The Force's Shepherds

Chapter 141

Who Are You?

What day was it? Lucina did not know. It was impossible to keep track of time in this place. Trying to do so was made even more difficult by the amount of pain she felt rushing through every nerve. Her entire body was cold as she lay on the freezing, metal slab that had served as her bed for she did not know how long now. The amount of pain she was in, the lack of sunlight, and the torment she felt in her mind; made time blend together in a blurry haze. Sweat beaded along her brow as she gasped and writhed on the slab in her cell, a fresh stab of pain blasting its way through her extremities.

It took every ounce of willpower she had to remain coherent. It took all of her strength to keep herself from screaming out in agony. A ragged gasp shuddered from her lungs, and the stabbing pain in her arm and legs was replaced by a tight pressure pushing down on her forehead. Nothing was pressing down on her, nothing was gripping or squeezing her. The Dark Side of the Force had her in its vile grasp, and the wielder of it towered over her in her cell; the grimacing visage of his mask glowering down at her through terrifying shadows.

Hovering beside the monster in black armor was a round, glossy, black ball with various instruments protruding from its spherical exterior. One of those instruments she had grown very familiar with: the syringe and needle, filled with a nebulous white liquid that made her shiver with fear every time she caught a glimpse of it. A poison of some sort; one that caused terrifying sensations and horrible thoughts to enter her mind. All of which were carefully manipulated by the rumbling voice that rattled through her ears with every hoarse rasp of breath she heard.

"Where is Kenobi?" The towering monster rumbled, the pressure on her mind building as he spoke.

Lucina squeezed her eyes shut. Her jaw clenched tight, and her hand tightened into a tight fist by her side. The cold sweat covering her body in a thin sheen built up further as the toxin within her body attempted to coax an answer out of her. She had no idea what damnable concoction was administered to her, but it was more potent than any she had ever seen or experienced before. Mages like Henry and Tharja would have been envious of the power behind this poison. Laurent would probably love to get his hands on it so he could study both its contents and the effects behind it, no matter how terrible they were.

Thinking about them, about all her friends, about her family; that was what kept Lucina from giving in. Her haze filled mind would briefly clear everytime she thought of her father, mother, and sister. Her weakened body was filled with renewed strength and resolve when her thoughts drifted to the other Shepherds, to her friends that traveled with her to the past, and to her Master; who she knew would never break under these circumstances. She was the student of Jedi Master Ben Kenobi, and he believed she was ready for knighthood. With that in mind, she steeled her mind, hardened her body, and refused to give in the dark lord stooped over her.

"The pain will end if only you'd answer." The Sith snarled as the orb hovered near her again, "Perhaps we need to administer more serum?"

"If you administer anymore, Lord Vader, you could shatter her mind." A calm, monotone voice cut in from the corner of the cell.

Lucina managed to turn her head just enough in order to catch a glimpse of the blue skinned man that also occupied her cell. This other monster she knew well. Admiral Thrawn was also a way of focusing her mind. An enemy for her to distract herself with, in order to keep her sanity and her will. While Lord Vader was the one who harmed Luke, and defeated Dooku; Thrawn was the one responsible for all of this. He was the one who attacked her home, who put her family in harm's way, who tried to kill everyone and destroy everything she loved. The alien should consider himself lucky she was restrained and weak now, because if she was not, then she would likely fail her Master and attack him just because she wanted to.

"I do not need your input, Admiral." Lord Vader rumbled, making Lucina's eyes widen once more as his thunderous voice boomed in her mind, amplified by the fear toxin surging through her veins.

"It is not my input, my lord." Thrawn argued back, "It is simple logic, and medical knowledge. She's already far beyond the normal threshold for a mind probe. Go any further, and you risk destroying the mind that the Emperor himself wishes to investigate as well."

The mention of the Emperor and his wishes caused a hushed silence to fall over Lord Vader. Through the force, and through what little coherence Lucina could manage, she could sense the Sith's fury ebbing away as concern filled him instead. No concern for her. He did not care about her life in the slightest. He only cared for what his Master, the Emperor, thought of his actions.

Coward! Lucina thought before gasping again as renewed pain throbbing throughout her entire body.

A chime sounded, and Thrawn grasped a commlink from his belt. Lucina could not hear what was said to Thrawn. Her pulse was pounding too hard to make out the crackling voice breaking through the cell. But she could hear what Thrawn said to Vader next.

"We are making our approach to Coruscant, Lord Vader. We should be arriving in another three hours." Thrawn replaced the comm then folded his hands in front of his body, "I suggest we relent in this fruitless interrogation so that she is at least of sound mind when we present her before the Emperor. Besides, I doubt the Emperor will be pleased by your interrogation methods."

"Are you questioning my methods, Admiral?" Lord Vader growled.

"I am." Thrawn replied, his face utterly unreadable and his voice monotone. As if Lord Vader's imposing figure and tone did not disturb him in the slightest, "The Emperor sent us on a very specific search mission that took us three years to accomplish. He never recalled us, and the only contact we ever had with him was when he wanted to know our progress. That tells me he is very anxious to see Lucina, and to speak with her. I doubt he would want her harmed in any way, but it is too late for that now."

"The Emperor will want answers about Obi Wan Kenobi, as well as about any other Jedi."

"Which could have been gained through other means." Thrawn argued back.

Lucina felt confusion briefly enter her mind as she watched the two argue. Was Thrawn defending her? Trying to help her even? Clearly he disagreed with Lord Vader's interrogation methods. So much so that he was willing to stand up to a man that Lucina felt could easily destroy the blue skinned alien with just a wave of his hand. Through the force, she could even feel Lord Vader's temptation to do so. There was an obsession within Vader that she could not place, and it centered solely on her Master.

"We can concentrate our efforts on locating Obi Wan Kenobi once we deliver Lucina intact to the Emperor, which was the mission he gave us." Thrawn continued, "Once he is finished with her, you can request a chance to continue with your odd obsession with the Jedi Master."

"It is not an obsession." Lord Vader replied.

"Considering that is the only thing you have questioned our prisoner about during our time in hyperspace, I'd say it is." Thrawn replied as he walked up to the interrogation droid, tapped a button on it, and ordered it to leave the cell. Lord Vader whipped his head back to Thrawn, clearly displeased by the Admiral's actions. Once more, Thrawn was undisturbed, "I fear the Emperor more than I fear you, Lord Vader."

