooku snarled, "Did you forget I lost Qui Gon as well? You were not the only one who cared for him."
Ben bit his tongue as Dooku snapped at him. He swallowed hard.
"It is not just his loss, Dooku." Ben breathed, "It is all of them. The Jedi Order, Anakin, Qui Gon, Satine, and Emmeryn."
Dooku arched an eyebrow, "Satine and Emmeryn?"
Oh… that explained it. Satine Kryze had been killed while Kenobi had been on a secret mission on Mandalore. If his spies reports were correct at the time, Maul slew her. He knew Kenobi held feelings for the Duchess of Mandalore. But he did not realize how deep they were.
As for Exalt Emmeryn, that was a new revelation for Dooku. Maul killed her too. That was two people Kenobi loved that he lost. Unable to do anything to stop it from happening. Their lives ripped away by an enemy he could have fought against.
Dooku sighed, "That is a rather crippling fear, Kenobi." He glanced at the Jedi as Kenobi looked down at the cobblestones beneath him, "No wonder you have been unable to inform the others about Sidious. You are afraid that if you say anything, you will lose them."
Ben's gaze snapped up at him. Just as he opened his mouth to argue back, the door to the warehouse opened again. Both Dooku and Ben froze as Marth emerged from inside.
"I came to check on you and Tharja. One of the healers told me that you stepped out here for a moment." Marth explained as she noticed their wary looks. She frowned, "What? Am I interrupting something?"
"Yes you-"
"Not at all." Dooku cut of Ben, "We were just discussing a potential threat to everyone here. One that Kenobi refuses to acknowledge because he is too damn afraid."
Ben glared at Dooku.
"Don't look at me like that, you know I am correct." Dooku said with a wave of his hand.
"What threat?" Marth asked, suddenly worried.
"Sidious of course." Dooku remarked.
"Dooku." Ben growled.
"Sidious." Marth furrowed her brow, "That is the second time I've heard that name. That name is the reason the Shepherds are a mess right now."
"Is it?" Dooku remarked with some surprise, "Robin had been rather vague in his letter recounting what happened. But now that I know Sidious was the subject of the argument," He scowled at Kenobi, "I have half a mind to smack you upside the head, Kenobi."
"Do try." Kenobi snapped.
Dooku grit his teeth. He fought back a wave of anger that came bursting towards the surface. Kenobi had become even more insolent since he arrived on this world. The Count rose from his seat and towered over the Jedi Master.
"You have become a fear filled fool." Dooku berated, "Do you really believe keeping these people in the dark will help them when Sidious does come?"
"I have still not heard any explanation as to who Sidious is." Marth pointed out.
"He is-"
"Sidious is the Dark Lord of the Sith." Dooku explained as he cut off Ben once again.
"Robin mentioned something along those lines." Marth frowned, "He also said he was your master at one point."
Dooku cocked an eyebrow, "You have let a little bit slip out haven't you, Kenobi?" He huffed, "And you still want to keep them ignorant. You have already failed in that endeavor." He returned his attention to Marth, "Yes, I was once Sidious's apprentice. Well, more like a pawn now that I look back at it all. But I served him as loyally as I could. And then he had me killed."
Marth gave Dooku a surprised look, "Killed?"
"Oh, he didn't mention that?" Dooku glanced at Ben as the Jedi sank further behind his knees, "Kenobi's apprentice killed me. Somehow I am alive now. I still do not know how exactly I am here. But I am alive. And I am determined to take down Sidious for what he did to me." He glared at Ben, "You should be too."
"I am not interested in fighting Sidious."
"But you should not hide from the fact that he will find this planet." Dooku growled. He looked at Marth, "In case you were unaware-"
"You and Ben are aliens. I'm aware." Marth breathed.
Dooku blinked, "For someone who wants to keep a secret, you are very bad at it Kenobi."
Ben groaned and let his head fall back against the brick wall behind him.
"It was a mutual exchange of trust." Marth explained, "Ben knows some things about me that I'd rather not make known at the moment. Especially to someone like you."
"Understandable." Dooku nodded. He cleared his throat, "Anyways, Sidious will arrive on this planet at some point. The power both myself and Kenboi exude will draw him here like a moth to a flame. Not to mention the raw power you," He nodded at Marth, "Robin, and Kage possess. To have that many powerful force sensitives on one world at the same time is an exceedingly rare occurrence. He will no doubt sense such a thing and actively seek it out. Such power is a threat to him. And Sidious does not wait for threats to grow against him."
Marth clenched her jaw, "How do we prepare for him?"
"We don't." Ben breathed.
"Confound it all, Kenobi!" Dooku barked, "One more cowardly phrase from you and I will blast you with lightning! You seem to think that Sidious is some unstoppable force. He is not. Is he powerful? Yes he is. But united we stand a chance. And this world has something he cannot possibly anticipate." He glanced over at Marth, "Magic. Magic even more powerful than the Nightsisters of Dathomir. We all saw the havoc Tharja and Ricken created. And they are just two mages. Imagine if Ylisse stopped teaching their magic for academic purposes and instead focused on the more military aspects of it. You could have an army of mages that could take on any legion Sidious had."
"But can they take on a Star Destroyer?" Ben argued back.
Dooku inhaled, "We will have to deal with that when the time comes. But they certainly cannot fight off either if they are uninformed. Chrom and Robin need to be made aware of what is coming, Kenobi."
"There is a chance Sidious does not come. A chance he does not notice us."
"That is very wishful thinking." Dooku said, "It is likely he already knows we are here. Now he is just searching for us. And he will find us. Sidious does not fail when he puts his mind to something. We have to rise to meet him. Otherwise, everyone on this planet is doomed."