Lord Vader remained deathly silent as he stared down the unmoving Admiral. His lidless, shadowy eyes turned back to Lucina. Lucina glared back at him, an unblinking stare as she tried to show that she would not back down, no matter what the monster would do to her next.

"Inform me when we arrive on Coruscant." Vader growled, quickly turning and exiting the cell. His tall form stooped through the doorway, then out, the cell door whooshing shut behind him.

Once he left, Lucina thought she could see a faint hint of emotion wash over Thrawn. The blue alien's chest sagged ever so slightly, as a silent, relieved sigh exhaled through his nose. His red eyes flicked to Lucina.

"I wish I could have stopped him sooner, but I could never give him a good reason till now." He reached into the pocket in his uniform, over his right breast, and withdrew a small vial filled with a clear liquid. Lucina tensed as Thrawn approached her and unscrewed the lid to the vial, "This is the antidote to the serum given to you. May I administer it?"

Lucina glared back at him. Part of her wanted to take it, then spit it back into his face, but she had a feeling she would need all of her wits about her soon. If what she heard was true, then the Emperor of an evil empire wanted to meet her personally. Anyone who could create as much hesitance and fear into a monster like Lord Vader was not someone to take lightly. Now was not the time for her to spite her captors. Now was the time for patience. She needed to remain focused and centered, just as Master Kenobi always taught her to be during the future. She could not do so while her mind was compromised by the mind probe.

Her lips trembled partly open. Thrawn gently tilted her head back and administered the antidote. The bitter liquid ran down her throat, burning it almost in the same way Feroxi firewine did. A ragged, pained gasp rushed from her lips as the antidote burned its way into her gut.

"It will be about an hour before it takes effect." Thrawn stated as he pocketed the now empty vial. He folded his arms behind his back, "I'll make sure food and water are brought to you as soon as you're capable of ingesting them."

Without another word, the Admiral turned and left, leaving Lucina alone in the darkness of her cell once again.

With both of them gone, she finally allowed herself to crack. Her chin quivered as fresh tears bubbled in her eyes. The pain in her body caused some of those tears that dribbled down her cheeks freely as quiet whimpers left her lungs. But what hurt far more than the physical pain, were the thoughts in her mind.

Naga, what was going on anymore? How did her life come to this? This past interrogation, no- torture session, nearly broke her. Vader had been more forceful than ever as he tried to pry her Master's location from her. A location she actually did not know.

She did not know a lot of things now, and that is what caused most of her worry right now. Were her friends alive, or dead? Did any of them escape the carnage in Ylisstol? Did they manage to fight back somehow? What about her family? Did they make it out alive? And Master Kenobi, he was away from the city when the attack happened. What was he going to do to strike back? Would he come looking for her? Would anyone be able to save her now?

A sob slipped from her lungs, and her hand trembled up to her eyes. Her fingers brushed over them, wiping away tears even though she knew they would be replaced by new ones.

No, she would not fall into that line of thinking. She could not doubt her family, or her friends. They were alive. They had to be alive! If they were not, then all of this pain she was enduring, her will to fight back, would be for nothing. She refused to believe that her efforts against Vader were in vain. In her mind, Ylisstol may be gone, but the Halidom remained. Her family would fight back, so would her Master, and all of the allies they had made over years of hardship and triumph. They would remain strong through the turmoil, so she would as well. She would not break.

If she did, then all of her efforts, all of the pain, all of the heartache and loss, would be for nothing. No, she would not let all of her sacrifices be for nothing. She would resist. She would fight back, in what little ways she could. And when she met the Emperor, he would quickly learn that she was no normal girl, and certainly not a normal Jedi.

Ragana's entire body felt lighter than air. Her eyes gently fluttered open as the silky, smooth sheets of her bed shifted over her naked form. A small yawn left her lips as she started shaking off the remnants of sleep lingering in her mind. After she yawned, she rolled over, and smiled at the olive skinned body still sleeping beside her.

That had to be one of the best sleeps I've had in a long time. She thought as she reached out with one hand and gently brushed the back of her fingers along Joan's upper back; still marveling at the strong, yet feminine muscles that had been hidden beneath the black, deathtrooper armor.

Joan stirred a little at her touch, which caused Ragana to quickly retract her hand. Out of the two of them, Joan had the roughest day yesterday. Returning to her old home in Level 1313, and reliving some of the desperate feelings, and terrible memories, of her childhood, had taken a toll on her loyal soldier. A toll that Ragana hoped had been relieved after a night of… well… fun.

A knowing smile cracked over her lips before she rolled over again and glanced out her room's expansive windows. The morning sun had not broken over Coruscant's horizon yet, but morning was coming. Faint pinks and violets washed over the dawn sky, signaling the start of a new day. In the distance, to the west, she could still see a starless night sky.

That was one of the strange wonders of Coruscant that Ragana had to get used to. Despite her lack of memories regarding her past, she had a feeling a night sky was supposed to be filled to the brim with twinkling stars. But on Coruscant, the stars did not shine. This was a planet covered entirely in one massive city. The only stars that existed in the night sky here, could only be seen from the ground level of Coruscant. And those stars were in fact, not stars, but the shimmering lights of the towering skyscrapers rising into the dark sky like jagged glass and metal shards. Completely artificial, just like the rest of this planet. And yet, despite this strange difference in her mind, this world had become her home. Joan made it feel even more like this planet was where Ragana belonged.

A happy breath left her lips as she carefully sat up, sheets shifting off of her shadowed form. Her arms stretched over her head, and she let out a satisfied sound when her shoulders and elbows released satisfying, tension relieving pops. She smacked her lips together as she felt a fresh wave of sleep threaten to claim her again. However, she could not fall back asleep. Ragana had a routine to keep to.

Just as she was about to get up from her bed, a strong arm snaked over her right shoulder, keeping her in her seat..

"I didn't mean to wake you up." Ragana said, a light snicker in her voice as Joan slipped up behind her.

She felt an intense blush rush over her cheeks as Joan's lips brushed against her neck. Hot breath washed over Ragana's ear next, making her heart soar and her entire body shudder.

"Must you go now?" Joan whispered in her ear, making Ragana shiver.

"Well…"

Ragana bit her lip as Joan placed another kiss against her cheek, one hand gently running over her skin as her soldier brushed up closer against her. Goosebumps formed on her body as Joan's hand slipped down her bare stomach. Oh the temptation to twirl back around and ignore her routine was enormous, but her routine existed for a reason. Her Master was the one who put it in place, and it was to be followed everyday to the letter. No deviation, no skipping, no laziness.

So, with great reluctance, Ragana plucked Joan's wrist and set it to her side.

"I wish I could turn around and ravage you all over again, my loyal soldier." Ragana replied, a playful tease in her voice, "But… my Master sets my routine, not me. And I am not one to disobey the Emperor of the galaxy."

A cute pout formed on Joan's lips as Ragana glanced back at her, "You don't mind back talking to him."

"Back talking does not count as disobeying. And he only tolerates it so much." Ragana replied.

A long, disappointed breath left Joan's lips. Ragana felt Joan's warm body leave her back as she pulled away from her. Ragana briefly glanced back at her beautiful soldier, glowing eyes taking in every inch of her as she lay in the tangled sheets of her bed. The temptation to forgo her routine and just enjoy a quiet morning with the one person she cared about more than herself rushed through her again. Then the residual pain from her Master's lightning sparked like fire in her nerves, and she pushed the temptation to the side.

With a small groan, Ragana got to her feet, stretching her arms to the sky yet again. Through the force, she could sense Joan having a moment, and a knowing smirk crossed her lips. She glanced over her shoulder, flashing a teasing grin at Joan.

"Liking what you see?" She asked, cheeks heating up once more as her heart fluttered in her chest.

"I wouldn't be here if I did not." Joan replied, her cheeks flush

Oh forget the routine!

Ragana surged back across the bed, her lips desperately seeking Joan's as she straddled the soldier. Joan pressed her lips fervently to Ragana's, both of their chests rising and falling in ragged gasps as their hearts raced once more. Ragana's yellow eyes gleamed with lust, and just as she was about to claim the one she desired once more, a chime sounded from the clock on her nightstand.

"Lady Morgan-"

I still need to change that dumb chime. Ragana thought as she attempted to ignore the clock. She was doing quite well at ignoring it too, as her hands roamed over Joan's firm body once more. She let out a quiet moan as Joan's fingers blazed trails along her flesh, biting her lip as she allowed her passions to roar to the surface once more.

The clock chimed again, it repeated the name she wished to forget; and in a rush of anger, she pressed Joan firmly down onto the bed, then attacked her lips again, hoping to somehow drown out the clock with mewls, pants, and moans. Joan did not mind the aggression, because (and Ragana knew this) she was strong. Stronger than any normal stormtrooper, or Imperial soldier serving the Empire. A woman did not make it into the Deathtrooper corps by being soft or meek.

The clock chimed once more, and Ragana used the force to crush it.

Now it won't annoy me any-

The door to her quarters hissed open, and a chilling cold seeped in through the force. Ragana froze on top of Joan.

"Kriff." She whispered to Joan, who looked up at her with half lidded eyes.

The chill in her room turned into frozen air, making Ragana's breath mist in front of her face. At that moment, Joan's eyes widened and her face paled.

Ragana carefully turned over, and saw the hooded gaze of her Master staring furiously at her and Joan. His eyes gleamed with fury in the shadows of her room as the soft, yellow lamps beside her bed turned on. Her throat tightened as she shrank a little beneath her Master's gaze, not sure what to do.

Sidious's eyes flicked to Joan, who visibly paled beneath the gaze of the Emperor.

"Is that your Deathtrooper?" He croaked, a scowl growing beneath his deep hood.

Ragana glanced over at Joan, who gently pulled the sheets over her naked form. A lopsided, carefree grin formed on Ragana's face as she glanced back at her Master.

"Is that by any chance rhetorical?"

Her goofy grin faded as she felt the icy chill in the force surge away from her. She could sense it directed at Joan, who trembled beneath Sidious's blazing glare.

"Out." The Emperor snarled, "Now."

Ragana arched an eyebrow, "Master, she is-"

His glare returned to her, silencing her. Ragana swallowed hard, sensing just how angry her Master was through the force. She carefully looked over at Joan and nodded towards the door. Joan hesitated, which made Ragana visibly cringe.

"Leave, quickly." Ragana hissed.

Joan rushed out of Ragana's bed. As she quickly marched out, Ragana's eyes absently followed her. Disappointment filled her as she heard the door to her quarters hiss open then shut.

"Master, you could've knocked." Ragana said as she folded her arms over her chest.

Sidious snarled, and Morgan paled. He was certainly not in the mood for her usual sass today.

"I did." Sidious growled, his gnarled hands folded in front of him, "But for some reason, you did not hear it."

Ragana's lips puckered as she sucked in a breath.

So that's why my alarm was going off… oh I'm in deep poodoo.

She gulped as her eyes followed her Master as he moved towards her window. Faint orange light finally forced much of the black sky to retreat away, and a thick cloud of speeders started to buzz around the pinnacles of the skyscrapers in the immense network of speeder lanes. Coruscant never slept, but it did drift off during the night, only to fully reawaken come dawn. Ragana's master gazed out to the city, his back turned to her as he reigned in the displeasure she sensed.

"I apologize, Master I-"

"You were on the verge of ignoring your routine."

She winced, "Y-yeah…"

His furious gaze turned back to her, "So, have you taken to disobeying me now?"

"N-never, Master, I-"

Ragana's face paled as she sensed a heavy pressure slam against her mind. Instantly, she took down all of her mental defenses. Her master wanted inside of her head. To resist him was tantamount to declaring she would not bow down to him, and would result in swift and severe punishment. The only time she ever resisted his mental probing resulted in Sidious's force lightning slamming into her for what felt like hours, but had actually only been for several seconds. The pain she felt from that experience lingered with her to this day, and she never wanted to experience it again.

She sensed some of her Master's displeasure abate when he recognized her submission to his will, and thus his gripping of her mind and thoughts was not painful, but soothing instead. A small breath slipped from her lips as her eyes closed. The Dark Side's cold tendrils roamed through her thoughts, plucking out whatever information it wanted. When it came to her memories of the previous night, the feelings she felt returned to the surface. Her heart beat faster in her chest, her pulse quickened, and her skin felt hotter. Ragana quickly bit her tongue, suppressing a groan even as her Master's presence left her mind.

When her eyes opened again, she saw her Master still looking out to the city.

"I hope what I sensed is not what I think it is regarding DT-117, Morgan?"

Ragana swallowed hard, "And uh… what do you think it is?"

Sidious glared back at her, and Ragana knew she gave him the wrong answer to his question.