"How do we know when he's arrived?" Marth asked.
Dooku glanced at her, "You'll see an armada in the Planet's atmosphere probably. That, or we will not know until he strikes personally."
"And what does he look like so that we know who he is?" Marth asked.
Dooku frowned, "He has two guises. A kind old man by the name of Palpatine. Rather unassuming really. Almost bumbling in a way. The other guise is his true nature. Dark robes and a hood that hides his entire identity." Marth's face paled. Dooku noticed, "What is wrong?"
"Old and decrepit looking?" She trembled.
Dooku frowned, "How do you know that?"
Ben eyes flicked up at Marth. Marth gulped and slumped against the box Dooku had been sitting on.
"I've seen him." She breathed.
Ben's heart stopped in his chest, "What?"
"Where!?" Dooku cried.
"Not here. Not-" Marth ran her hands over her face, "I don't know how to explain it." She stared at Ben, "When-" She sucked in a sharp breath as she struggled to compose herself, "When Maul killed me, I-I wound up in some strange place. I do not think it was the afterlife. It did not feel like that. It was some sort of space between the worlds. Between life and death. There were strange doors and paths all around me. I could hear and see everything beyond those doors. And beyond one door was an old, decrepit man with a presence as black as the darkest pit."
Dooku hummed, "Sounds like Sidious."
"He saw me." Marth breathed.
Dooku's eyes widened.
"He saw me and… and he tried to reach for me. Said something about another way. I don't know what he was talking about. But he nearly grabbed me. It took Naga's direct intervention to stop him." Marth swallowed hard, "I did not know who I was seeing at the time. But now…" She gulped, "Sidious could be just as dangerous as Grima himself. Naga help us all. Master! Why have you not said anything!?"
"Master?" Dooku questioned as he looked at Ben.
"Another time, Dooku, please." Ben rubbed his forehead, "Are you certain you really saw that, Marth?"
"I will never forget it for as long as I live." Marth breathed, "I don't think I've ever been that afraid before in my life."
Dooku rubbed his chin, "Sidious would not discount something like that. If he really saw you, Marth, then he has likely taken an interest in you." He hummed to himself as he thought hard.
"But why?" Ben asked, "She is… she is nothing to him."
"No." Dooku looked stunned for a second, "She is everything to Sidious." He glanced at Marth, who remained paler than a sheet, "You said Maul killed you?"
She gave him a shaky nod.
"And yet you came back to life?" Dooku asked her.
Marth shrugged, "I don't really know how it happened."
"I guarantee Sidious is curious enough to want to find out." Dooku glanced over a worried Ben, "Sidious has only cared about two things: power and achieving immortality." He nodded at Marth, "She has cheated death. And he knows." Ben and Marth both paled, "His search will have already begun."
Ben swallowed hard.
"You can no longer just ignore this Kenobi."
Ben did not reply. He hung his head as he sat still against the warehouse wall. Mind racing and reeling. He ran a weak hand through his hair and loudly exhaled.
"I don't-"
"How about I rephrase myself." Dooku snarled, "If you do not inform Chrom and Robin, I will."
"So will I." Marth nodded, "Mast- Ben, this is," She took a calming breath, "This is a lot more serious than I thought. If the old man I saw was Sidious, then he presents a threat at the same level as Grima." She let out a huff, "Now I have to deal with two of them." Her hand rubbed the back of her neck, "It just doesn't end."
"You have one week, Kenobi. One week to pull your head out of the sand and recognize that this must be done." Dooku warned Ben, "If you do not move past your fear and rise to face our enemy, then I shall do so myself. And I will take on Robin's training."
Ben's gaze snapped up at Dooku.
"You know exactly how I would teach him." Dooku threatened. The Count exhaled and nodded at Marth, "If you need anything, let me know."
Without another word, Dooku stormed back into the warehouse. Marth waited a moment and watched her Master. He looked ill. Heavy bags sat under sunken eyes. He must have not rested at all since the battle. His face had not regained any of its color.
"Master." She breathed, "We can't fight something we know nothing about." She rose to her feet, "Please, listen to Dooku. You may not like him. Hell, I don't really like him. Let alone trust him. But… he's right on this one."
Ben did not reply. He kept his eyes down. Marth closed her eyes and shook her head. He needed some time to process everything. She and Dooku had placed him in an impossible situation. But it needed to happen. Chrom, Robin, even the Khans, can not stay in the dark regarding Sidious and the threat he poses.
She opened the door to the warehouse. A messenger nearly bumped into her as she tried to enter.
"Er-pardon me ma'am." The messenger gulped, "General Kenobi!"
Ben did not notice him.
"Ben." Marth said.
"Hm?" Ben glanced over at the soldier, "Oh!" He quickly got to his feet, "Y-yes?"
"The Khans have called a war council in the harbormaster's house down the road. I was sent to fetch you."
Ben nodded, "Very well. Lead the way."
Ben followed the messenger back through the warehouse. He paused for a moment by Tharja's side. He bent over and placed a light kiss on her pale forehead before motioning for the soldier to continue walking. Marth watched her Master exited the building. She stopped beside Tharja's side as well.
Her one hand rested on the pommel of her sword. One given to her by the Khans back at Arena Ferox, since her Falchion remained broken. But it never left her side. She swallowed hard.
She had seen Sidious. Now she needed to be ready for him. And she needed to be ready for Grima. Marth could feel the stress twisting into knots in her neck.
I'm not going to be able to do this alone.