"She is a bodyguard, Morgan. Not a companion." Ragana gulped as Sidious turned to face her again, "A tool for you to use, no more and no less."

Ragana could feel herself bristle a little bit at Sidious's callous description of Joan, but she buried that opinion deep within her mind. To Ragana, she had done nothing to merit this scolding. If anything, she had been following the Sith Code very well. Passion dominated a Sith's actions. That did not just mean passionate hatred, in her mind, but passion in every aspect of life.

And oh was last night passionate.

"Do you disagree?"

Kriff, he sensed that.

Ragana cleared her throat as she remained seated on her bed, "Frankly Master, I do." His eyes narrowed dangerously, and Ragana spoke quickly to explain, "You have told me that a Sith is a being of passion. Of not letting anything control us, rather we control everything."

"Do you feel in control of your feelings regarding DT-117?" Sidious retorted.

Ragana grimaced. He had her there. She was on the verge of completely disregarding her daily routine because of her impulses. Joan somehow managed to make her want to disobey her Master's teachings, want to abandon her discipline; and Sidious needled her on that.

"I admit," Ragana breathed, "I slipped up this morning. It won't happen again."

"Make sure it does not. Your first priority should be growing into a Sith, not pleasuring yourself to your heart's content with meager soldiers."

Ragana inhaled and nodded, "Yes, Master. I understand."

"Good." Sidious's scowl remained as he looked down on her, "Hurry up and get dressed. I expect you to be at the Imperial Spaceport in an hour."

Ragana blinked, "The spaceport? Are we going on a trip?"

Sidious moved towards the door, but paused when she asked her question.

"No."

Ragana's heart sank a little as the prospects of a better field trip than the Imperial Senate died. But what Sidious said next renewed her excitement.

"Lord Vader has returned."

Darth Vader, her Master's other apprentice. The man Ragana had only heard faint whispers about. Those whispers were always laced with fear, trepidation, and respect. Lord Vader was a name that made soldiers shake in their armor, officers pale and tremble, and Ragana feel curious. Every time she attempted to investigate the infamous Lord Vader, she came up with nothing. The only information she could ever find over the holonet, and secure Imperial channels, was his name and brief mission summaries that did little to describe the Sith Lord and his abilities. The fact that now she would get a chance to meet him made her want to bounce up and down with excitement.

Sidious sensed her giddiness and could not help but smirk a little at her, amused.

"I expect you to be on your best behavior, Morgan."

Her Master exited, the door to Ragana's quarters hissing shut behind him. Once she sensed his presence retreat far enough away, she surged to her feet and rushed to her door. Joan was still outside, doing her best to conceal herself along the doorframe of Ragana's quarters. The Deathtrooper let out a startled cry as Ragana grabbed her and yanked her into her room.

Her Master expected her at the spaceport in an hour. If Ragana's mental calculations were correct, it would take her ten minutes to clean up and get dressed, a couple minutes to reach her shuttle, and fifteen minutes for her shuttle to arrive at her destination. So, with that in mind, she locked the door behind Joan, pressed her soldiers against the cold metal wall, and brushed her lips against Joan's.

"We've got maybe half an hour." She whispered, a light snicker slipping from her lips as they hovered close to Joan's.

Joan gulped, making Ragana's impulsive actions come to a grinding halt.

"Perhaps we should refrain until your duties are finished today?"

Ragana's glowing eyes glanced up at Joan. Her soldier was not as excited as Ragana was, she could sense as much. In fact, she seemed afraid. Then again, the Emperor of the entire galaxy just walked in on them, and he wasn't happy about it. It made sense for Joan, who served the Emperor, to suddenly be scared when placed in this situation.

Which meant there would be no more fun until a later time.

Ragana groaned and let her forehead fall to Joan's shoulder, causing the naked Deathtrooper to chuckle lightly.

"My Master is a killjoy."

"Your Master is my boss." Joan replied, "And we should probably listen to him." She slipped from Ragana's grasp and moved to her discarded uniform and armor scattered around the room. As she pulled the black jumper on over her body, Ragana pouted and slumped back onto her bed, causing Joan to snort, "Sometimes, milady, you act a bit childish."

"Sometimes you act a bit childish." Ragana parroted, a bit annoyed. Her annoyance faded when Joan chuckled, making her laugh as well, "Fine, I'll be responsible for a change."

"Good." Joan laughed as she finished donning the first part of her uniform. She bent down and picked up her glossy, black armor and helmet, "I'll be waiting for you at the speeder."

"I'll hurry up then."

Joan winked back at her, then left Ragana's room. As soon as the door shut, Ragana groaned and fell back into the warm embrace of her bed, sheets crumpling up around her. The motivation to get dressed and get going to the Spaceport still absent for her. She puffed out an irritated breath, then tilted her head up to look at her door, hoping Joan would come back in with a changed mind, ready to enjoy one more half hour. When that didn't happen, she huffed, got up, and moved to her shower, head shaking.

I've got it bad.

As always, the Imperial Spaceport, which housed a large chunk of the Imperial Navy presence on Coruscant, was buzzing with activity. Transports laden with supplies, repair materials, and fuel whizzed along the concrete ground, zipping through the shadows of massive Star Destroyers that were docked either for shore leave, or for repairs. Intermingling with those transports was Ragana's personal shuttle. As always, she gazed out the window beside her seat, marveling at the feats of engineering taking place around her. It still boggled her mind to know that these gargantuan Star Destroyers, virtually moving cities that lumbered through the cosmos, were capable of lifting off of the planetary surface at all.

As she looked out at the various docked star destroyers in awe, she caught sight of a star destroyer with a yellow lightning bolt etched into her hull. A broad smile passed over her lips as she gazed upon the Thoron, her personal Star Destroyer. It had been a week or so since she paid her ship, and her crew, a visit. Her mind had been so focused on training and growing in the force that she could not find time in her already busy schedule to break away and visit Cody and the crew.

Perhaps I should do that before going back to the Palace today. She thought as the sight of her Star Destroyer faded from her view.

A slight pout fell over Ragana's lips, then she tore her gaze away from the window and turned it to Joan, who was sitting next to her in full deathtrooper attire. She smirked over at her Deathtrooper, and tapped her on the shoulder.

"So," Joan glanced at Ragana, "What do you know about Lord Vader?"

Joan stiffened, and Ragana's curiosity exploded.

"You do know something!" A giddy sound escaped her lips, "Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

"Does it matter what I know? You are about to meet the man anyways." Joan replied, her true voice masked by her helmet.