The Harbormaster's house was a small place near the north end of the harbor. Far too small to contain the entire war council with all of the usual captains and generals. Due to the lack of space, Khan Flavia kept this council small.
A fact Robin was somewhat grateful for. Right now, the space felt claustrophobic. Add in more people, and he felt like he would have broken out in a cold sweat. He already felt on edge from the battle. Flashes of it danced in his mind. Not a single soldier surrendered. They all fought to the death. No matter what he did, he could not stop the Valmese from doing that. If that was how the Valmese fought their wars, then this was going to be a very bloody affair. He swallowed as a knot formed in his gut. The thought of such a bloody conflict made him feel sick.
Robin drummed the fingers on his right hand against the small, square table in front of him. A little fire crackled in a stone fireplace nearby. Giving the room some much needed warmth. Cold winds came in from the sea this morning. Robin's coat helped fend off the initial bite, but he still felt some frost kiss his cheeks and chin.
Some cups of water rested in front of the various members of the war council. Most of the cups were half empty as many of the attendees were still trying to recover from the battle. Robin noticed Chrom had not touched his water. The Prince remained in his own head. Reliving the battle just like Robin did.
Robin reached for his glass and brought it to his lips.
"Ben has one of Maul's weapons." Chrom muttered. Robin choked on his water, "Did you know that?"
Robin coughed, "W-well-"
"Did you know that?" Chrom asked him, voice stern and sharp.
Robin cringed, "Yes, I did."
"And you didn't say anything because?"
Robin shrugged, "I did not think to say anything honestly."
"Did you know Dooku had one of those infernal weapons as well?"
Robin shook his head, "That I did not know. I was just as surprised as you when I saw him wielding it in the battle."
Although, I do not see the issue right now.
To Robin, having two allies with such a powerful weapon was a major boon to their armies. Ben and Dooku could take on dozens of soldiers on their own with those weapons. They could become unstoppable forces of destruction. Rip holes in otherwise impenetrable enemy lines and defensive positions. The lightsabers were a great thing for the tactician. The only snag would be Ben's reluctance to use it. Robin already suspected Ben used his lightsaber simply because Tharja had been in mortal danger. If pressed, he probably would refuse to wield it again. Dooku seemed to more liberally use his powers than Ben.
I'll have to discuss this with them at some point. Robin thought to himself, Strategies will be much easier to make if I have two juggernauts on the field of battle.
"You think I'm overreacting." Chrom breathed.
Robin glanced over at his friend, "Yes, actually. I do."
"That type of weapon killed Emmeryn."
"But they are not in our enemy's hands. Are they?" Robin pointed out, "They are wielded by allies. Allies that are both strong and well trained." Robin leaned back in his seat, "I trust them with the lightsabers. They obviously know the weapon better than we do."
Chrom snorted, "Lightsabers, that is what they're called?"
Robin nodded, "I've seen Ben use it once before. He fought off some Risen with it while we were searching for Luke." He noticed Chrom's concerned look. Robin sighed, "Chrom, having Ben and Dooku at full strength like that will only help us on the battlefield. I need you to trust my tactics and their judgement."
Chrom took a deep breath then nodded.
"You're right." Chrom sighed, "Ben and Dooku are allies in this war. We cannot win if we do not trust each other." He patted his hand softly against the tabletop, "But… I'm still uncertain about all of this."
Robin snorted, "You and me both. I'm still technically learning about it all." He took a breath, "Just give Ben some time. I'm sure he will talk eventually. There's no point in reopening old wounds right now."
"Right." Chrom agreed.
The door to the house opened then closed with a loud thud.
"About damn time!" Flavia grunted as Ben shuffled in. Flavia removed her feet from on top of the table, "My messenger was looking all over for you."
"I had to speak with Dooku and Marth about some private matters." Ben replied.
Chrom narrowed his gaze at Ben as the swordsman took his seat beside Khan Basilio. The one eyed Khan nodded to Ben before clearing his throat.
"Alright, everyone is here?" He gazed over the room. Noticing both Frederick and Cordelia standing off to the side, since there was no more room at the table, "Good. Then we can get down to business." He pulled a rolled up sheet of parchment from his belt and smacked it down on the table, "I planned on having a strategy discussion for the defense of Archanea against Valm. Those plans have changed."
"Why?" Flavia asked, one brow quirked as she looked at the rolled up parchment.
"I received this letter," Basilio breathed, "from the King of Plegia about one hour ago."
Chrom jolted upright in his seat, "What!?"
Robin eyed the letter with some apprehension, "This is the first time we are hearing from him. He's been quite the enigma. Does anyone know who the king is?"
"No one has a damn clue." Basilio grunted, "He is very good at keeping himself hidden. This the first time any of us have received correspondence from him. Apparently, he has become aware of the Valmese invasion and is concerned. He wants to hold a summit at his summer home in Plegia in order to discuss Plegian involvement in the war effort."
"Hell no!" Chrom barked, "We do not need their help."
Robin sighed and hung his head.
"Like it or not, Prince Chrom." Basilio replied, voice level and strong, "We cannot fight Valm on our own. They wiped out an entire garrison with ease. We only won because we caught the Valmese off guard. I have a feeling, if they knew we were coming, our losses would have been enormous. The Valmese are professionals when it comes to war. They are battle hardened veterans. Most of our soldiers are not. The Ylissean military is newly rebuilt. And ours has never been the most disciplined of fighting forces."
"You can say that again." Flavia snorted.
"Add on top of that," Basilio continued, "This invasion is coming from the sea. If we want to stop the Valmese from invading, we will have to meet them there." He pointed out the window to the small waves churning in the harbor, "And defeat them there. Sink their ships before they can bring their invasion force upon us."
"We have a few pirates." Flavia noted, "But not enough to fend off an enemy fleet. Ylisse has no warships." She nodded at Chrom, "Guess who has a fleet?"
Chrom scowled, "Plegia."
"The King mentioned the Plegian fleet in his letter." Basilio said, "It seems he knows what we are lacking and is willing to provide it upon meeting with us. On top of that, wars are expensive. You know that very well, Prince Chrom. One thing Plegia has is gold. And lots of it."
"Sand and gold. Gold and sand. That is all Plegia is." Flavia chuckled, "Their mines are putting out a ridiculous amount of the stuff at the moment. It is allowing them to easily keep up with the reparations while at the same time rebuilding their own economy."
"We need Plegian ships and gold. Regardless of how we feel about our not so neighborly neighbor, we may need their help." Basilio noted.
Robin cleared his throat, "Where is this summit going to be held?"
"The King's summer home at a place called Carrion Isle." Basilio answered.
"Charming name." Ben muttered.
Chrom shook his head, "I don't like this. Why now? There has to be another reason the King wants to meet with us beyond just wanting to help."
"There is always the possibility that Plegia chose a good king." Ben pointed out, "And that King may just be very cautious."
"Not just cautious, but cunning." Basilio pointed out, "If he is reaching out now, that means he has consolidated his power. Plegia is completely under his rule now. Which means he now has the freedom to rule as he wishes." Basilio leaned back in his seat and gestured at the rolled up parchment, "And his first act with that power is to invite us to his home. Is there another motivation beyond wanting to help against the Valmese? Probably. This is a good way of rebuilding relations with both of our nations. Something that I hope he would be keen on doing. Peace between all three of us is the best thing we can hope for at the moment."
Chrom did not miss Basilio's stern gaze focused on him. The Ylissean Prince clenched his jaw, but in the end, relented to Basilio's opinion.
"I'm not going alone." Chrom said.
"You'd be a fool if you did." Flavia snorted, "Oaf, I'll let you do the diplomatic stuff on this one. Ben, you'll go with him."
Ben nodded in understanding.
"When do we leave?" Robin asked.
"The letter said we could arrive at our leisure, but I think we should get this over with rather quickly." Basilio replied, "I'll have horses ready by dusk. We'll ride through the night and reach Carrion Isle by tomorrow evening."
"The Shepherds will be ready." Chrom nodded before rising from his seat.
"As will Gaius and Panne." Ben said.
"And Tharja?" Robin asked.
Ben shook his head, "She needs her rest. She'll stay."
Robin let out a small laugh, "Yeah, sure she will. Good luck with that Ben."
Ben rolled his eyes but said nothing. Deep down, he knew Robin was right. Tharja would be coming with. And he would be unable to stop her. The only way he could avoid that outcome was if she remained asleep when they started traveling south.
"It's settled then. At dusk, meet at the city gate to the south. We will march upon everyone's arrival." Basilio rose from his seat and looked at Flavia, "Don't screw up my army while I'm gone."
"They're my army too, Oaf." Flavia smirked back, "And they'll be ready for another fight by the time you get back."
Ben rose with Basilio. Robin got up last as Chrom marched out. As he walked out, Chrom glared at Ben for a second. Ben held Chrom's stared.
"Nice lightsaber." Chrom said before marching out of the building.
Ben's eyes followed Chrom out of the building. Robin saw his shoulders sag considerably as Chrom left. Any tension in Ben's body evaporated away and was replaced with exhaustion. Robin moved towards his friend as Basilio, Frederick, and Cordelia moved towards the door.
Frederick did not even look at Ben as he marched out. Basilio nodded at Ben, then exited. Cordelia paused and gave Ben a sympathetic look. She patted his shoulder and quickly exited as well. Robin lingered behind.
"Don't take Chrom's attitude too personally." Robin muttered as he shoved his hands in his pockets, "You and I both know he is as stubborn as a mule sometimes."
Ben sighed, "To be fair, I earned it. Maul used a lightsaber. Now I have one too. It is only natural for him to be suspicious of it."
Robin bobbed his head, "Yeah. But that doesn't make it right." He rolled his weight from his heels to his toes, then back again, "So, what did you, Dooku, and Marth talk about?"
Ben gave Robin a weary look, "It…" Robin felt Ben's usually strong, firm presence in the force flicker. A conflicted look crossed his face, "I need some time before I can talk about it Robin. I need to put everything in order."
"I can help." Robin smirked, "Putting stuff in order is kind of my job."
Ben chuckled for a moment then shook his head, "Not right now. But maybe later. There is too much going on at the moment to bring it up." He rubbed his hands together as a cold wind shot through the open doorway, "I'm going to go sit with Tharja for a while longer. Then maybe get a small nap in before the march."
"How is she by the way?" Robin asked Ben.
Ben gave Robin a small smile, "She'll be alright. Lissa and Libra have done a marvelous job, as always."
"I'm glad to hear that." Robin smiled. Ben turned to walk away, "And Ben, I meant what I said."
"I know. I know. I'll think about it Robin."
Robin gave Ben a confused look, "What? No, not that. Well… yes that, but also in regards to keeping Tharja here." Ben started laughing as Robin continued, "You'll need all the luck you can get."
Ben shook his head as he laughed some more, "If you see me with a runny nose hex later today, you'll know how that conversation went."
"I already know how it is going to go." Robin waved as Ben walked away, "I'll bring some tissue for the march!"