A loud, frustrated noise rushed from Ragana, "Oh come on! Everyone is always keeping me in suspense when it comes to this guy. I mean-" A devious gleam entered her glowing eyes, and she gave Joan a sidelong glance, "So… do I have to force information from you then?"

Joan's helmeted head slowly turned to look at Ragana. Ragana snickered as the fingers on her left hand walked up Joan's arm.

"After all, I think I know how to make you do more than talk now."

"We have arrived at your destination, Lady Morgan!" The droid piloting the shuttle chirped.

The mischief in Ragana's eyes died, replaced by irritation. She glared at the droid pilot, teeth grinding together as the name 'Morgan' bounced through her mind for the second time today. She did not mind it as much when her Master called her by that name. It still irked her to no end, and she wished her Master would call her by the name given to her by Lord Marka Ragnos, but she understood why he refused. He still did not deem her a true lady of the Sith, still viewed her as a novice, and despite the massive progress she had made, Ragana did feel she still had a long way to go.

Of course, she was not sure how far she needed to progress before her Master, the Dark Lord of the Sith, finally anointed her with the title of Darth. However, today afforded her a great opportunity. She was going to meet Darth Vader, the anointed apprentice to her Master. His first choice as student and successor. He held the title of Darth, he was a Lord of the Sith; so Ragana reasoned that if she could properly gauge him, then she would know how far she still needed to go. All of that made her anticipation for this moment grow to the point where she forgot about the Droid Pilot's transgressions.

She surged out of her shuttle, an excited grin on her lips. Joan quietly followed behind her. As they exited, Ragana looked up to see a massive Star Destroyer suspended in a dry dock over her head. At first it looked like any other star destroyer in the Imperial Fleet, right down to the various engineers and mechanics buzzing around it on floating platforms as various repairs were made. Then she saw the great leviathan of a beast etched into the belly of the ship's hull, and her smile grew wider.

Oh, I think I'll like whoever commands this ship. She thought. Her eyes then landed on the name, Chimaera. Wow, that's actually a really good name. Much better than some of the others in the fleet.

Her gaze dropped from the magnificent carving of a Chimaera in the ship's hull, down to the stooped figure of her Master waiting beneath the ship. Four Imperial guards, wearing flowing red robes over cherry red armor, flanked the Emperor. Their pikes hummed with latent energy waiting to be unleashed, serving as a warning to everyone in the spaceport that they were to not approach the Emperor without first being summoned by him. The one exception to that rule was Ragana, who sauntered up to her Master and slipped between him and the guard to his right. Joan remained directly behind her.

"How's it going boys?" Ragana chirped happily as she nodded to the Imperial guards. Her Master remained emotionless beside her, "Lovely day for a welcoming home party, yes? Did any of you bring refreshments?"

"Morgan…" Sidious said with a long suffering sigh.

Ragana chuckled next to her Master, "What? It's a warm day today. I'm worried these guys may be sweating like dogs beneath all of those robes. Unless they're very breathable but…" She peered closer at the robes, then shook her head, "Nope, I can't see anything. You seriously make them wear that when it's sweltering outside?"

Sidious frowned back at her. Ragana kept her bright smile on her lips, thoroughly enjoying pestering her master in her usual, good natured way. She folded her hands behind her back, and started rocking back and forth from her heels to her toes. A couple of the Imperial guards glanced at her as she started humming to herself; her way of trying to control her already explosive excitement.

As she hummed, Sidious grit his teeth, and snapped out with the Force, causing a chill to rush up Ragana's spine. She froze on her tiptoes, shivering at her Master's sudden displeasure. She quickly brought herself down to her normal posture beside him. Her humming ceased, and she took on a more serious demeanor beside him. Still, her hands fidgeted behind her back with pent up anticipation.

The minutes dragged on, and her excitement slowly turned into impatience. Her grin faded from her lips, replaced by an irritated expression as she glanced up at the Chimaera's main hanger, located in the belly of the immense Star Destroyer. Finally, just before she could grow any more impatient, a small transport emerged from the hangar.

She could not see who occupied the shuttle at first, but as it got closer, Ragana could make out the distinctive, white armor of Stormtroopers at the front and back of the shuttle; shielding its occupants from view. An annoyed whine slipped from her lips, and once again, she felt her Master chastise her through the force.

Finally, the transport touched down. A sleek ramp extended from the side, and the first group of stormtroopers stepped off, revealing the three figures occupying the center of the shuttle.

The first was a blue skinned alien that Ragana recognized as a Chiss. An extremely rare sight to see anywhere in the galaxy, let alone as a part of the Imperial Navy. Judging by the colored badges on his left breast, he bore the rank of a Rear Admiral.

Not just any Chiss, but a Chiss with high rank. That must not sit well with Imperial High Command.

The Chiss Admiral guided a blue haired human female beside him, thought Ragana hardly paid any attention to her. Her focus became glued to the towering figure marching in front of both the Chiss and the woman. A monster of a being clad head to toe in gleaming black armor. She could hear his labored, artificial breathing growing louder as he drew closer.

His posture was tall and powerful. Despite the labored breathing Ragana heard, she did not doubt the man's strength.

Wait, is he a man?

She carefully slipped her consciousness into the Force, and decided to playfully brush up against the monster striding towards her and her Master. Sure enough, she detected an organic force presence within the suit of black armor. A force presence that noticed her, and immediately gnashed its teeth in response, forcing Ragana to quickly withdraw.

She smirked at the armored figure as he paused in front of the Emperor, towering over the stooped Sith Master. Then, as a labored exhale hissed out from the grimacing mask on his face, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head before Darth Sidious. A pleased grin passed over the Emperor's face.

"Rise, my friend."

Friend!? Ragana thought, her mouth falling open as a twinge of jealousy hit her. Her Master never called her a friend. He only ever called her his young apprentice, or by the name she wished to forget.

Darth Vader rose back to his towering height. As he stood, the Chiss admiral stepped forward with the woman, who Ragana recognized as a prisoner of some sorts. She was actually quite beautiful to look at. Her skin was pale, a bit too pale actually. Her blue hair was certainly something strange to see, since it looked completely natural instead of dyed. She carried herself with defiance as she was jerked to Lord Vader's side by the Chiss. Even stranger was her attire, reminiscent of something a character from a storybook would wear rather than a citizen of the Empire. Her slim torso was covered by a blue tunic with a long sleeved, royal blue shirt beneath. Her shoulders were covered by small plates of metal armor. Simple, dark blue trousers and tall boots covered her lower half. An empty leather belt and scabbard were cinched around her waist. Lastly a scarlet cape hung over her right side, hiding her lone arm.

The woman glared furiously at the Emperor, her blue eyes shimmering with defiance and strength. A look that garnered some respect from Ragana. Not many had the courage to look her Master in the eyes and-

The woman's eyes flicked to her, and the strong defiance evaporated. The woman's already pale face turned white upon seeing Ragana, which made Ragana feel both pleased and confused. On one hand, Ragana assumed that the woman was aware of her station in the Empire, and thus knew to be afraid of her. On the other hand, there was a certain look in the woman's eyes. As if she recognized Ragana. But how could the woman know her? Ragana was fairly certain she had never met her before in her life.

Yet, something stirred within her. Not in her mind, but in her heart. There was a strange sensation within Ragana, as if the mere presence of this woman was pulling at the very fabric of her being. As she met the woman's shocked gaze, Ragana found her attention focused on the strange marking within the iris on her left eye. A strange symbol that somehow looked familiar to Ragana. The strange sensations she felt, the pulling on her heart, and the conflict within her thoughts, caused Ragana's excitement about finally meeting Lord Vader to fade. She had a greater mystery in front of her now, other than the other Sith Lord.

Who are you? She thought as she observed the woman.

"I see your mission was met with resounding success, Lord Vader, Admiral Thrawn." Sidious continued, a pleased smile on his wrinkled lips.

"It was, my Master." Lord Vader boomed, his powerful voice rattling Ragana's ribs.

"Excellent." The Emperor observed the woman some more before glancing at Ragana, "Morgan," Lord Vader also looked at Ragana, and Ragana could sense some malice behind the lidless eyes of his mask. He had an inkling of what she might be, and he was not happy about it. But that did not concern her at the moment.

"Yes, Master?"

"Escort Lucina to the palace. Make sure to set her up with proper accommodations. She is a prisoner of the highest value, but that does not mean I wish for her to be treated badly. I have many questions I wish to ask of her later. Make sure she is secured while I speak with Lord Vader and Admiral Thrawn."

"Yes, Master." Ragana replied, bowing her head before reaching out to Lucina and taking her by her lone arm.

To Ragana's surprise, the woman did not resist. Perhaps she was too afraid to mount any sort of resistance anymore? No, that couldn't be the case. Ragana saw intense defiance in the woman when she was first presented before the Emperor, not fear. Any fear the woman did have was carefully hidden from view. If Lucina was not afraid of Lord Vader, or her Master, then she certainly would not be afraid of little Ragana.

So why are you all of a sudden so compliant?

The droid pilot to her shuttle beeped and whirred as Ragana approached. With a wave of her hand, the shuttle's back door opened. Ragana paused beside the door and glanced at Lucina; who hesitated to get in.

"Well?" Ragana muttered. She nodded at the leather seats within the shuttle, "I don't have all day."

Joan's helmet crackled and Ragana raised a hand.

"I really don't!"

Lucina's brow furrowed as Joan chuckled back at Ragana. Before she could react any further, Ragana uttered a frustrated snarl and pressed her hand between Lucina's shoulder blades.

"I'd rather not get physical right now, so I suggest you get in."

Ragana saw Lucina's throat bob, then she reluctantly entered the shuttle. Ragana huffed and quietly shut the door for a moment, drawing some confusion from Joan.

"Before we join her," Ragana began, raising a finger to quiet Joan's oncoming questions, "do you have any idea who she is or where she came from?"

Joan shook her head.

"Damn! I thought not, but still..." Ragana huffed, folding her arms over her chest. She flicked her eyes into the shuttle, hummed to herself, then shrugged, "Alright, let's go. When we get back to the Palace, I'll figure out just exactly who she is."

"How?" Joan asked.

A mischievous smirk slipped over Ragana's lips as her hand wrapped around the door handle to her shuttle, "Why Joan, you already know I'm very good at making women scream."

Lucina thought she was prepared. Well, as prepared as she could be for the situation she found herself in. She was ready for intense interrogation, torture even, by her captors. The reasons for such actions still eluded her, but she still expected such dastardly, cowardly, actions from a group of vile people that so callously annihilated her home. They didn't need to have motivations. They were evil, and she could feel as much. During her time within her cramped cell aboard the Chimaera, she could sense the Dark Side of the Force radiating in suffocating waves from Darth Vader. In her experience, someone so comfortable, and so in control of the dark side, could only be someone aligned with the most vile of human morals. Maul felt similar, yet somehow weaker. And the one exception she had found was Luke, but that only occurred due to great effort and growth on his part. Things she doubted Vader or Thrawn were interested in or capable of.

Yes, she thought she was prepared. During the few hours she had where she was not under the influence of the torture toxin given to her by the Torture droid, she steeled her mental defenses. She went through every exercise she knew of in order to strengthen her will and her mind. Her Master's wisdom bounced through her mind that entire time. Guiding her, coaching her, and soothing her mind as she meditated in the force; bracing herself for what was to come.

All of that preparation crumbled upon seeing who stood to the right of the decrepit old man that was the Emperor. At first Lucina glared in defiance at the old, hooded man whose glowing eyes inspected her with great curiosity. Then she saw her, Morgan, and the defiance she had, the strength that she felt when she left the Chimaera, disappeared.

Lucina's mouth felt dry as she stole a glance to her right, looking past the soldier in black armor, and staring for a moment at the young woman. She recognized everything about her. Her midnight black hair, pointed ears hidden behind her black locks, mischievous smile, and shorter stature: it all screamed one of the closest friends Lucina had in the future. However, it could not be Morgan. It just couldn't be. Morgan would never willingly be with someone as evil, as vile, as Lord Vader and the Emperor- let alone refer to the old man as her Master.

And yet, she knew deep inside that it was Morgan. She even wore the coat given to her by her father so many years ago, in the future. Lucina recognized the bright gold trim along the fringes of the sleeve and collar, the faded red eyes stitched into the fat of the sleeves that were always too big for Morgan's skinny arms, and the rich violet color that only someone royal or incredibly rich could afford. In fact, the only part of Morgan Lucina could not recognize, were her eyes. The Morgan she knew had bright, emerald eyes; like her mother. Not eyes that glowed like hot coals in a burning fire.