Morgan lips curled into a small frown as she blinked sleep from her eyes. She let out a long, loud yawn before tapping her finger against a small switch on the smooth wall nearby. A soft, yellow light illuminated the bathroom. Morgan blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light.
She could hear the constant hum of Coruscant outside. She still had not gotten used to it. This world never slept. Something always moved over the planet's surface. Vehicles constantly zipped through traffic lanes in the air. Lights always flashed outside her window. To the point where, after a few days of trying to figure out how it worked, she set a permanent tint on her windows. Not only to keep the lights out when she tried to sleep. But to also block the very bright Coruscant sun from streaming into her room.
She had been a guest in the Emperor's palace for five days now. Those five days had been an odd experience. Morgan already had a feeling that she did not belong on this planet. And her feeling was confirmed when she had no clue how anything in her room worked. It took her three hours to figure out how to turn the two lamps beside her bed on and off.
She panicked for about an hour when she had to use the bathroom really badly. Thankfully, one of the palace guards showed her what a toilet was and how it worked. She went two days without bathing herself because the shower had been a complete mystery to her. She managed to figure that one out on her own. Although, she also had to deal with scalding hot water hitting her bare skin at first.
Morgan winced at that memory. Her back still stung. But finally, after five days of curious discovery and wonder, she managed to figure out her room. Tap the switches on the wall, the soft lights would turn on. Pull the lever over the basin, water would come out of the spout. Same rules applied for the small shower to her left. If she wanted sunlight, she simply had to march over to a small screen on the wall beside the expansive windows and punch in the correct code. The tint would go away and she could bask in the sun's warmth.
Speaking of the sun, it had not risen yet. Morgan had discovered she was an early riser. But that early rising also lent itself to rough mornings. Her body felt heavy whenever she tried to wake up. It took all of her willpower and determination to fight off waves of sleep that attempted to claim her mind. Splashing her face with cold water helped stave off the sleepiness.
The cold water smacked into her pale face like a hard slap. Morgan let out a loud, refreshed gasp as her heavy eyes shot open.
Much better. She nodded to herself as she smiled at her reflection.
A small chime sounded from a screen in the bathroom wall.
"Good morning, Miss Morgan."
She did not pay any attention as the disembodied, mechanical voice rattled off the date and time to her. The names for the days and the time still did not make sense to her. It just sounded wrong to Morgan. She had a feeling a new week started on this planet. Because it was the first time she heard the same name for a day repeated to her. But she also felt so out of place.
Shouldn't a week be seven days not five?
"You have one new message."
Morgan blinked. A message? She did not have one of those before.
"Emperor Palpatine requests your presence later this evening at the Coruscant Opera House. He also apologizes for not visiting or asking for you sooner. There was a lot of business he had to see to recently."
"That's okay." Morgan shrugged.
A small beep sounded back at her.
"Wonderful!" The voice chirped startling Morgan. Did this thing have intelligence? She narrowed her eyes at it.
Is it watching me?
"I shall inform the Emperor that you have agreed to his summons and that you are not offended."
The voice clicked off. Morgan eyed the screen. She lowered her head so that she stared directly into the dark screen. She could make out her own faint reflection in the glass. But the display that had been up had disappeared. With a small amount of trepidation, she tapped the glass surface.
"Yes, Miss Morgan?"
Morgan uttered a startled cry, took a few panicked steps backwards, slipped on the rug beneath her feet, and fell into a heap in her shower. Her eyes spun as she lay still on the cold tiles. The shower buzzed and freezing water rained down on her face.
A long groan left her lungs.
"Do you require assistance, Miss Morgan?"
"Nope." Morgan wheezed as she raised a thumb, "I'll be good."
Her hand fell to her side. Morgan let out a weak groan as more water pelted her face and clothes. She blinked some droplets from her green eyes and sighed.
"Well, I wanted to take a shower anyway."
After freshening up and getting dressed, Morgan slipped her coat over her shoulders and took a seat on her bed. Her coat seemed so different from the clothes provided to her. The clothing she wore beneath the coat had a slick, slim look to it. Glossy, black trousers and a form fitting white shirt with long sleeves. She kept her old leather boots. But she also made sure to polish them. They could not look dirty if the Emperor of the galaxy wanted to see her.
After polishing her boots, she jumped to her feet and skipped over to the full length mirror opposite of her bed. A small frown fell over her lips. Her coat really stood out. The purple and gold fabric appeared very out of place alongside the more muted colors she wore. She pondered not wearing it for a moment. Then shook her head.
Nope. I came into this world with this coat. I'm not getting rid of it now.
She turned on her heel and marched towards her door. She tapped a small button near the door. The door hissed open. Morgan smiled a little bit. The way the door just hissed into the wall always made her giddy. It looked so cool.
She peeked her head out of her room. She noticed two guards standing out in front of her room. They wore the same strange armor. Black and shiny. Impeccably put together. Strange weapons cradled in their arms. They looked almost like black, blunted sticks. And their heads were hidden behind rather unsettling looking masks with an intimidating expression on it. She heard their strange warbled speech before stepping out to say hi.
"Good morning, guys!" She chirped.
The two black armored guards glanced at each other.
"So," The door to Morgan's room hissed closed behind her. She leaned back against the closed door and flashed a bright grin at both soldiers, "How are you today?"
She heard a small click come from one of their helmets.
"Well, Morgan." The guard to her right replied.
The guard to her left warbled at him in that strange, muffled language. The guard to her right answered him. Almost as if they were in a small argument. Morgan glanced back and forth between the two as they warbled and snapped at each other. The guard to her left clicked.
"Miss Morgan, we have been instructed to remain by your side for the day until you meet with the Emperor at the Opera House. We would appreciate it if you did not make your movements very erratic today."