Lucina jumped with a start as Morgan's glowing eyes flicked over at her, noticing that she was staring. Lucina quickly looked away, and continued to feel hopelessly uncomfortable in the silence of this flying carriage called a 'shuttle'. So far, during this entire ride to… somewhere, Morgan had not a single word to her. Maybe it was due to the presence of the soldier in black armor in between them in the shuttle; muzzling her old friend until they had a moment alone together. At least, Lucina hoped that was the case. But her instincts told her others, and Morgan's eyes told another story. Those yellow eyes, like burning amber, brimmed with Dark Side Energy. The kind of anger, burning hatred, and fear filled madness that spurred the actions of Maul, and ,before Cynthia cracked his shell, Luke. It made Lucina feel exceptionally uneasy, and worried.

What is going on? She flicked her eyes briefly back over to Morgan, who was glancing out the Shuttle's tinted windows.

Lucina furrowed her brow. Now that she thought about it, she had no idea what this place she was in looked like. Before she could peak out her window as well, the shuttle came to a halt. The engines within it whined as they powered down, making her tense up. A snort came from Morgan's lips and she smirked over at Lucina.

"Jumpy, aren't you?"

Lucina did not know how to respond. She simply stayed frozen in place as the doors to the shuttle popped open.

"Alrighty," Morgan stepped out with the armored soldier, then motioned for Lucina to climb out, "C'mon."

Lucina gulped, then quietly shifted out of the shuttle. Her boots touched down on the concrete covered ground, and her eyes widened as she looked up at the most immense building she had ever seen in her life.

It easily dwarfed the Exalt's Palace in Ylisstol. The tallest tower from her home would hardly even reach the midway point of this immense, ziggurat style structure in front of her. The sheer scale of it made Arena Ferox look minuscule by comparison. It was so tall that she could not even see the very top of the main building, although she could see five tall spires jutting up from the roof of the building.

Something hard butted her back, making Lucina nearly jump out of her skin. The soldier in black armor warbled something at her, in a language she could not understand. But Lucina understood the intention behind the strange warbling tone. She flicked her eyes back down to the ground level of the building, and saw Morgan striding purposefully out in front of her, marching towards the immense entryway to the building.

Lucina did not think it was possible for so much stone or concrete to be put into the structure of one building, but the sheer enormity of the place she was entering only grew as she stepped into what appeared to be some sort of grand entry hall. Enormous, round columns towered up all around her. Rich, red carpet lined the walkway between the columns, While she wanted to be completely enraptured by the sheer enormity and majesty of the palace around her, Lucina found her gaze once again falling down to the petite young woman skipping along in front of her.

Morgan acted just like… well... Morgan. The way she skipped along as Lucina was led to an empty, metal room with only one entry and exit was totally how Morgan would act in any given situation. Morgan never took life, or responsibilities, too seriously. Her mischievous streak and carefree demeanor was what helped her become a founding member of the Justice Cabal (and arguably their most chaotic, devious member). Even during the bleak future, Morgan often skipped along through the horrors, somehow less affected by them than everyone else was. Maybe she was just very good at disguising the trauma she felt, at least that's what Lucina reasoned.

Perhaps that is what she is doing now? Lucina thought as she stepped into the empty, metal room. The door whooshed shut behind her, Morgan, and the soldier, Disguising how she really feels, and how she knows me, from the soldier with us?

Lucina tensed up as she felt a sudden rush of force hit her body. Was it just her, or was the floor moving up? She glanced at the walls, and gasped as strange white lights zipped down all around her. As she looked around wide eyed, Morgan snickered beside her.

"Never been on a turbolift before huh?" The lift came to a slow stop as Morgan kept snickering, "You'll get used to it eventually. That is, if you keep your status as a special prisoner intact."

The door to the turbolift hissed open, unveiling a long, softly lit corridor with shaded windows lining the wall to the right. The soldier behind Lucina nudged her off of the turbolift, beckoning her to follow Morgan once more.

Morgan looks awfully comfortable here. Lucina thought, her concerns regarding her old friend growing.

Finally, Morgan stopped at a door to the left. She quickly tapped some sort of panel beside the door. Lucina blinked as the door hissed open, sliding into the wall like a pocket door. Morgan stepped inside first, with Lucina and the soldier following.

It was easily the nicest prison Lucina could have imagined. It was a room that was smaller than her room in Ylisstol, but still a decent size. There was one window, with the shades drawn so that Lucina could not look out of it. A second, smaller room off to the side appeared to be a privy of some sort. As for furnishings, there was one bed designed for one person to sleep in, a desk on the opposite wall of the bed, and a table next to the bed with a single lamp on it. Even more strange, artificial light emanated from a yellow orb attached to the ceiling. Overall, it was both one of the plainest, and strangest, rooms Lucina had ever seen.

"This is yours." Morgan said with a shrug, "My Master said to make sure you were somewhat comfortable, so I figured I'd do that. I also figured he'd want someone to keep an eye on you, so I'm right down the hall."

Lucina regarded her with stunned silence. She referred to the Emperor as her Master again, and still hadn't spoken to Lucina like an old friend would. Something was seriously wrong here, Lucina could feel it.

Morgan gave her a puzzled look, equally matching Lucina's look of confusion but without the worry, "You've been looking at me funny this entire time, hm…" She rubbed her chin then glanced up at the soldier, "Joan, wait outside please."

Lucina saw the soldier, Joan, stiffen a little bit at Morgan's request. Morgan simply nodded, telling the soldier to exit in a quieter way. Joan simply turned on her heel and marched out, the door hissing shut behind her.

Lucina felt an iron ball form in her throat as Morgan's glowing eyes narrowed at her. She tilted her head to the side as she studied Lucina, eyes flicking up and down as she stood in front of the Ylissean Princess.

"So," Morgan began, "Why are you-"

"M-Morgan…" Lucina finally blurted out, her voice trembling as she spoke.

Morgan frowned, visibly irritated by her name, "That's what my Master calls me, yes, but-"

"What are you doing here?"

Morgan's mouth snapped shut at her question. Instead of irritated, Morgan appeared extremely curious now. Lucina waited with bated breath for Morgan's answer.

Instead of speaking, Morgan closed her eyes. Lucina winced as she felt a strange pressure forming against her mind. As if something was attempting to subtly slip into her thoughts without her being aware. Lucina was unsure of where this assault through the Force was coming from at first, until she heard Morgan exhaled. The Princess's eyes widened.