Erratic? She blinked.
Oh… they did not like her little expeditions throughout the palace. She enjoyed exploring this massive place. There was just so much to see and discover. One of her personal favorite discoveries had been the Emperor's massive library filled with strange texts. A lot of which she could not understand. The language being different from her own and all. But some she figured out thanks to a translator… thingy... that resided in the library.
I think that's where I'm gonna go today actually.
"Okay." Morgan said, "I'm just wanna go to the library before going to the opera." She frowned as she started walking. The guards remained by her side, "By the way, do either of you know what an opera is?"
Her right guard glanced at the left.
"A theatrical production. Usually very fancy." The guard on the left replied.
"Oh! Like musical theater!? How fun!" Morgan spun around, "You two will be coming with right?"
They did not reply. Morgan shrugged.
"Alright. Your loss then."
She skipped down some stairs, through a long corridor, and reached a large, wooden door at the end of the corridor. Morgan shoved the doors open. An enormous smile rushed over her lips.
She loved this room. Even though she could not read or understand half of the texts here, she felt so at home among all of this knowledge. Bookshelves lined the walls. All of them towered from floor to ceiling. Each one filled with books, tomes, and strange data pads that Morgan still did not know how to work correctly. She tried reading one once. But it just screamed at her for some reason.
She rushed through the bookshelves. Looking for a new, interesting book to read. She eventually stopped at the twelfth row of shelves. Her eyes roved different leather spines and data pads. As she looked, she suddenly felt something tug at her mind. Morgan cocked an eyebrow. It felt like something was calling her.
Morgan turned around. She blinked as her eyes settled on a brown box resting on one of the shelves. Morgan glanced back and forth. Her guards did not seem to notice the box. They probably did not care.
She crossed the aisle and carefully reached for the box. She swiftly retracted her hand when the box hissed, releasing some pressure into the air. The lid popped open ever so slightly.
Morgan gave the box a curious look.
Is this thing intelligent too?
Whatever called her before beckoned her once again. It came from the box. Morgan raised one hand and gently pried the lid open.
Inside the box, sitting on a bed of soft, protective cloth, was a strange metal and glass pyramid. A dull, red light emanated from the center of the pyramid. Morgan stared at the object with both wonder and caution.
She had passed through this aisle of books before. And she had not seen this box during those times. Someone put this here. But why? And what was this strange ornament inside of the box?
Why do I get the feeling I should leave this thing alone?
Morgan gulped. A voice, soft and sweet, strangely seductive, called to her from the pyramid. Morgan felt completely entranced by it. With a shaking hand, she reached for the pyramid and grasped it.
The dull red light flashed bright and vibrant. Morgan dropped the pyramid. The light returned to it more dormant color. She blinked and stared at the ornament with fascination.
"What are you?" She wondered out loud.
She reached out and touched the pyramid again. This time, she did not let go of it. She gently brought it out of its box and cradled it between her fingers. Her green eyes glowed in the red light it generated. She could feel a power stir inside of her. Almost like magic. But more ancient. Darker than the simple fire and thunder spells her spellbook possessed.
She glanced over at her guards. They remained still. Either unaware or uncaring. Morgan shrugged. She would not be reading a book today. She would spend her day figuring out just what this ornament was.
She swept out of the bookshelves and over to a soft chair at the end of the shelves. She sank down into the leather seat and held the pyramid shaped ornament in front of her face.
It was not very big. Almost about the size of her palm in width. About as tall as her two fists put together. The edges were rigid and firm. The glass almost ghostly in appearance. The red light pulsed as she focused her mind more on the strange ornament.
A whisper brushed against her thoughts. It startled Morgan. She gasped as a dark power brushed past her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on a end as a slight chill filled the air around her. She gulped and continued staring at the center of the pyramid.
"What are you?"
A loud gasp left her lips as the corners to the pyramid twisted. The faces of the pyramid split open, revealing the ruby red core on the inside. Morgan's chest rose and fell in heavy breaths as a power unlike anything she had ever felt before cascaded around her. Slammed into her. Wrapped around her. The whisper returned.
She dropped the pyramid. It closed before it hit the ground. Morgan swallowed hard as she looked down at the pyramid with both curiosity and fear. Something was alive inside of it. An ethereal presence called that ornament home.
Was I supposed to disturb it like that?
Morgan gulped and reached for the pyramid again. This time, she grabbed it and buried it inside of her coat. She would spend more time investigating this later. Already she felt a cold sheen of sweat forming on her forehead. She could not afford to appear before the Emperor disheveled.
A book will do for now.
She got lost in a tome after a few hours. A history text actually. Something about a battle near at a place called Ruusan. And the political turmoil and resolution that occurred afterwards. She was especially curious about a group of people called the Jedi that were mentioned in the text. A group of warrior monks from the sounds of things.
How interesting.
A loud click caught her attention.
"Miss Morgan." One of her guards droned, "It is time to go see the Emperor."
Morgan looked up and out a nearby vertical window.
Oh wow! The sun started to set beneath the city skyline. I really did get lost in this text.
She smacked the book closed then carefully returned it to its shelf. With a small nod, she followed her guards out of the library, down a series of corridors, into the palace's main hall, then out onto the enormous set of stairs that led up to the palace's main entry.
One of those strange vehicles Morgan often saw flying outside of her window hovered at the base of the stairs. A sleek, silver vehicle with an open cab and plush, black seats. A strange, skeletal, metallic being sat at the wheel. Morgan glanced at her guards.
"Uh… what is this thingy exactly?"
"A speeder." The guard on her right said.