Morgan, how are you-

"Wow…" Morgan breathed, "You've got some serious mental fortitude. I'm impressed." She ran a hand through her black hair as she drew in another deep breath, and exhaled, "Then again, I'm only just starting to figure out how to break into someone else's mind without breaking them completely. Given my Master's interest in you, I doubt he would want me to leave you a drooling mess on the floor."

Wh-what?

Morgan gave her an inquisitive look as she started to circle around Lucina. Lucina's gaze followed her as a cold chill swept around her, caressing her with freezing fingers from the Dark Side.

"So, since I cannot break into your mind the way I usually would, I guess I'll go with the direct line of questioning." Morgan paused to Lucina's left, "Who are you? And how do you know me?"

"Wh-what?"

Morgan rolled her eyes, "Oh, come on. Do you not understand basic or something? No, you do, because otherwise you would not have talked to me. I'm getting sidetracked."

She's acting like she has no idea who I am. Why would-

Lucina's blood ran cold in her veins. She recalled the tale of how Robin was recruited into the Shepherds by her father. How the late tactician had been inducted into their ranks after helping Chrom, Frederick, Lissa, and Ben defend Southtown from Plegian Bandits. At the time, Robin did not have a single memory save for his name, and Chrom's name. Even long after the events of that day, Robin was plagued by a strange amnesia that refused to go away. Was it possible that his daughter somehow suffered from the same mysterious affliction. It was the only explanation that could explain her strange behavior, but Lucina needed to be sure.

"Suppose I should ask again, since you're looking at me like a dummy." Morgan huffed, "How do you-"

"Do you really not remember, Morgan?" Lucina asked.

A snarl, so unlike Morgan, rushed from her lips, "Do you always have to interrupt!" She put her hands on her hips, as if she was scolding Morgan, "You know, that's rude! And for that… matter…" Morgan's eyes narrowed at her and her voice fell to a dangerous hush, "Remember what?"

Oh no…

Morgan took a step towards Morgan, glowing eyes glaring into Lucina's.

"What do you know about me?"

The knot in Lucina's throat tightened, "Morgan… you know me."

"No. But you clearly know me." Morgan growled, "So are you going to answer or-"

A knock sounded on the door, and the chill in the force turned into a sharp, cold snap. Morgan's eyes whipped over to the door as it hissed open, revealing the waiting forms of the Emperor and teenage boy with short black hair, and an intense glare in his brown eyes. Immediately, Morgan's fury abated and she quickly took on a more submissive posture as her Master approached her.

The Emperor glanced around Lucina's new prison and nodded his head.

"This will do for now. Come, my apprentice. You have training to do."

The iron ball dropped to Lucina's gut, then twisted into a harsh knot that made her feel nauseous. Morgan was the Emperor's apprentice.

What has happened to you, my friend?

This horrible revelation felt worse than any physical or mental torture she could have been placed under. Morgan, one of her closest friends, the person she trusted with the lives of all the other Shepherds in the future by naming her their tactician, had turned to the Dark Side. Not only turned, but fully embraced it. This was not the fun loving, if mischievous, Morgan she grew up with. This was a terrifying, twisted version of her. One that Lucina knew she would have to stay guarded around, and that broke her heart.

With one final glare at her, Morgan turned away and strode out the door. The boy followed her out, leaving Lucina alone for a moment with the Emperor, Lord Sidious.

His yellow eyes gleamed at her beneath the deep hood that shrouded his head. Beneath that hood, Lucina could see just how decrepit, and monstrous this man really looked. His face looked shrivel and sagging. As if his skin was barely clinging to the skull it was wrapped around. His eyes sockets were dark and hollow, making him look like the grim reaper given flesh. His thin lips curled back into a dangerous grin as he watched her observe him.

"You're already aware of who I am, aren't you, child?" He began, hands folded in front of his robed body, "You remember our little encounter, don't you?"

Lucina's throat felt dry. Indeed, she remembered that terrible encounter in the strange dimension beyond this life. How could she forget it? Death, and a quick resurrection, were not events she could forget no matter how much time passed since then. She could remember the fear she felt upon seeing Sidious for the first time, and feeling the enormous power he commanded.

What does he want from me?

"All in due time, Lucina." Sidious answered, reading her thoughts like a children's book.

Lucina's face paled as she realized he was already within her mind, and if she focused hard enough, she could sense him lazily combing through the surface of her thoughts. A low cackle escaped his lips as her realization of his actions dawned on him.

"Oh yes, your meager defenses were quite easy to slip past." Sidious replied with a hum in his voice, "The fact that you have defenses though… you've received training from someone. How interesting." He glanced to the door, where Morgan waited for her Master, "You've had quite the journey, Lucina. So for, now, you may rest. I will call upon you later this evening."

An evil gleam entered the Emperor's eyes, making Lucina want to ball up her fist and strike him. He sensed that thought as well, and laughed at it. His laughter echoed in her mind as he turned away and walked to the door. Just before the door shut behind him, he glanced over his shoulder at her.

"I think you and I will get along quite well, Lucina of Ylisse."

The door closed, and she was left alone. The intense cold she felt in her room faded away, allowing the air around her to rise to a temperature that felt more comfortable. But no comfort came to her. Instead, the knot that had descended into her gut twisted harder, and something crept up her throat. She noticed a small, black bin tucked beneath the desk, rushed for it, and vomited into it.

Ragged gasps shuddered from her lungs as her body and mind reeled.

What is going on!? She sagged down to her knees, hands trembling on the edges of the waste bin as her entire body shook, What is happening? She raised a shaky, teary gaze to the door as quiet sobs broke through her once strong exterior.

Who are you, Morgan?

And chapter! I have come to the realization that Morgan/Ragana is a devious little gremlin that I cannot control no matter what I do in the writing process lol. I mentioned not wanting to write anything romantically explicit last chapter, and then of course she had to toe that line. Good thing this fic is M rated now. Also, that is the first time I've ever written a remotely explicit scene like that before, so bear with me on it.

Anyways, it has finally happened folks! Vader has returned to Coruscant, along with Thrawn, and Lucina. Lucina has met the Emperor, who is being strangely accommodating. I wonder why? And Ragana now regards Lucina as an enormous enigma to figure out. Those two's interactions will be very interesting to write, to say the least. Plus, Vader and Ragana briefly interacted with each other. We'll find out more about what they think of each other in a future chapter. That'll be a fun one to write!

Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!

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