Morgan blinked, "And uh… what does a speeder do?"
"You'll see." The guard on the left remarked as he opened the door to the speeder for her.
Morgan hesitated then stepped inside of the speeder. She took a seat beside the pilot. The pilot glanced at her. It's glowing, yellow eyes stared at her unblinking.
"Uh… hi." Morgan said.
"Greetings, Miss Morgan. I am your pilot."
Morgan sucked in a sharp breath. The pilot just talked without a mouth.
"It is a droid, Miss Morgan." One of the guards explained.
What the hell is a droid!?
Morgan uttered a yelp as the speeder hovered off the ground. The knuckles on her hands turned white as her grip on the armrests tightened.
At first she was terrified. The speed that they flew through the air boggled her mind. Everything around her zipped past her vision in a complete blur. But as her panic died away, it was replaced by exhilaration. Morgan's clenched jaw relaxed. And a thrilled smile replaced her previously terrified look. Morgan raised her hands to the sky as the speeder shot towards a very fancy, dome shaped building nearby.
"Woohoo!" Morgan cheered happily as the speeder descended down to the steps in front of the domed building.
The speeder came to smooth, easy stop. Morgan beamed as she hopped out of the speeder before her guards could open the door for her. Once she set foot on the ground again, she wobbled, corrected her balance, and gave the droid pilot a sheepish grin.
"Nice er… driving. Or is it flying? Um.." She waved at the droid, "Thanks!"
"You are welcome."
Morgan turned away from the droid. Her jaw dropped.
Aliens… everywhere. Creatures she could not even begin to imagine strolled up the steps towards the buildings main entrance. All of them dressed in rich clothing that made her feel very out of place in her ratty coat and boots. Some of those aliens gave her a wary glance. They quickly averted their gazes when her guards stepped by her side.
"Huh." Morgan glanced at her guards, "You guys must be scary to them."
She thought she heard a small chuckle come from both of them as they guided her up the steps. She gawked at every sight, sound, and people around her as she was escorted into the building then onto a small platform. Morgan froze when the platform whooshed up into the air and came to an abrupt stop much higher up than it once was.
"A turbo-lift." One of her guards said, noticing her surprised expression.
"Oh." Morgan mouthed.
She marched off of the turbo-lift and walked with her guards down a hall lined with rich red colors and artwork. Through the walls, she heard a melodic drone and soft instruments coming from nearby. Morgan opened her mouth to ask what the noise was. Before she could, her guards stopped in front of a door indented into the wall. Standing beside the door were two guards clothed in red robes. Metal pikes rested by their side. Faceless red helmets with black visors stared down at her.
"Uh…hi." Morgan waved.
Her guards warbled at the men in red. The two red robed guards glanced at each other then nodded. One of them motioned for Morgan to walk ahead as the door hissed open in front of her.
Morgan's jaw fell open as she stepped forward.
The opera house had to be even bigger than the Imperial Palace. Seats lined the dome shaped walls around her. Each seat filled with different beings. Too many to even properly describe.
And the performance was unlike anything Morgan had ever seen or heard of before. Morgan could only describe what she saw to be a giant trio of bubbles floating at the center of the dome. Dancing between the bubbles, dashing in and out of them, were strange, almost angelic looking creatures with voices that snagged at her heartstrings and made her stare in awe and wonder.
It took the voice of a kind old man to drag her away from the scope and beauty of the performance.
"Ah, Morgan!"
Morgan blinked and looked ahead of her. Glancing back at her as he sat in a chair, was a kind looking old man. He had a somewhat balding head. But he still had some gray hair along his scalp and around the back and sides of his head. Blue eyes looked back at her. Smiling eyes that made her feel completely relaxed.
The old man waved to her.
"Come, come, take a seat."
Morgan hesitated. Wasn't she supposed to sit with-
Holy crap that guy is the Emperor!
She gulped and walked around him. Morgan sank down into a chair next to the Emperor. She glanced over at him again as he watched the performance at the center of the opera house. Now that Morgan got a closer look, he did not appear that old. Probably in his mid sixties. He had a few worry lines along his forehead. Crows feet lined the edges of his eyes. And he had a few wrinkles near the corners of his mouth. But all around, he appeared very kind, even comforting.
A far cry from his first appearance to Morgan. When he had been shrouded in shadows and dark robes.
The old man smirked a little bit.
"The robes are much more informal." The Emperor said. As if he read her thoughts, "I prefer to wear comfortable attire around the palace. But for occasions such as this, I am required to wear more formal attire. Although, I did take your advice and decided to lose the shadowy bits to my normal clothing. I hope I look less… what did you say before? Ah yes, creepy. I think I look a little less creepy now."
Morgan gave the Emperor a sheepish smile, "Well um… sorry about that I-"
He uttered a friendly laugh, "There is no need to apologize, Morgan. You made an accurate observation. I want you to feel relaxed when in my company. Not on edge at all." He raised his brow as he looked past her, "Oh before I forget." He nodded at the other three occupied chairs, "You are not my only guest."
Morgan glanced over at the other three seats. The first person she saw was an extremely pale, thin looking man wearing heavy, white robes. His head was bald and his strange eyes were ringed with purple. Next to him sat a hulking, blue alien with long, blue montrails ran down from the crown of his head over his chest. He also wore heavy robes. But dark colored. A staff rested by his leg. Finally, sitting on the far end, was a normal human. Older, like the Emperor. But not as old as the ruler. He had a gaunt face and thin frame. His eyes looked like they sank into his head. But they also held a keen sharpness to them as he studied Morgan.
"May I present Sly Moore, Mas Amedda, and Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin."
Morgan gave all three a small wave, "Hello."
The two alien looking men merely nodded at her. Tarkin reached past them with an outstretched hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Morgan." He shook her hand.
"Likewise!" She beamed.
Tarkin nodded and returned his attention to the opera. The Emperor sighed.
"Such a lovely performance, don't you agree?"
Morgan nodded as she listened to the siren songs around her, "It's beautiful."
The Emperor smiled, "I have seen this performance many times before. But for some reason, I always come back to see it again. There is something about the serenity that captures the mind and speaks to the soul." He let out a happy sigh, "I enjoy spending my days with such things. Tell me, Morgan. What have you been doing while staying at the palace?"
Morgan blinked, "O-oh well…" She folded her hands in her lap as some nervousness filled her, "I'm not sure if I was supposed to or not, but I found your library."
"Did you now." The Emperor smirked, "So you are someone who enjoys literature?"
"Not just literature. I like non-fiction too!" Morgan replied, "I especially enjoy books on tactics and history. I find them completely fascinating."
"Really?"
"Yes! The tactics books especially. The ones I can understand at least. They remind me of…" She trailed off, "They remind me of my father. Who I… can't really remember."
The Emperor gave her a sympathetic look, "The amnesia has not abated at all?"
Morgan shook her head, "No. I try to think of stuff from my past. But I only manage to get a really bad headache whenever I try." She sighed, "I guess I'll just have to let it all come back naturally."
"Perhaps I can assist with such a thing." The Emperor said, "I happen to have access to the best medical science in the galaxy. Maybe one of my doctors can figure out what is going on?"
Morgan blinked, "R-really?"
The Emperor nodded, "And… if nothing else, then we can try some other methods beyond traditional medicine."
Morgan arched an eyebrow, "Other methods?"
The Emperor nodded, "You impressed me the other day, Morgan. You utilized a power that is very rare in the galaxy." The Emperor glanced at his other three guest, "Leave us."
Without a word of protest, all three rose from their seats and left.
"Why are they-"
"The power you wield Morgan is not exactly smiled upon in the galaxy at this moment in time." The Emperor explained, "I do not want the wrong ears hearing what we are going to discuss."
Morgan nodded, "Okay." She leaned onto her armrest as she faced the Emperor, "And what are we going to discuss?"
The Emperor smirked, "You see, I just so happen to have that power you used as well. It is called The Force."
Morgan pursed her lips, "That… rings a bell for some reason."
"You were likely trained a little bit in its ways before you lost your memory. I am also very well trained in the force. And if traditional methods of curing your amnesia fail, then we can explore methods with the Force. There are abilities and powers I know that can tap into your mind and perhaps unlock what has been locked away." He folded his hands, "However, such methods can be rather invasive. I want to exhaust other options first. For your own safety and comfort." The Emperor pressed his lips together, "That, and maybe you could even learn those abilities yourself." He glanced at Morgan as her eyes widened.
"Cure myself with the Force?" She asked.
The Emperor nodded, "Yes. Anything is possible if one knows how to utilize the Force to its fullest potential."
Morgan sat up in her seat, "How do I learn?" She asked quickly.
The Emperor chuckled, "You are quite eager. That is good. Your voracious appetite for knowledge will serve you well." He took a breath, "I would be more than happy to instruct you Morgan."
Morgan blinked, "R-really?"
"Yes, really." The Emperor said, "However, I must stress that if you become my student, you must listen to everything I say. You must obey what I say when I say it. The Force, especially the side you and I are proficient in, can be a rather dangerous ally. You must be prepared for many trials and tribulations in your efforts to control and use the power you possess." He smiled at her, "I think you already had a taste of the knowledge you seek. After all, I was in my library earlier today. I was studying an ornament with a connection to the Force. And I think I accidentally left it there." He tapped the side of his head, "Sometimes the old brain misses things."
Morgan chuckled, "My brain is missing everything. So yours can't be that bad."
The Emperor nodded, "Quite." He was silent for a minute as another verse in the Opera soared through the air. When it quiet again, he glanced at Morgan, "So, do you wish to learn? Or do you want to try other methods first?"
Morgan pressed her lips into a thin line. Something in her mind screamed at her to just take the usual medicine or procedures for amnesia. But her heart yearned to learn more. And as thoughts of learning to control the Force hit her mind, she could not help but feel excited. A strange power only she and the Emperor knew about? And the Emperor himself was willing to teach her? It sounded like a once in a lifetime opportunity. A way to grow stronger so that she could face down any threat. Like the strange monsters that attacked her and the Emperor in the royal palace.
She could grow more powerful and cure her amnesia at the same time. It seemed too good to be true.
Something crept through her mind. She felt it for the briefest of moments as some doubt danced through her head. It faded away. Her doubt went with it. What was she so nervous about? This could only be a good thing.
"When do I start?" She asked the Emperor with a smile.
The Emperor chuckled, "We will start tomorrow. For now, enjoy the show."
She leaned back and watched the opera dance in front of her eyes. Before she became completely captured by the majesty of it all, the Emperor leaned over to her.
"You know, I foresee you becoming the greatest of my students."
Morgan puffed up a little as pride filled her. She did not reply. Only smiled, leaned back, and enjoyed the show.
And chapter! Ooooooh, we've got some good stuff going on now! The Hierophant and Validar are about to meet Ben, Chrom, Robin, and the gang for the first time. Dooku has laid down an ultimatum to Ben. The war with Valm is starting to escalate. And across the galaxy, the Emperor may have a new apprentice. I'm so excited to write this you all have no idea!
Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!